THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 31ST MAY, 1873.
REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,
.249
Hongkong, 5th May, 1873.
SIR,-I have the honour to forward the first Return, under the Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance, for the Quarter ending the 31st March, 1873.
288 Births and 699 Deaths have been registered during that period in Victoria and the four Districts of Shau-ki Wán, Stanley, Aberdeen and Kau-lung.
Of this number, 28 Births and 49 Deaths occurred amongst the population other than Chinese. Of the Deaths, 12 were of non-residents in the Colony, the remainder were thus divided
British,. Portuguese, German, Indian, Malays,.
...
...17 ·
9
1
6
4
The Births were of 15 Boys and 13 Girls. The number of Deaths and the causes are given in the enclosed Returns.
The Births amongst the Chinese were those of:-
Boys.
Girls.
Total.
District of Victoria,
114
90
204
13
Shau-ki Wán,
13
12
25
19
Stanley,
Aberdeen,
11
7
18
11
Kau-lung,
5
13
260
The Deaths in this class are thus divided:-
District of Victoria,
""
Shau-ki Wáng. Stanley: Aberdeen,
2)
19
Kau-lung,...
582
23
7
12
26
650
The Births are greatly out of proportion to the Deaths, but this is accounted for by the fact that so few of the Chinese have their families residing here, and also that a great number of Children are included in the Deaths whose Births have never been registered.
The majority of the Deaths of Children occurred at the Italian Convent (104), and at the Asyle de la Ste. Enfance (53), where the Children had been left either newly born or in a moribund condition.
13 bodies of Children were picked up in the Streets and buried by order of the Coroner.
No less than 66 of these Children must have been born since the Ordinance came into operation and their Births should have been registered.
Of the 104 Children who died at the Italian Convent, 85 were Girls, and of the 53 who died at. the Asyle de la Ste. Enfance, 44 were Girls.
This shows how culpably neglectful the Chinese are of their female Children.
The Ordinance, on the whole, has worked well as far as the Registration of Deaths is concerned,
but as I have before stated, inany Births have been concealed.
In the Registration of Deat is amongst the Chinese, some difficulty has been found in identifying the cause of Death, as given by the relations of the deceased, with any disease known and recognized by Western Science.
I anticipate, however, with the help of the Colonial Surgeon, and with the kind assistance already given by Dr. WONG, to get a complete list of Diseases as recognized by Chinese, and class them under the various heads, according, with slight alterations, to the forms used for the Returns of the Royal Naval Hospitals in England.
The Deaths amongst persons other than Chinese were at the rate of 30.5, and amongst the Chinese 22.5 annually for every thousand persons living.
The Death rate of the whole population of the Colony was 22.9 annually for every thousand [ersons living.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
The Honorable CECIL C. SMITH.
Acting Colonial Secretary,
HONGKONG.
M. S. TONNOCHY, Acting Registrar General,