300
The Births registered during the year were as follows:-
-
Males. Chinese,...
736 Non-Chinese, 161
897
Females. Total.
388
135
1,124 296
523
1,420
Four hundred and eighty-two births were registered during the year in the West Point and East Point registration offices in Victoris, an increase of 66 on the number registered in 1906. The total number also of Chinese births registered in Victoria shews a satisfactory increase.
The number of deaths registered during year
was :--
Chinese, Non-Chinese,
***
Total,
6,999 287
7,286
Two hundred and ninety-nine permits were issued to exhume human remains for removal to China or for reburial in the Colony. Four hundred and forty one certificates were issued by the Police for removal of bodies from the Colony.
VACCINATION,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The total number of vaccinations recorded is 7,420 compared with 7,450 in 1906. The record includes only vaccinations performed at the hospitals, and dispensaries and by the hospital ad dispensary vaccinators. An increase is shown in the vaccinations at Hurg- bom, Kowloon City and Yanmali, The returns from the villages show an improvement. At Yaumati and Shaukiwan Lowever the percentage of vaccinations to births is not yet as high as it ought to be.
REGISTRAT ́ON OF BOOKS.
charges above the fixed ratos, and timber mer- cbants 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. Bill has been submitted by the Trustees of the Temple property for the approval of the Government and is w 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 laud behind the Temple. This laud 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 Sbamabuipo 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 & struggle for the control of the property between the Puntei and the Hakka inhabitants of the village.
A petition to which 322 chops were affixed was received in Warch from the inhabitants of Yaumati. Petitioners complained of the in crease 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 lessen to the satisfaction of the Registrar General, who will be guided in his decision by the wishes of the inhabitants, of the village. The Government decided to put the pier site up to auction in the usual way..
Fifty-three books were registered during the ated stories reached me of the blackmailing of year, compared with sixty-five in 1906.
COPYRIGHT IN WORKS OF THE FINE ARTS
were
Two sets of photographs and one" Map and Wall Directory of Hongkong Central registered during the year.
CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY TO CHINES ?
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ETC.
During the winter of 1906-1907 well-sublanti-
Chinese by a man who posed as Lan Kwang, a notorious brigaad in the Heangshan district. The man could not be traced, as he carried on bis business with great discretion, but be at last committed an error of judgment in attempting to blackmail Mr. Tsui Sea-ling who knocked him dow and marched him a mile to the
Dearest police station.
The activity of the Botanical and Forestry Department in protecting plantations led in The number of certificates issued during from the Kowloon District on behalf of the March to the receipt of numerous petitions the years 1906 and 1907 was :-
To the United States,...
**
Hawaiian Islands, Philippines,
1
7
2
3
7
The issue of these certificates in now confined to Chinese who are British Subjects resident in Hongkong.
GENERAL
In deference to the wishes of the Chinese merobants 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 WE 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 diepate 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
wood-cutters. As a result further action was
In suspended pendinginvestigatino. the country districts the principal fuel is dry grass and during the year it was found neces ary to warn the villagers of Little Hongkong that grass-cutting was not permitted in platations
or in the natural forest,
On the advice of Mr. Lockhart and Dr. Ho Kai, a Chinese Illustrated Encyclopædia
(† 4 B¥‡ has been bought
published under Imperial Authority in 1726 for the Office Library. This work was first and a new edition has been lately brought out in Shanghai.
A Chinese procession-he first of its kind since March, 18.4.-ws held on the 5th, 6th and 7th of Decemb-r. It attracted a grat nu ber of people to the Colony but the large crowds were quite crderly and there was no increase of crime. The commit'ee of manage- ment were able to hand over $12,800-the unexpended Lalance of subscriptions, to charitable purposes.
{May 11, 1908.
ITALIAN CONVENT.
CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS.
The Italian Convent, which plays an im- portant part in the social ecomony of Hongkong more particularly in the religious and edno. tional side, may fairly claim sme little attention at the present time when it is cele- brating the centenary of the founding of the Institution to which it belongs. The Cancssian Sisters of Charity, though one of the youngest of the many orders developed by the religious zeal of the sons and daughters of the Roman atholic Church, is one of the most effective organisations that have emanated from Italy. Its success, which has been so remarkable in Hongkong, is largely due to the fact that the devoted sisters, who give their life so un- grud.ingly to the cause which they love, do not confine their labours to religious spheres but undertake the care of foundli gs and orphans and educate and train the young into intelligent citiz 8
The Institution owes its origin to the daughter of one of Italy's most noble houses, Mag- dallen, the Marchioness of Canossa, who was born in Verona on the 8th May, 1774. She founded the Institution of the Sisters of Charity in her own country on the 5th May, 1908, and during her lifetime she opened five convents where she placed sisters who were willing to give themselves up to the sacred cause of charity. She died on the 10th April, 1835, at the age of 61, in the first convent which she established. 'This con veut, which was dedicated Emperor of the French, Napoleon Bonaparte, to St. Joseph, was the gift of the great
There are now in Italy 115 convents, and quite a large number are found in other parts of
the World.
In 1860 six sisters came from Italy to Hung- kong. and the small beginnings of that little
band has resulted in the establishment of the larg institution in Caine Road and its various A small agencies throughout the Colony. house was rented for them in Caine Road, and growth of the Colony the scope of their labour there they started their good work. With the
known they were appreciated. Sympathisers was extended, and as their efforts became
assisted them, and little by little the institution
until grew
it reached its present pro. portions. In addition to the Convent in Caine Road, it bas under its aegis St. Francis School) at Wanchai, St. Mary's School at Kowlod the home for foundlings at West Point, and Chinese Schools at Shaukiwan, Yau- miti, Hunglom snd Aberdeen, besides homes for foundlings at Namtau and Sambue. The last mentioned was only opened six months ago and it has already received 10 babies, 61 of whom are living and well In the words of
branches. to feed every day, that is including our In the Convent alone there are 500.
There are about £0 sisters, 60 boarders, and th remainder are destitutes and orphans. We have now 200 day scholars.".
the Mother Superior "we have 800 months
The
With regard to the personnel of the Instita. tion it is interesting to note that one of the six sisters who laid its foundation in Hongkong is still alive and well. Despite her 75 years, sister Maria Stella is very aotive, and looks well after her 4 years' residence in the East. first novice received by the Sisters was the daughter of Sir John Bowring, then Governor of Hongkong. Most of the sisters to-day are Italian, but their number includes Portuguese, Spanish and German,
The Sisters of Charity are now represented in Hankow, Hunan and Shanai, while convents have been established in Macao, Timor, Singa- pore, Malacca and India.
4th had on board a distinguished passenger The homeward bound German mail on May
The institution now comprises schools, hos- in the person of Sir Rob rt Hart, the In-pitals and homes for foundings, and its work is spector General of Customs who is going to necessarily on a very large scale. England on a holiday which is expected to end in his retiring from the position which he has filled so ably. The Yorck reached port about six o'clock and Captain Taylor, A.D.C. to H.E. the Governor, went on board as repre. senting Sir Frederick Lugard with an offer of entertainment which Sir Robert declived-on the score of ill-health, Mr. Parr, C‹mmissioner of Chinese Customs in Hongkong, and Mr. T. E. Cocker, Deputy Commissioner, also called on Sir Robert Hart.
The centenary celebrations begin to-day with services in the Convent Charob. There is s 8-rmon in Chinese to-dy, another in Portuguese on Sunday, and a third in English on Monday. (nues ay there will be high mass in the morn. ing and at night the convent Luilding will be
illuminated in honour of the historica occasion.
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