Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 226

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The pay of the District Watchmen is insufficient to attract men of a suitable class, and the District Watchmen's Committee have advised that the pay be increased, and that the increased scale of pay commence from the 1st of January, 1903. During the year, there were seven resignations and eight dismissals.

CHINESE RECREATION GROUND.

A statement of revenue and expenditure is given in Table VII. The total expenditure for the year was $582.46. The revenue obtained from the lease of shops, stalls, etc. amounted to $1,257.02, compared with $1,090.52 in 1901. There is a balance of $3,668.20 to the credit of the Fund.

CHARITABLE FUNDS.

Tables VIII and IX give statement of account of the two Funds administered by this Department.

TUNG WA HOSPITAL.

During the year, the building of the extention to the Tung Wa Hospital in Pó Yan Street, Tai Ping Shán was completed, and will be opened early in 1902. The building of the branch Hospital at Kennedy Town, for the treatment of contagious diseases is nearing completion.

An Ordinance (No. 42 of 1902) entitled An Ordinance to amend The Chinese Hospital Incorporation Ordinance, No. 3 of 1870, was passed by the Legislative Council, and received His Excellency the Governor's consent ou the 9th of September, by which the maximum number of the Committee is increased by four additional members. It was found advisable, on account of the additions to the Hospital causing extra work to the Members of the Committee, to increase their number.

Table IV (E.) gives a return of the number of Patients under treatment and other statistics concerning the Tung Wa Hospital during the year 1902. Com- pared with the corresponding figures of last year there was a decrease of patients under treatment and an increase of 9,000 out-patients.

LEGISLATION.

The following are the Ordinances passed in 1902 which more particularly affect the Chinese and this Office:-

No. 21 of 1902.--Pawnbrokers Amendment.

No. 37 of 1902.-Liquor Licences Amendment Ordinance.

No. 39 of 1902.-Junks (Collision) Ordinance.

No. 42 of 1902.-Chinese Hospital Incorporation Amendment Ordinance.

By Ordinance No. 21 the fees for Pawnbrokers' Licences have been increased, and the maximum pawnbrokers' charges fixed. The number of pawnbrokers has largely increased during this year.

By Ordinance No. 37 the licence fees for Liquor Licences have been increased for revenue purposes.

By Ordinance No. 42 the maximum number of the Committee of the Tung Wa Hospital is increased from 12 to 16 members.

STAFF.

Mr. CLEMENTI took up the post of Assistant Registrar General on the 1st of January. On the 14th of May, the Registrar General, Mr. BREWIN, went home on leave. Mr. HALLIFAX acted as Registrar General from the 14th of May until 15th of June, when I was appointed to that post.

From September 23rd until the end of December, Mr. CLEMENTI, the Assistant Registrar General acted as Assistant Colonial Secretary, and from 14th of November until the end of December, Mr. E. D.. C. WOLFE performed the duties of Assistant Registrar General.