358
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
Public Works.
4. The public works and roads of the Colony have involved an outlay of no less a sum than £3,224l. 8s. 5d.; but it is satisfactory to know that the work which has absorbed nearly one half of this sum, viz. the Pok-fu-lum reservoir, is verging on completion, and bids fair to repay the community most amply for the heavy outlay which has been incurred. The other undertakings which have drawn prominently on the resources of the Colony are the Court House, telegraphic communication around the Island, accommodation for the gaol staff, and repair of the sea-wall.
Population.
5. The day fixed upon for taking the Census of the British and foreign community, viz. the 2nd of April, 1871, not being a convenient period for collecting statistics of the Chinese population, the Census regarding them was taken, with the assent of the Secretary of State, in October, 1870. The returns are not, however, to be altogether relied upon, as so prone are the Chinese, like other Asiatics, to suspect the authorities to have some covert design, that they fail in many cases to comply with the requirements of the law. Such as they are, the returns show an increase since 1869, in the British and foreign population, of 447, and in the Chinese of 1,437; the respective numbers, inclusive of the military and naval establishments, being as follows:-
Europeans and Americans 5,931 Indians and others of mixed blood 2,823 Chinese 115,444 Total 124,198Emigration.
6. Emigration under contract to foreign countries having been prohibited by Her Majesty's Government, and considerable opposition having been given in the United States to the introduction of Chinese labourers, the numbers leaving this port have been reduced by 5,293 as compared with the preceding year.
The emigration of Chinese through Hong Kong has, however, been considerable, viz:—
To the United States 11,024 To the Australian colonies 775 To Callao 381 To Bangkok 381 To Labuan 70 To Honolulu 361 Total 12,992