Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 659

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Sixteen Harbour Department boatmen assisted in enumerating the Boat Population of Aberdeen, Stanley and Shaukiwan.

Messrs. ROCHA and FRANCO of the Harbour Department with 8 boatmen took part in the taking of the Census of the Boat Population of Victoria Harbour, and performed their duty to my entire satisfaction. 2 Chinese enumerators were engaged by Inspector CAMERON for the Census of the Kowloon City District, and 5 by Inspector McDONALD for work in that portion of New Kowloon which is included in the Yaumati Police District. A private interpreter, who was paid $10 for the work, was engaged to assist Inspector MCHARDY in enumerating the inhabitants of the Peak District

33. The pay of the Police engaged was as follows:-

Inspectors,

Sergeants,...

Lance Sergeants, European Contables, Indian Sergeants,.. Indian Lance Sergeants, Sergeant Interpreters,

Assistant Interpreter,

Chinese Sergeants,

Chinese Constables,

Water Police Boatmen and Stokers,

..$20

15

10

7

نا

7

5

5

1.50

2.50

Water Police Engineers and Coxswains,

Water Police boatmen, who acted as Interpreters, were given an extra $1.

34. The Harbour Department boatmen were paid $1.50 each, except in a few cases where they received extra pay for work on land. Mr. MEUGENS and Mr. McIVER were paid $20,ef and Messrs. ROCHA and FRANCO $7.

35. The Chinese enumerators were paid at the rate of $8 a man. For this amount a large number of men were found willing to undertake the work, and they performed their task most satisfactorily. For the Census of Kowloon, local men were engaged as far as possible, though several enumerators had to be sent there from Hongkong.

36. For the clerical work of the Census one clerk was engaged at $40 a month from 1st October to 1st February, 3 clerks at $35 a month from 26th November to 1st February, 18 clerks at $25 a month froin 26th November,to 1st February and one office messenger at $8 a month from 21st November to 1st February. Mr. CHENG KAM-FAI supervised the Chinese staff, and was invaluable. I have much pleasure in testifying to the great assistance which he rendered to me throughout. The clerical staff was engaged by the month, with the exception of a very short period on piece work. At the next Census I recommend that all the clerks be employed on piece work at a moderate rate.

If this is not done, it is very difficult to ensure that they get through a proper amount of work, unless the Census Ŏfficer can spend the whole of his time supervising them. This would only be possi- ble if he was relieved of his other duties while engaged on the Census. On the present occasion I cannot say that I was entirely satisfied with the work of the clerical staff, with the exception of Mr. CHENG KAM FAI. At the end of December, 6 clerks had to be summarily removed for failing to get through what I considered to be an exceedingly moderate daily task. The whole of the staff had to be continually driven.

37. The Eastern verandah on the ground floor of the Registrar General's Office was again used as a Census Office. The space was sufficient as there were not so many clerks employed as in 1901.

38. I am glad to be able to report, that, as in 1901, the enumerators met with no opposition or obstruction on the part of the Chinese population aud the work progressed exceedingly smoothly. What little trouble there was, was given, I regret to say, by the Non-Chinese community. The Police had great difficulty in inducing some people to fill up the schedules, and were often unnecessarily kept waiting. A few persens refused to state their ages, until pressure was brought to bear, while others gave frivolous answers to the questions on the schedules. There were no prosecutions under the Penal Clause of the Ordinance.