12
The daily average of prisoners confined in the Gaol was 518, the highest previous average being 726 in 1901. The percentage of prisoners to population, according to the daily average of the former and the estimated number of the latter, was 161 as compared with 183, the average percentage for the last ten years. The Prison discipline was satisfactory, the average of punishments per prisoner being 1.21, as compared with 1.47 in 1905 and 1.1 in 1904.
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 $37,495.56.
The total strength of the Police Force for 1906 was Europeans 133, Indians 410, Chinese 504, making a total of 1,047, as compared with 1,018 in 1905 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 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.
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 New Kowloon and the Army and Navy Establishments. The estimated population at the middle of the year under review was 326,961 as follows:
Non-Chinese Civil Community, 12,174 Hongkong, Old Kowloon, 191,815 Chinese Population, 51,600 New Kowloon (approximate), 17,790 Floating Population, 42,550 Mercantile Marine, 2,375 306,130 Army, (average strength), 3,959 Navy, (average strength), 4,698 8,657 Total, 326,96113
New buildings (domestic) to the number of 162 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 crowding.
Under the Insanitary Properties Resumption Scheme twenty-one houses and a portion of one other have been resumed during the year, and these, together with thirty others which had been previously resumed were demolished. The total area covered by these buildings was 29,502 square feet.
During the year there were 842 deaths from Plague, compared with 287 in 1905 and 495 in 1904.
There were 1,634 deaths from Respiratory Diseases amongst the Chinese or 20.2 per cent of all Chinese deaths; 795 of these deaths were due to Phthisis.
Beri-beri caused 501 deaths—a high figure, but considerably lower (117 less) than that for 1905 and 174 less than in 1904.
The deaths from Malaria were 448 as against 287 in 1905, the increase being chiefly due to the prevalence of the disease among the coolies employed on the railway works. The average number of deaths from this disease has fallen from 552 in the quinquennium 1897 to 1901, to 354 in the quinquennium 1902 to 1906.
(e.) CLIMATE.
The average monthly temperature throughout the year was 71.8° F. as compared with 71.6° F. in 1905 and 72.0° F. during the ten preceding years. The maximum monthly temperature was attained in August, when it reached 88.8° F., and the minimum monthly temperature was recorded in January, when it was 54.8° F. The highest recorded temperature during the year was 93.7° F. on the 28th August, and the lowest 40.8° F. on the 2nd January. The total rainfall for the year was 77.80 inches as compared with an average of 77.46 inches during the past ten years. The wettest month was September, with 30.60 inches, the dryest, November, with only 0.18 inch. The greatest amount of rain which fell on any one day was 5.265 inches on the 29th September, while no rain fell on 215 days of the year. The relative humidity of the atmosphere throughout the year was 78 per cent, as compared with an average of 77 per cent. during the past 10 years. The average daily amount of sunshine was 5.3 hours being 47 per cent. of the possible duration.
New Kowloon was brought under the jurisdiction of the Sanitary Board in 1903, 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 411,972.
At the Census taken in 1906 the actual number of members of the Navy present in the Colony was 4,698.
(b.) PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION.
During the year under review considerable progress has been made in rendering existing domestic buildings rat-proof, as a preventive of Plague, 837 ground surfaces of houses having been made good with concrete and cement, while rat runs have been filled up with cement in 286 buildings.
X-POSTAL SERVICE.
The total Receipts paid into the Treasury in 1906 by the Postal Department amounted to $557,278.26 from which sum $136,824.22 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 $420,454.04 as Revenue of the Postal Service. The total expenditure amounted to $359,484.08, which after deducting $420,454.04 as Revenue, leaves a profit of $60,969.96.
An arrangement for the transmission of Insured Letters direct between the Straits Settlements and Hongkong came into force on the 1st December, 1906.
A direct exchange of Money Orders with Cape Colony came into force on 1st January. The new Post Office at Kowloon was occupied in September. The Western Branch Post Office was re-opened on 1st October.
Shanghai British Post Office was enlarged.
A Postal Agency was opened at Tientsin on 1st October.
The Pillar Box System in Hongkong was considerably extended during the year.