Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 679

(No. 58.)

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359

Enclosure 10.

REPORT OF REGISTRAR GENERAL.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 31st August, 1908.

SIR, As directed, I have the honour to report on the relief which it is desirable to extend to the victims of the recent typhoon.

Following the procedure adopted in 1906, I called a meeting of the Tung Wa Hospital Committee on 8th instant, and a Typhoon Relief Committee was formed, consisting of the présent directors of the Tung Wa, together with a few gentlemen outside that body, whose assistance it was considered desirable to secure. I give in Enclosure A the names of the Committee. At the first meeting it was arranged that only such cases should in the first instance be considere l as had been forwarded by myself, or through me by the Police and Harbour Departments. The object of this precaution was to check the rush, which was sure to be made, and was indeed made, to secure compensation by people, who neglected to report their losses at once. Such late reports need very careful scrutiny; and it is fair and convenient that they should be dealt with last.

2. At a second meeting of the Committee, on the next day, the following further general principles were agreed to :-

(i) Big junks and fishing junks, which are financed on methods approximating to an insurance, and which contemplate loss by storm us a risk of the trade, should receive no compensation. This was the course followed after the typhoon of 1906. Charity should however be extende:l to necessitous sur- vivors of such wrecks, especially to widows and orphan children.

(ii.) A sub-committee was appointed to enquire into cases referred to them by the

Registrar General, and to report to the General Committee.

(iii.) The Committee further recommended that a letter should be addressed to the Government to be forwarded to the proper quarter, expressing the thanks of the community for the action of the crew of H.M.S. Astræa in rescuing certain Chinese. A translation of this letter is attached, Enclosure B.

3. The sub-committee sat regularly, and made an interim report to the General Committee at a third meeting held on 18th instant, and a fiual report on 29th instant.

The recommendations of the sub-committee which were adopted, are as follows:-

(a.) $6,645 to be paid to the owners or crew of 75 craft, given in Enclosure C. (b.) $500 to be paid to the victims of the collapse of houses, as given in

Enclosure D.

(c.) $1,000 to be subscribed to the Blindenheim, Kowloon.

4 Claims raised in connection with 44 craft were disallowed. Besides these, 116 cases of loss or damage were reported; but the sufferers in these cases have failed to appear, although notices have been posted up five times calling on them to do so, and other steps taken to find them. The great majority of these cases are either bogus, or cases where the injury inflicted is trifling, or where in no case could compensation be awarded. The Committee now recommend that the enquiry be considered to be closed.

5. As regards the third recommendation, on which the Committee laid great stress, you are in a better position than the Committee or I to judge of the necessities of the case. But so far as our information goes, this institution, which does good work as is well known, suffered considerable loss in the typhoon. The roof was blown off, and temporary quarters have had to be engaged.

6. The sums detailed in Enclosures C and D of the Committee's report should be paid at once. They can in part be met by the interest on the 30,000 taels now with the Tung Wa; and the balance can be provided from the balance of the 1906 typhoon fund now with the Government together with the interest which has been accrued thereon.

The Honourable

Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary.

I have, &c.,

EDWARD A. IRVING, Registrar General.