Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 291

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18.-Interpretation Sub-Department.

Government Notification No. 581 of 1901.

(See Table XIV.)

The Interpretation Department consists of 21 posts, in addition to the Sergeant Inter- preters in the Police Department and the Inspectors' Interpreters in the Sanitary Depart-

(See General Order No. 16.)

ment.

During the year five student-interpreters passed the examination for a third class certificate. Four received appointments in the Sanitary Department and one in the Police. Five new student-interpreters were appointed and at the close of the year the approved number of student-interpreters (nine) was complete. Their conduct and progress have been quite satisfactory. A full list of all who bave received appointments as student-interpreters is given in Table XIV.

19.--General.

In deference to the wishes of the Chinese merchants who do business with Canton it has been decided to continue to license the Postal Hongs which carry letters between Hongkong and that port. These Hongs are of very great service to the business community; they afford special facilities for despatching correspondence and deliver it quickly and safely.

A petition which received very influential support was presented in August, 1906, complaining of the way in which the Excise Officers of the Opium Farm conducted searches of private premises and the examination of passengers and their baggage on their arrival in the Colony attention was also invited to the prevalence of the practice of "planting" opium by informers. Petitioners made various suggestions which were adopted in all essential particulars.

:

A list of the Chinese names of islands, bays, hills and passes in Hongkong and the New Territories to which English names have been affixed was taken in hand and is now being printed.

There does not appear to have been any serious trade dispute during the year. The junks employed in the carriage of timber to Canton took advantage of the scarcity of suitable junks after the typhoon, to try and increase their charges above the fixed rates, and timber merchants were put to some difficulty for a short time in securing carriage.

The Chinese firms dealing in the export of Chinese clothing and eatables to the Transvaal complained of the high rate at which their goods were assessed for payment of import duty, and representations were made on their behalf to the Transvaal Government.

A project which first started three years ago for the incorporation of the Man Mo Temple seems likely now to be carried out. A Bill has been submitted by the Trustees of the Temple property for the approval of the Government and is now under consideration.

The Directors of the Tung Wa Hospital who act as managers of the Temple have also been granted a lease of a piece of land behind the Temple. This land was given to the Man Mo Temple in the year 1877 and has since been regarded by the directors as its property, but no lease had ever been granted.

A dispute as to the management of temple property at Shamshuipo was referred to the Registrar General, and settled by him with the assistance of two Chinese gentlemen. The property consists of a market and a wharf and the dispute originated in a struggle for the control of the property between the Puntei and the Hakka inhabitants of the village.