114
The daily average of prisoners confined in the Gaol was 697, the highest previous average being 726 in 1904. The percentage of prisoners to population, according to the daily average of the former and the estimated number of the latter, was 18 as compared with 214, the average percentage for the last ten years. The Prison discipline was satis- factory, the average of punishments per prisoner being 1.47, as compared with 1.1 in 1904 and 2.34 in 1903. The continued overcrowding of the Gaol emphasises the necessity for the proposed new Convict Prison, and the question of a fresh site has for some time past been under consideration.
The remunerative labour carried on in the Gaol consists of printing, book-binding, washing, carpentry, boot-making, net-making, painting and white-washing, mat-making, tailoring, oakum-picking, etc., the value of the work done being $45,762.40.
The total strength of the Police Force for 1905 was Europeans 133, Indians 382, Chinese 503, making a total of 1,018, as compared with 993 in 1904 exclusive in each case of the four Superior Officers and a staff of clerks and coolies. Of this Force an Assistant Superintendent, who also acted as Magistrate, and 19 Europeans, 85 Indians and 44 Chinese were stationed in the New Territory during the greater part of the year.
The force of District Watchmen to which the Government contributes $2,000 per annum was well supported by the Chinese during the year.
IX.-VITAL STATISTICS.
(a.) POPULATION.
The population of the Colony according to the Census taken in 1897 was 248,880 and according to the Census of 1901 it was 283,975 exclusive of New Kowloon and the Army and Navy Establishments. The estimated population at the middle of the year under review was 377,850, as follows:-
Non-Chinese Civil Community,
10,452
Hongkong, Old Kowloon,
211,246
73,473
Chinese Population,
New Kowloon (approximate), Floating Population,
..
21,000
54,154
359,873
Army, (average strength, Navy, (average strength),
4,274 3,251
7,525
Total.
377,850
New Kowloon was brought under the jurisdiction of the Sanitary Board in 1904, and its estimated population has accordingly been included. The population of the remainder of the New Territories according to the census of 1901 was 85,011 making when added to the present estimate a grand total of 462,861.
At the Census taken in 1901 the actual number of members of the Navy present in the Colony was 5,597 and the estimated average number resident in Hongkong during 1905 is put at 3,251.
(b.)-PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION.
During the year under review considerable progress has been made in providing existing domestic buildings with increased window area as required under the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance of 1903, 2,512 houses having been thus dealt with.