Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 280

183

It is satisfactory to find that the percentage of cases in which after examination at the Po Leung Kuk, no grounds can be found for detention, has fallen as low as 28. To send 800 women to the Po Leung Kuk in one year throws a very great deal of work on the directors and puts a severe strain on the resources and accommodation of the institution, whilst it is unpleasant to find that in 400 cases the detention was not justified. On the other hand it may be that during the last year, too many doubtful cases have been per- mitted to pass.

It is very hard in this business to strike the mean.

In all, 316 persons were admitted to the Po Leung Kuk, 16 being runaway maid- servants. In the case of maidservants wherever there is evidence of ill-treatment the Police are asked to prosecute, but even in cases of ill-treatment the fault is probably not all on one side. The schools to which these children are sent find them as a class unsatisfactory and hard to manage. The number of girls added during the year to the list of those required under bond to report themselves regularly to the Registrar General was twelve. Sixty-six girls were reported to the Po Leung Kuk as being missing in Hongkong during 1907, and of these only nine were reported to have been recovered.

Five persons were sent to the Italian Convent during the year and twelve to Miss

Eyre's Refuge, and of these four were sent under warrant, two to each institution. Table IIf gives the necessary details regarding them. Both institutions have been visited by me more than once during the year, and Miss Eyre's Refuge has also been visited by some of the directors of the Po Leung Kuk. At a final inspection made at the close of the year only one complaint was made. The girls both at the Refuge and at the Convent looked clean, healthy and happy. The Sisters tell me that they have now no trouble with the girls and that they will be willing to receive any more who can be sent to them. Two of the girls who have been married happened to be in the Convent at the time of my last visit: they were well-dressed and seemed happy.

(ii)-Po Leung Kuk Incorporation Ordinance, No. 6 of 1893.

The report of Society, for the year 1907, will be found in Appendix A to this Report.

The Permanent. Board of Directors consists of the following members :-

Ex-Oficio Members :—

The Registrar General.

The two Chinese Members of the Legislative Council.

Other Members :--

1. LAU SHAI-CHAK appointed 26th June, 1893.

3. Lí SAU-HIN

2. LEUNG Pur-cm

>>

33

17th July, 1897.

4. KU FA-SHAN

21

26th October, 1903.

5. CHIC CHAU-SAM

23rd November, 1905.

"

6. PCN YAN-TSUN

"

27th March, 1906.

7. YUNG SHIV-P

ད་

8th May, 1906.

S. TAM TSZ-KONG

2

14th November, 1907.

3.-Emigration.

Emigration Ordinance, No. 1 of 1889.

(See Tables III a to III c.)

(i.)-Female Emigration.

The examination of females and children under 16 is conductel by the Assistant Re- gistrar General and occupied about 156 hours; this is exclusive of the time spent by the Registrar General in re-examining doubtful cases. The number of women and children examined was 15,571, the examination is therefore conducted at the rate of about 100 emigrants the hour. This rate of speed may seem to be excessive and to give little opportunity for ascertaining the actual status of the emigrants, but as a matter of fact in the case of eighty per ceat, no examination is called for, only identification.

There are very rarely any grounds for suspiciou in the case of single women over 30, and of women and children going in families.