1920-1930
HONGKONG, 1922.
81
29
The distribution of population estimated to the middle of 1922 was as follows:-
Non-Chinese Civil Community 15,200 Chinese Population "City of Victoria (including Peak) 340,000 Villages of Hongkong 25,700 Kowloon (including New Kowloon) 133,000 New Territories 84,000 64,300 Total Chinese Population 647,000 Population afloat 662,200 Total Civil Population..(6.)-PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION.
The activity in building operations, which has been so noticeable 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 fled with their families to Hongkong during 1911, 1912, and 1913 elected to remain in the Colony.
The birth-rate for the year was 6.25* per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 22.84 per 1,000 among the non-Chinese community, as compared with 5.68 and 25.58 for 1921.
The death-rate for the year was 25.88 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 20.46 among the non-Chinese civil community, 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.
Smallpox deaths numbered 189, all 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 Tuberculosis claimed 1,385 Chinese and 25 non-Chinese victims whilst other forms of Tuberculosis represent an additional 686 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 526 during 1921 and 361 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
* This figure is wholly misleading, as it is impossible to register more than a portion of the births.