There was one beggar for every 3,800 people on the island (when the population was 3.8 million). Born in Tamsui, Shih Chien spent his life providing relief for beggars. He heads the list of those who made contributions to social welfare during the Japanese era.
根據統計，當時每三千八百名台灣人裡便有一名乞丐（彼時台灣人口計三百八十萬人），而出身於淡水的施乾，終生致力於乞丐救濟事業，成為以社會福利事功列名於日據台灣史文獻的第一人。