Sessional_Paper_1904 — Page 463

29

No. 1904

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL FOR THE YEAR 1903.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 19th March, 1904.

SIR, I have the honour to submit for the information of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Governinent the following report on the work of the Registrar General's Department for the year 1903.

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

The revenue collected during the year amounted to $160,351.81, as against $136,888.13 collected in 1902, being an increase of $23.463.68. In Table I will be found a comparative statement of Revenue collected by this Department during the years 1902 and 1903 respectively.

The

The number of Chinese who were granted Certificates of Identity to enable them to enter the Philippine Islands increased from 43 in 1902 to 119 in 1903. increase to the Revenue under the heading Certificates to Chinese entering Manila and the U.S.A. is $1,650.00. Market Revenue shows a further increase of $9,315.81. All markets with the exception of Taikoktsui share in the increase. The revenue from the Des Voeux Road Market which is situated in Des Vœux Road Central near Wing Shing Street and was opened in September was $1,824.16, but this revenue will not be maintained. There is very little demand for stalls and most of the original lessees have already surrendered their holdings. Fees under the Marriage Ordinance show an increase of $997.00 and under the regulations for Emigration Houses one of $1,350.00. The revenue from Hawkers' licences shows an increase of $8,722.00. In August the regulations governing the issue of Hawkers' licences were altered. Previous to that date the licence-fee which was $2.00 was paid quarterly. The fee has now been raised to $4.00 and is paid half- yearly. The number of licences issued during the last quarter of the year was 5,997 compared with 7,773 in the last quarter of 1902.

boats.

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

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 $26,755.64 compared with $24,230.33 The increase is due to various increases of salary to some of the members of the staff and to regular increments of salary to others.

in 1902.

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 1903 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 1903. 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 1903. There were seven cases in which eleven persons were charged under the Women and Girls Protection Ordinances. There has been a very large increase in the number of women and girls whom the Registrar General had reason to believe