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On
smithing, nut-making, tailoring, carpentering, etc. The proft the work done was $125,571.47 as against $77,750.18 in 1921. A sum of $3,298 was received and credited to Government for Don-Government work as against $4,658 in 1921.
IX.-VITAL STATISTICS.
(a.)-POPULATION.
The civil population of the Colony, according to the census taken on April 24th, 1921, was 625,166, of whom 83,163 reside in the New Territories and in New Kowloon; at the census taken in 1911 it was 456,739 with 104,287 as the figure for the New Territories and New Kowloon. The estimated total population at the middle of the year under review was 662,200, 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 population for the purposes of calculating these rates is estimated at 578,200, of whom 15,200 were non-Chinese-
The distribution of population estimated to the middle of 1922 was as follows :——
Non-Chinese Civil Community,...
Chinese
15,200
City of Victoria (including Peak),... Villages of Hongkong,
340,000
25,700
Kowloon (including New Kowloon),
133,000
New Territories,
84,000
Population afloat,
64,300
647,000
662,200
Total Chinese Population,
Total Civil Population,
(b) PUBLIC 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 fed with their families to Hongkong during 1011, 1912, and 1913 elected to remain in the Colony.
The birth-rate for the year was 6-25* par 1,000 among the Chinese community and 2284 per 1,000 among the non-Chinese community, as compared with 5'08 and 25-88 for 1921.
*This figme is wholly misleading as it is impossible to register more than a portion of the births.
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The death-rate for the year was 2588 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 2046 among the non-Chinese civil com- munity, as compared with 20-29 and 18-08 for 1921.
The number of deaths from Malaria were 454 (332 in 1921). The deaths of Chinese from this cause in the City of Victoria numbered 116 out of a population of 360,000 or a rate of 0:34 per 1,000 per annum.
The deaths from Plague numbered 1,071 as compared with 130 in 1921.
Small-pox deaths numbered 189, ali but three were Chinese.
There were 4,863 deaths from respiratory diseases other than Pulmonary Tuberculosis as compared with 3,834 in 1921, and 94 of these were among the Non-Chinese community. Pulmonary Tuber- culosis claimed 1,385 Chinese and 25 non-Chinese victims whilst other forms of Tuberculosis represent an additional G86 deaths making a total of 2,096 or 14:38 per cent. of the total deaths among the community.
Beri-beri was responsible for 829 deaths, as compared with 520 during 1921 and 301 in 1919. During the past few years circulars have been distributed to all large employers of coolie 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 statemout of the principal causes of death is appended.
(c.)—CLIMATE,
The climate of Victoria 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 on the average about 3o lower than at the Observatory, Kowloon, in the winter, and 8o lower in the summer. 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-wost side of the Island is protected from the NE monsoon in winter and enjoys the benefit of the SW monsoon in summer.
For further particulars seo Appendix F.
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