GEOGRAPHY
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of the water shortages. In 1938, for instance, the total rainfall was only 55 inches, compared with the yearly average of 85 inches. In order to husband and conserve water reserves to meet the demands both of an ever increasing population and of agri- culture and industry, it has been necessary to apply restrictions during dry seasons for some part of every year since 1934. A vast building scheme to construct more reservoirs over the next few years (see chapter 14) is still unlikely to provide a constant water supply in the face of the rapidly increasing population and the expansion of industry.
VEGETATION
Hong Kong lies in the frost-free double cropping rice zone of east Asia. While rice remains the major crop of the New Territo- ries by area, its production and value otherwise are surpassed by market garden cropping. Where there is adequate water two crops of rice are grown each year. The first crop is sown into the nurseries in early March, transplanted in April and harvested in June and July. Second crop seedlings are nursed in June for planting out by the end of July and the crop is harvested during October and early November.
Market garden cropping, including the cultivation of cut-flowers for the urban and suburban markets, is becoming increasingly important. Vegetables are grown throughout the year, but most particularly during the cooler months which form the main vegetable season. Production is very intensive and in certain areas as many as eight crops a year are grown. The upland areas, which are predominantly grass covered and in several places severely eroded, tend to have highly leached acid soils. Land utilization of these areas is principally through afforestation, which has been vigorously pursued since 1945.
POPULATION
More than 98 per cent of the population is Chinese. The census taken in 1931 showed the population to be 849,751. In 1941 a count of heads for air raid precaution purposes put the figure at about 1,600,000. On the re-occupation of the Colony in 1945 the Japanese-sponsored Hong Kong News estimated the population at 650,000. The most recent census, taken in March 1961, showed