Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
The cause in 1903 was over the average. There were 1,415 cases of plague reported during the year, as compared with 572 in 1902. Of the total cases, 1,251 resulted in death. As usual, the greatest number of cases occurred in May and June. Sixty cases of small-pox were notified, 10 of cholera, 44 of enteric fever, and 397 of beri-beri.
The gradual improvement of the sanitation of the Colony is shown by the fact that, in spite of the long death-roll from plague, the death-rate from all causes among both non-Chinese and Chinese shows a diminution. This is partly and indirectly due to the steady decline in the mortality from malarial fever, against which a crusade is being maintained in this Colony with conspicuous success.
(C.) CLIMATE.
The average monthly temperature throughout the year was 71.5° F., as compared with 73.4° F. in 1902 and 71.3° F. during the ten preceding years. The maximum monthly temperature was attained in June, when it reached 82.0° F.; and the minimum monthly temperature was recorded in January, when it was 58.3° F. The highest recorded temperature during the year was 92.4° F. on July 31st, and the lowest 41.9° F. on February 3rd.
The returns from the Hong Kong Observatory show that the total rainfall for the year was 93.65 inches, as compared with an average of 77.86 inches during the past ten years. The wettest month was June with 25.23 inches, the driest December with only 0.03 inch. The greatest amount of rain which fell on any one day was 8.50 inches on the 28th June, while no rain fell on 230 days of the year. The relative humidity of the atmosphere throughout the year was 77 per cent., as compared with an average of 78 per cent. during the past 10 years. The average daily amount of sunshine was 4.7 hours, being 42 per cent. of the possible duration.
X.-POSTAL SERVICE.
The revenue derived from all sources of the postal service amounted to $414,867.20, an increase of $27,801.01 on that of the previous year. The sale of stamps realised $373,877.73, or $19,927.74 more than was realised in 1902. All other branches of the service showed an increase over the returns for the previous year.
Negotiations were entered into for the establishment of parcel-post services between this Colony and the United States of America and the Philippine Islands, and between this Colony and the Netherlands East Indies.
The transmission of letters to Europe via the Siberian route at the same rates of postage as for transmission via Suez came into operation on the 13th October.