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necessary) the relatives would have the assistance of an interpreter to tell them exactly what was to be done and interpret their wishes. Permission was obtained also for the removal of dead infants to the offices and a reward of a dollar is offered in each case.
Two offices are now open, the one at No. 42 First Street and the other at No. 205 Queen's Road East. Ambulances are provided and coolies, for the removal of sick persons to hospital. Details of the work done and of the receipts and expenditure will be found in Tables VIII b and c.
The wildest rumours travel quickly enough among the Chinese but although every endeavour was made to give publicity to the opening of these offices, I have had frequent proof that much more requires to be done. I do not anticipate that the objects and benefits of the scheme will become fully known, for another two or three years, and feel that the progress so far made is satisfactory.
In December a piece of land in Kau U Fong was bought on which to build another office for the central part of the town.
The management is in the hands of a Committee consisting of the Registrar General, Mr. FUNG WA CHUN, Mr. LAU CHU-PAK, and the Chairman of the Tung Wah Hospital.
A similar office was opened in Kowloon City by the district elders and has been well supported and has done very useful work. A plague hospital is also maintained but fortunately there has so far been no occasion to use it.
12. Chinese Recreation Ground.
(See Table IX).
The Committee of management of this Ground are the Registrar General, the Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, C.M.G., and the Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
13.--Passage Money Fund. (See Table X).
The fund is used as far as possible exclusively for the use of women and children.
14. Registrar General's Office Charitable Fund.
A small fund is in process of formation for the assistance principally of disabled work- men and widows.
15.-Legislation.
The following Ordinances passed in 1905 more particularly affect the Chinese Com- munity and the Department:-
No. 1.-The Sugar Convention Amendment Ordinance.
No. 3.--The New Territories Land Ordinance.
No.. 5. The Merchant Shipping Amendment Ordinance.
6.-The Women and Girls Amendment Ordinance.
No.
No. 9.-The New Territories Land Amendment Ordinance.
No. 10. The Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Ordinance.
None of these Ordinances with the exception of Nos. 6 and 10 calls for comment in this Report.
In Eastern countries where early marriages are not uncommon, the age of consent is a very delicate question to handle. It was gratifying for me to be able to report that Chinese public opinion was not opposed to the proposals made at the close of section 3 of my last year's report, and Ordinance No. 6 gives effect to these proposals.
Ordinance No. 10 fills up a blank in our local law, and disputes between husband and wife as to desertion and maintenance can now be settled authoritatively by the Magistrate.
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