524
10
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 184 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, 35 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.
TX-VITAL STATISTICS.
(a.) POPULATION,
The population of the Colony according to the Census taken in 1897 was 248,880 aud 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
Chinese Population,
Hongkong, Old Kowloon,
211,246
73,473
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
11 -
New buildings (domestic) to the number of 260 were erected during the year and in these the effect of the present Ordinance is seen in the increased amount of open space, about the houses, which the law requires. Scavenging lanes which have to be provided in the rear of new houses also increase the open space about them and tend to reduce surface crowd- ing.
Under the Insanitary Properties Resumption scheme an area of 18,092 square feet has been resumed during the year in one of the most densely populated areas of the City.
During the year there were 287 deaths from plague, being 208 less than in 1904, and, except for the years 1895 and 1897, the lowest number of deaths from this disease since its appearance in 1894.
There were 1,585 deaths from Respiratory Diseases amongst the Chinese or 251 per cent. of all Chinese deaths.
1904.
Beri-beri caused 678 deaths-a high figure but slightly lower (57 less) than that for
The deaths from Malaria were 287 as against 301 in 1904. The figure for the annual deaths from this disease has fallen from 574 in 1901 to 287 in the year under review.
(e.) CLIMATE.
The average monthly temperature throughout the year was 710° F. as compared with 71-6° F. in 1904 and 720° F. during the ten preceding years. The maximum monthly temperature was attained in July, when it reached 878° F., and the minimum monthly tem- perature was recorded in February, when it was 31·6° F. The highest recorded temperature during the
year was 91-3° F. on the 18th July, and the lowest 42-8° F. on the 10th February.
The total rainfall for the year was 70.95 inches as compared with an average of 74.94 inches during the past ten years. The wettest month was June, with 19.70 inches, the dryest, November, with only 0.28 inch. The greatest amount of rain which fell on any one day was 7.955 inches on the 1st June, while no rain fell on 220 days of the
The year. relative humidity of the atmosphere throughout the year was 80 per cent., as compared with an average of 77 per cent. during the past 10 years. The average daily amount of sunshine was 5.1 hours being 45 per cent. of the possible duration.
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.
X-POSTAL SERVICE.
The total Receipts paid into the Treasury in 1905 by the Postal Department amounted to $574,840.87 from which sum $160,002.68 was transferred to other heads of General Revenue under which fees and duties are paid in stamps, which are now sold exclusively by the Post Office, leaving the sum of $414,838.19 as Revenue of the Postal Service. The total expenditure amounted to $585,449.25, which after deducting $414,838.19 as Revenue, leaves a deficit of $170,611.06, due to adjustment of the amount payable by this Colony towards the cost of the P. & O. Mail Service for the period from 1st February, 1898, to 31st January, 1905.
This Colony's share of the contribution towards the P. & O. Mail Subsidy under the new contract, has been fixed at £12,529 per annum, as from the 1st February, 1905.
The arrangement concluded with Germany as regards the exchange of Postal Parce's between this Colony and the German South Sea Islands came into force ou 1st June. Direct Money Orders were exchanged with Transvaal and the Federated Malay States during the
year.
Postage on letters to Australia was reduced from 10 cents to 4 cents per oz. from 15th July.
The Postal Arrangement with China came into force during the year.