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A petition to which 322 chops were affixed was received in March from the inhabitants of Yaumati. Petitioners complained of the increase in the ferry fare to Hongkong and wished to start a public ferry to be controlled by the community. What may be called a municipal pier exists at Shamshuipo-one of the conditions of the lease being that the pier is to be managed by the lessee to the satisfaction of the Registrar General, who will be guided in his decisions by the wishes of the inhabitants of the village. The Government decided to put the pier site up to auction in the usual way.
During the winter of 1906-1907 well-substantiated stories reached me of the black- mailing of Chinese by a man who posed as LAM KWA-NG a notorious brigand in the Heungshan district. The man could not be traced, as he carried on his business with
great discretion, but be at last committed an error of judgment in attempting to blackmail Mr. TSUI SIEN-TING who knocked him down and marched him a mile to the nearest police station. The activity of the Botanical and Forestry Department in protecting plantations led in March to the receipt of numerous petitions from the Kowloon District on behalf of the wood-cutters. As a result further action was suspended pending investigation. In the country districts the principal fuel is dry grass and during the year it was found necessary to warn the villagers of Little Hongkong that grass-cutting was not permitted in plantations or in the natural forest.
On the advice of Mr. LOCKHART and Dr. Ho KAI a Chinese Illustrated Encyclopædia (± 4 G F 1) has been bought for the Office Library. This work was first published under Imperial Authority in 1726 and a new edition has been lately brought out in Shangbai.
A Chinese procession-the first of its kind since March, 1894, was held on the 5th, 6th and 7th of December. It attracted a great number of people to the Colony but the large crowds were quite orderly and there was no increase of crime. The committee of management were able to hand over $12,800-the unexpended balance of subscriptions, to charitable purposes.
20.-Staff.
1. The Registrar General was absent on vacation leave from the 27th July to the 3rd September and Mr. E. D. C. WOLFE, Acting Inspector of Schools, acted during his absence. 2. The Assistant Registrar General, Mr. C. CLEMENTI, was absent on leave throughout the year.
He was promoted Assistant Colonial Secretary on the 29th October and Mr. E. D. C. WOLFE was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. J. DYER BALL acted as Assistant Registrar General up to the 22nd January when he was succeeded by Mr R. O. HUTCHISON.
3. Inspector E. BROWNE obtained a Second certificate for knowledge of the Hakka Dia- lect (Colloquial) on the 1st August and was granted an allowance of $60 per annum.
4. Sixth Grade Writer:-Mr. CHAN FUNG-TING was dismissed on the 31st October and was succeeded by Mr. Tsu WA-KWAI.
5. First Grade Translator :- -Mr. Wong Po-SHAU was placed on the Permanent Staff with a salary of $1,200 per annum from the 1st October.
6. Third Grade Interpreter & Clerk :-Mr. TANG TAT-HUNG obtained the Second Class Certificate on the 15th May.
7. Fifth Grade Interpreter :-Mr. KWOK WA-FAN obtained the Third Class Certificate on the 10th July.
8. Sixth Grade Writers :-Three writers were engaged from the 10th May in connec- tion with the extension of Registration of Householders to Old Kowloon. Their services were dispensed with from 1st November with the exception of Mr. LI WAN-SANG, who is to fill the new post of 6th Grade Clerk as from the 1st January, 1908.
Temporary appointment :-Mr. D. W. TRATMAN, Assistant Land Officer, New Terri- tories, was appointed to help in the examination of emigrants from the 3rd December with
n allowance of $600 per annum.
A. W. BREWIN,
Registrar General.
26th February, 1908.
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