HONG KONG, 1898.
DIC
26
COLONIAL REPORTS--ANNUAL.
509
VITAL STATISTICS,
(A.) POPULATION.
The population of the last census, which was taken in 1897, was 246,880. As the returns of the 1891 census gave the figures at 221,441, there is thus an increase of 25,439.
It is estimated that in the middle of 1898 the population stood as follows:-
Non-Chinese civil population 39,940 33,370 Chinese population :- City of Victoria, including Peak and Stonecutters Island 165,900 Villages in Hong Kong and Kowloon 8,732 Floating population 239,210 Army Navy 3,073 3,385 Total estimated population of the Colony 254,400(B.) PUBLIC HEALTH.
The total number of deaths during 1898 was 5,674, showing a death-rate of 22.3. Of the 5,674 deaths recorded, 1,175 were from plague; therefore excluding deaths from plague the death-rate for the year was only 17.7.
The deaths were distributed as follows :-
Non-Chinese :- White 200 showing a death-rate of 16.2 Coloured... 91 Chinese 5,383 35 31COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
27
1898.
There was a serious outbreak of plague in the spring, and of the 1,320 cases reported in Hong Kong, 1,175 proved fatal. This represents a mortality of 88.1 per cent. There was also an outbreak of small-pox. From enteric fever the total deaths numbered 23, which represents a mortality of 44.2 per cent. The mortality among the European cases was 35.1 per cent.
(C.) SANITATION.
Sanitary conditions are still far from perfect, and the Government recognises that sanitation is one of the most important matters that can engage its attention. There has been an improvement during the past four or five years, owing to a strict enforcement of the Public Health Ordinance (No. 24 of 1887) and the Insanitary Properties Ordinance (No. 15 of 1894). But this improvement cannot be said to be universal, and it is to be feared that many of the Chinese dwellings in the city are structurally in a very insanitary condition. There was an Insanitary Properties Commission appointed during the year, and as a result of its enquiries a number of recommendations were submitted to the Government. These recommendations, together with amendments suggested by the Board, will be embodied in a Bill which, when it becomes law, will probably do much for the amelioration of the present unsatisfactory state of affairs.
It has recently been proposed to erect a refuse destructor of the type now common in many English cities, whereby the town refuse may be destroyed in forced draught furnaces instead of being conveyed to dumping grounds as at present. Estimates have been received from two English firms, and the Government hopes to find an early opportunity of giving this matter the attention which it deserves.
33 33.6 22.5 Total 5,674 Average death-rate... 22.3The deaths in the army numbered 32, of which 23 were British and the rest Indian; in the navy there were 11 deaths among British seamen. Seven per 1,000 of the deaths among British troops were due to malarial diseases alone. Two Indian soldiers and one British soldier died of plague.
(D) CLIMATE.
1. Rainfall. The total rainfall for the year was 57.025 inches. In 1897 it was 100.03. The wettest months were June (14.25 inches) and August (9.9 inches). The driest month was December, with 0.025 inches. The greatest rainfall on any day was that on August 25th (2.585 inches). On 213 days there was no rain. The relative humidity of the atmosphere throughout the year was 74.6 per cent.; December was lowest with 52 per cent., May and June were highest with 83 per cent.
The average daily sunshine throughout the year was 5.8 hours, compared with 4.78 in 1897. On 41 days only no sunshine was recorded.