Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 221

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE ACTING REGISTRAR GENERAL FOR THE YEAR 1902.

No.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor,

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 1st April, 1903.

SIR, I have the honour to make the following Report on the work of this Department for the year 1902.

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

The revenue collected during the year amounted to $136,888.13, as against $127,566.16 collected in 1901, being an increase of $9,321.97. In Table I will be found a comparative statement of Revenue collected by this Department during the years 1901 and 1902 respectively. Two fresh items of revenue were added during this year, namely, Emigration House Licenses and Licences to Chinese Postmen and Postal Hongs. Very nearly all items of revenue show substantial increases, the chief of which are the revenue from Markets, an increase of $2,656.48; Hawkers, an increase of $1,476.50; Boat Licences, an increase of $899.90; and fees in con- nection with the Marriage Ordinances which show an increase of $776.00.

The number of street hawkers is gradually increasing. The number of hawkers' licences issued during the year was 13,864, but many of these hawkers only did business for a short time. From the 1st of October until the 31st of December 7,773 different hawkers paid fees.

Table I (B.) shows the amount of revenue received from the various kinds of boats.

The number of stalls, shops, etc., and revenue derived from the various markets is given in Table I (C.).

The expenditure during the year was $24,230.33 compared with $16,429.62 in 1901. The increase is caused by the permanent appointment of Mr. CLEMENTI as Assistant Registrar General, the appointment of a Translator, the cost of training Student Interpreters, and the appointment of an Emigration Clerk, which was ren- dered necessary by the fact that, under the Chinese Emigration Ordinance, No. 37 of 1901, female and male Emigrants under 16 years of age have to be examined by an Officer of the Registrar General's Department. The licencing of Boarding Houses for Chinese Emigrants is also placed by the same Ordinance within the duties of the Registrar General.

PÓ LEUNG KUK INCORPORATION Ordinance.

(No. 18 of 1893.)

WOMEN AND GIRLS PROTECTION ORDINANCE.

(No. 9 of 1897 and amending Ordinances Nos. 31 of 1899 and 14 of 1900.)

The report of the Pó Leung Kuk Society for the year 1902 has been forwarded to you separately. Table II (4.) gives a Return showing how the women and girls, who came under the protection of the Registrar General, were provided for during the year 1902. Table II (B.) gives a Return showing particulars regarding girls who are required to report themselves to the Registrar General. Table II (C.) gives a return showing the number of persons reported to the Pó Leung Kuk as missing and of those who have been reported as recovered, for the year 1902. The sub- scriptions for the year 1902 amounted to $7,284.25 as compared with $6,823.50 in 1901, and the total revenue, to $8,334.25 compared to $7,873.50 in 1901. The expenditure was $7,563.98. There were 78 inmates on the first of January, 1902, and 66 on the 31st of December, 1902. During the year there were 617 persons

16 1903