89
-- 38
these were among the Non-Chinese community. Pulmonary Taber- culosis claimed 1,318 Chinese and 95 non-Chinese victims whilst other forms of Tuberculosis represent an additional 576 deaths making a total of 1,894 or 15'9 per cent. of the total deaths among the community.
Beri-beri was responsible for 520 deaths, as compared with 381 during 1920 and 555 in 1919. During the past few years circulars have been distributed to all large employers of enolie labour calling their attention to the fact that Beri-beri is produced by the consumption of white rice as the staple article of diet with- out 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 appended.
(e.) CLIMATE.
The principal features of the weather in 1921 were :--
(0) Heavy rainfall from April 27th to July 6th, during which period 59 inches of rain fell on 9 days; and
a drought from September 9th to the end of the year when only 1 inch of rain fell.
Abnormally low wind velocity in March, increasing gradually to normal in July.
in
1
Barometric pressure was considerably above normal January, July and October, and considerably below in May-June and August. The mean pressure for the year at station level was 29-848ins. as against 29-814ios. in 1920 and 29-843ins for the past 38 years. The highest pressure was 30-323ina. on January 14th as against 30:374ins. in 1920 and 30-509ins for the past 38 years. The lowest pressure was 29319ins, on July 24th, as against 29-208ins. in 1920 and 28-735ins. for the past 38 years.
The temperature of the air was moderately above normal in February, March, April, August and December and moderately below in January. The mean temperature for the year was 729- as against 72-0 in 1920 and 718 for the past 38 years. The highest temperature was 922 on August 22nd as against 93°1 in 1920 and 970 for the past 38 years. The lowest temperature was 44°0 on February 4th as against 45°-1 in 1920 and 32-0 for the past 38 years.
The rainfall was very considerably above normal in May, and moderately above normal in March, August and September. It was considerably below normal in April, October, November and December. The total for the year was 07:340ins, as against 107'880ios. in 1920 and 84.620ins. for the past 38 years. The greatest fall in one civil day was 6060îne. on September 3rd and the greatest in one hour was 3-250. between 1.30 pau. and 2.30 p.m. on May 31st.
39
The wind velocity was considerably below normal in January, March, April, May and October. In July it was normal and in the remaining months it was slightly below normal. The mean velocity for the year was 107 m.p.h. as against 120 m.p.h. in 1920 and 127 m.p.h. for the past 38 years. The maximum velocity for one hour as recorded by the Beckley Anemograph was 51 miles at Il am. on July 24th as against 51 miles in 1920 and 108 for the past 38 years. The maximum squall velocity, as recorded by the Dines-Baxendell Anemograph, was at the rate of 69 m.p.h, at 5b. 53m. a.m. on September 3rd as against 61 m.p.h. in 1920 and 105 m.p.h. for the past 12 years.
The climate of Hongkong is similar in its broad features to that of Kowloon and the New Territories, but at the higher levels, from 1,400 to 1,800 feet above sea level the temperature is usually from 3° to 8° lower than at the Observatory, Kowloon. The humidity is usually greater than in Kowloon and approaches saturation for several days at a time during March and April when mist is very prevalent. In summer the city of Victoria, and the rising terraces behind it, derive little or no benefit from the SW monsoon, being sheltered by steep hills from SE to SW. In winter it is exposed to the NE monsoon, which occasionally blows along the harbour through Lyemun Pass with considerable violence. On the other hand the south-west side of the Island is protected from the NE monsoon in winter and enjoys the benefit of the SW
monsoon in summer.
X-POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH SERVICES.
The total revenue from the postal service in 1921 amounted to $644,157.54 being $118,035.46 more than that collected in 1920. The net expenditure amounted to $261,077.84. The balance of revenue over expenditure amounted to $383,079.70.
The revenue collected in 1921 from radio-telegrams amounted
to $19,082.98 being $4,491.25 more than that collected in 1920. Advices of vessels signalled at the lighthouses yielded $670.60, and semaphore messages $3.30, making a total of $19,756.88 for the telegraph service. The expenditure amounted to $45,592.19. The number of radio-telegrains forwarded during the year was! 2,235 consisting of 30,239 words, and 6,182 received consisting of 82,513 words.
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.'s contract mail service between the United Kingdom and the Far East was resumed with the despatch of the s.s. Nellore from Hongkong on the 21st December, 1921,
8th August, 1922,
Safetcher
Colonial Secretary.
a.
m. He Coher
21
Page 90Page 91