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In the past it has been impossible to say what was the total of persons entering or leaving the Colony during any given period. As the capacity of the Colony tọ receive immigrants is not unlimited, it is suggested that some means be devised whereby it may be possible not only to estimate the figures of population in intra- censual periods but also the total of persons entering the Colony to reside in it. Meanwhile, until it is possible to have a full-scale census compiled, a half-year), estimate of population should be made.
15. SOCIAL WELFARE AND RELIEF
In spite of all the Medical Department do in more normal times conditions of health in Hong Kong are not satisfactory. Just before the war the population was being frequently disrupted by outbreaks of discase and officials of the Department were kept constantly on edge, The death rate was high and there was much wastage
on account of chronic ill-health and destitution. A vivid picture of conditions in Victoria, the most over-crowded and insanitary area in Hong Kong, is painted by Dr. Wellington in his Review. After visiting some of the places he describes I find the picture by no means overdrawn. Although the Sino-Japanese hostilities have ceased the problem of overcrowding is still likely to be with long Kong.
For many reasons Hong Kong will continue to draw people from Canton just as much as before. They are treated with understanding and there is work for most of them with, in normal times, reasonably cheap feeding. In addition, they cceive fair treatment and 'can carry on their business without disturbance. There is no difficulty in getting into the Colony; if people find the front door inconvenient there are plenty less con- spiquous entrances.
While the flow of immigration remains unimpeded the capacity of Hong Kong is measured in terms of houses and accommodation. This has been grossly deficient for a number of years; before the Japanese invasion it was physically impossible to get more people into the tenements of Victoria. Already again they are overcrowded. I have seen conditions in these tenements as bad as those anywhere in the world. Opposite the Central Market, Colonel Ware and I went down an alleyway with a broken sewer and the contents seeping over the opening. We'visited the first floor flat in a vacant house at the end of it. The staircase was dark and dirty. The flat was about 30' x 11' in size, with a small verandah at the end overlooking the street. It was divided into cubicles, each about 8'x 6'. The narrow passageway was lined with bunks and, at the end of it, there was a shop. All the cubicles, and gangway, were packed with 'furniture and various oddments and there was much livestock on the
There were big rabbits maintained for breeding, pigeons, ducks, chickens premises. and lobsters all alive except the lobsters. A Chinese lady was obeying a call of nature as we passed one cubicle and Colonel Ware prophesied that the contents of the chamberpot would be tipped into the street at nightfall; in any event, we could find no latrine. There were some fifteen human occupants, at ten o'clock in the morning, and Colonel Ware thought that the population would increase as night came along. air and light-well had been roofed over at the level of the first floor so as to increase the accommodation below.
The
We visited another tenement building where the plumbing was badly in need of repair. Colonel Ware explained that in more normal times, there would be available an emergency repair service which would quickly deal with reported damage to the drainage system. Sanitary Inspectors were each given charge of an allotted number of floors to supervise, but it would take many months with his present staff to visit all the houses in Victoria and get them more under control.
This picture which is typical of the built-up area of Victoria, surely one' of the most congested areas in the world, shows the ever-present danger of epidemic disease breaking out. It is like the proverbial bit of tinder needing only a spark to set it alight. The area seen was already overcrowded, while the immigration figure is rising daily. The policy is not to harrass the movement of coolie population into Hong Kong but there must be some limit, based on the capacity of the accommodation available.
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