292
The number of minor offences reported shows an increase of 423 as compared with 1906.
The number of minor offences reported was 385 above the average of the quinquennial period.
The total number of persons committed to Victoria Gaol was 5,877, as compared with 5,799 in 1906, but of these only 2,460 were committed for criminal offences, against 2,575 in 1906. Of committals for non-criminal offences there were 84 less under the Prepared Opium Ordinance and 44 less for infringement of Sanitary Bye-laws.
The daily average of prisoners confined in the Gaol was 502, the average for 1906 being 518 and the highest previous average being 726 in 1904. The percentage of pri- soners to population, according to the daily average of the former and the estimated number of the latter, was .144 as compared with .161, the average percentage for the last ten years. The Prison discipline was satisfactory, the average of punishments per prisoner being 1.50, as compared with 1.21 in 1906 and 1.47 in 1905.
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 profit on the work done being, $37,434 as against $34,495 in 1906.
The total strength of the Police Force for 1907 was Europeans 135, Indians 410, Chinese 503, making a total of 1,048, as compared with 1,047 in 1906 exclusive in each case of the five Superior Officers and a staff of clerks and coolies. These figures include Police paid for by the Railway, Private Firms, and other Government Departments. Of this Force the District Officer and 13 Europeans, 101 Indians and 45 Chinese were stationed in the New Territories during 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. These watchmen patrol the -treets in the Chinese quarter of the City. They are placed on Police beats and are supervised by the European Police on section patrol.
IX-VITAL STATISTICS.
(a.) POPULATION.
The population of the Colony according to the Census taken in 1901 was 283,975 while at the Census taken in 1906 it was 301,967 exclusive of the New Territories, New Kowloon and the Army and Navy Establishments. The estimated population at the middle of the year under review was 414, 308 as follows:-
Non-Chinese Civil Community,
12,700
Chinese Population,
Hongkong, Kowloon..
192,400
71,950
Floating Population, Mercantile Marine,
43,530
2,700
310,580
Army, (average strength),
3,920
Navy, (average strength),.
2,157
6,077
New Territories (exclusive of Kowloon).....................
85,011
Total,.
114,368
At the Census taken in 1906 the average strength of the Navy present in the Colony was 4,698.