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4. I adhered to the "double-block" system, which was so successful in 1901, for the Census of the City of Victoria. Each block was worked by two Chinese enumerators accom- panied by a District Watchman in uniform. As I pointed out in 1901, this is a better plan than making the enumerators work singly. It was necessary to make a few alterations in the blocks into which the City was divided in the previous Census, and 7 new ones were added, making a total of 60. All those which contained 3,000 persons and upwards in 1901 were reduced in size so as to allow for the probable increase of population in 5 years, while some of the smaller ones were enlarged. They were designed, as usual, to contain about 3,000 persons, but it is not an easy matter to do this with any degree of accuracy, owing to the changes which take place in the course of 5 years. Structural alterations in some of the older houses, the resumption of insanitary areas, the erection of new buildings, and the en- forcement of Legislative measures such as the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance of 1903, all tend to affect the density of the population in any given area. On the whole, how- ever, the Census blocks were of a suitable size, and the largest one only contained 4,800 people. The population of most of them had been over-estimated, and they will therefore require little alteration on the occasion of the next Census.
class.
5. 120 Chinese enumerators were engaged by me to enumerate the Chinese population of the City of Victoria. Some of them had had previous experience, and they were all of a good The supply of candidates was largely in excess of the demand. 200 could have been obtained without difficulty. In 1901, the number employed was 107. Great care was taken that the enumerators were thoroughly acquainted with their sections and between the 3rd and 10th November, they were given their books properly filled up and were shown round the blocks by the District Watchman in charge of each. The distribution of schedules com- menced on the 17th November, and they were returned to the Census Office by the 25th, with the exception of a few which did not come in until the 26th and 27th. I consider that this was a very creditable performance.
6. 10 European Police Sergeants, 3 European and 13 Chinese. Constables enumerated those portions of Victoria, which are inhabited chiefly by Non-Chinese. The Central Police District was divided into 7 sections, and the Eastern and Western into 3 each. Each was worked by a European Constable or Sergeant accompanied by a Chinese Constable or detective. The work of distribution commenced on the 16th November, and the schedules were all collected and returned by the 28th. The European Police Officers were provided with special rough books in which to enter the numbers of the schedules left at each house, and the pro- per enumerators' books were only used when the schedules were being collected. supplied a want that had been felt in 1901, and the work was greatly facilitated. The num- ber of persons dealt with by the Police enumerators in the City of Victoria was 7,688 Non- Chinese and 19,892 Chinese. The number of men employed was adequate for the purpose.
This
7. The Census of the Kowloon Peninsula, the Peak and the Hongkong villages of Aber- deen, Stanley, Pokfulam and Shaukiwan was also taken by the Police.
tors.
8. In Old Kowloon the Police were assisted by 10 specially engaged Chinese enumera- The Sections were the same as those used in 1901. In New Kowloon which comprises the Police districts of Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City, 5 Chinese enumerators were employed in addition to the Police. The present is the first detailed Census which has been taken of this portion of the Colony. In 1901 a house to house visitation only was made by the Police, and the people were not required to fill up schedules. The distribution of schedules in Kowloon was commenced on the 16th November, and they were collected and returned by the 30th. The work was very heavy, and many of the sections will have to be reduced in size at the next Census. One block in Hung Hom contained as many as 7,126 persons, which is far too great a number for two enumerators to deal with. A large number of schedules had, as usual, to be filled up by the enumerators, owing to the people on whom they were served, being unable to read or write. Inconvenience was also caused, though not to the same extent as in 1901, by people taking away their papers to be filled up elsewhere by petition writers and school masters, and not having them ready at hand when called for.
9. The Census of the Hill District was taken by Inspector MCHARDY, one European able, one hired interpreter, and a Chinese Constable.