-994
HONGKONG
The Census Officer estimated the number of British nationals of European race at 4,300, and of British children of European race of all ages at about 500.
The Garrison consists of British and Indian troops. There is also a local Volunteer Defence Corps. The approaches to the harbour are strongly fortified, the batteries consisting of well-constructed earthworks. The western entrance is protected by three batteries on Stonecutters' Island and two forts on Belcher and Fly Points, from which a -tremendous converging fire could be maintained, completely commanding the Sulphur Channel. Pine Wood battery, on the hill above and west of Richmond Terrace, has a wide range of fire. The Ly-ee-mùn Pass is defended by two forts on the Hongkong side and another on Devil's Peak on the mainland, and if vessels survived that fire they would then have to face the batteries at North Point and Hunghom, which completely command the eastern entrance. Another battery on the bluff at Tsim-tsa Tsui, Kowloon, commands the whole of the centre of the harbour. The batteries are armed with the latest breech-loading ordnance. The Colony of Hongkong pays to - the British Government a military contribution fixed at 20 per cent. of the revenue.
In addition to the fortifications the Colony possesses a small squadron for harbour defence. The Naval Yard consists of a large dock, an extensive range of workshops and offices east of the Artillery Barracks, and the Naval Authorities have another large establishment on the Kowloon side near to Yaumati.
CLIMATE
As intimated in earlier paragraphs, Hongkong formerly possessed a most unenviable notoriety for unhealthiness, and in years past the troops garrisoned here suffered grievously from malarial fevers. At the present time, however, the Colony is one of the healthiest spots in the world in the same latitude. The influence of the young pine forests created by the Afforestation Department and the training of nullahs on the slopes have no doubt been beneficial in checking malaria, and the attention latterly bestowed on sanitation has not been without its due effect. The deaths from malaria in 1922 numbered 454, i.e., 122 more than in either of the two previous years. The general death-rate per 1,000 in 1922 was 25.16. Among the Chinese community the death-rate was 25.47 per 1,000, compared with 20.29 in 1921 and 22.78 in 1920. Amongst the non-. Chinese civiliani community the death-rate per 1,000 was 20.46 as against 18.08 in 1921.
Four successive years of comparative drought, 1898-1901, led to the assumption that the rainfall of Hongkong was decreasing. But such is not the case; the mean annual rainfall for the period 1902-11 was 84.21 inches against 68.29 inches for the period 1895- 1901. Until 1918 the rainfall was never so heavy as in the period 1888-1894, when the mean annual fall was 101.08 inches. In 1918 it was 101.605 inches, in 1919 76.14 inches, in 1920 107.88 inches, in 1921 97.34 inches, and in 1922 69.435 inches.
TRADE
The value of the trade of Hongkong was estimated for many years at about £50,000,000 per annum, but the returns compiled by the Statistical Branch of the Imports and Exports Department, established during the war, showed a total (excluding treasure) for 1922 of £122,191,827, as compared with £135,834,936 in 1921. Imports were valued at £61,213,363 and exports at £60,978,464, as compared with £68,143,059 and £67,691,877 respectively in 1921. The falling off may be attributed to the Seamen's strike extending from January 12th to March 5th.
United Kingdom
British Colonies, Dominions and Protectorates
China
Japan, Korea and Formosa
Other Foreign Countries
...
...
...
...
Imports
(including treasure)
Exports
£8,264,136
£724,638
8,454,847
6,578,971
9,652,891
50,483,655
8,494,507
2,616,653
36,064,598
14,739,353
The imports (including treasure £5,326,204) from the U.S.A. were valued at £11,490,661 and the exports to that country at £2,666,760, as compared with £12,236,175 and £2,937,226, respectively, in the previous year.