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for non-criminal offences there were 281 less under the Harbour Ordinance, and 95 more for hawking without a lierner than in 1914.
The daily average of prisoners confibed in the Gaol was 594, the average for 1914 being 600, and 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 0-11. The average percentage for the last ten years was 12. Owing, however, to the large floating population, which is constantly moving between the Colony and Canton, the percentage of crime to population does not convey an accurate idea of the comparative criminality of the residents of the Colony. The Gool has accommodation for 630 prisoners.
The prison discipline was satisfactory, the average of punish- wents per prisoner being 141 as compared with 1:34 in 1914 and
1-22 in 1913.
Long sentence prisoners serving two years and upwards ure taught useful trades, including printing, Hook-binding, tin-smithing. mat-making, tailoring, carpentering, etc The profit on the work done was $63,515 as against $66,034 in 1914. A sum of $31,082 was received and credited to Government for non-Government work against $3,329 in 1914.
IX-VITAL STATISTICS.
AT POPULATION.
The civil population of the Colony, according to the Census taken on May 20th, 1911, was 456,739, of whom 104,287 reside in the New Territories and in New Kowloon: at the Census taken in 1906 it was 301,967 exclusive of the New Territories and of New Kowloon. The estimated total population at the middle of the year under review was 509,180, but this includes the New Territories; and, as the birth and death figures given below do not include those from this area (with the exception of New Kowloon), the popula tion for the purposes of calculating these rates is estimated at 418,160, of whom 13,320 were Non-t'binese.
The distribution of population estimated to the middle of 1915 was as follows:-
Non-Chinese Civil Community,
Chinese
Population.
City of Victoriu (including Peak),, Villages of Hongkong.
.....13,320
259,730
15,200
Kowloon (including New Kowloon).
73,100
New Territories,..
91.000
58,790
495,810
509.160
Population afloat.
Tutal Chinese Population,
Total Civil Population.
(6)-Pestic HEALTH AND SANITATION.
The activity in building operations, which has been so notice- able a feature since 1912 has not abated, and the demand for housing accommodation by the Chinese continued to be greatly in excess of the supply, as many of those who fled with their families to Hongkong during 1911, 1912 and 1913 elected to remain in the Colony.
The corrected birth-rate for the year was 8-4 per 1,000 among the Chinese community anal 13-2 per 1,000 among the Non-Chinese community, as compared with 9-9 and 16'8 during 1914.
The death-rate for the year was 1970 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 9-4 among the Non-Chinese community, us compared with 23-8 and 12·9 during 1914.
The amber of deaths from Malaria (866) shows un increase
on the previous year (241). The deaths of Chinese from this cause in the City of Victoria numbered 157 out of a population of 257,760 or a rate of Orli per 1000 per annum.
The deaths from Pluguo numbered 144 as compared with 2,020 in 1914 and 408 in 1913.
Small-pox denths numbered 29, all Chinese, with the exception. of two Japanese children and one British chill.
There were 2,309 deaths from respiratory diseases among the Chinese, as compared with 2,252 in 1914. Palmonary Tuberculosis and Phthisis claimed 796 Chinese victims, while other forms of Tuberculosis represent an additional 332 deaths, making a total of 1,128 or 14-6 per cent, of the total deaths among that community,
Beri-beri was responsible for 398 deaths, as compared with 399 daring 1914 and 330 in 1913. During the past few years cirenlars have been distributed to all large employers of coolic labour culling their attention to the fact that Beri-beri is produced by the consumption of white rice as the staple article of diet with- ont a sufficiency of other foods, and advising that beans should be supplied with the rice, when fresh meat or fresh fish cannot be afforded.
A tabular statement of the principal causes of death is uppended.
CLIMATE.
The mean shade temperature for the year at the Royal Obser- vatory. Kowloon, (108 feet above mean sea level), was 734, the same as to 1913, and 11 higher than the mean for the past 10 years. The maximam temperature was 934 on the 28th July and the minimum 41°-7 ca the 16th January. The hottest month was August, with a mean temperature of 835 and the coldest, January, with a mean temperature of 60o-1.
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