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carpentry, boot-making, net-making, painting and white-washing, mat-making, tailoring, oakum-picking, &c. The profit on the work done was $43,946 as against 15,420 in 1908.
There was $4,809 received and credited to Government for non-Government work against $5,012 in 1908.
The use of the Belilios Reformatory as an overflow prison having been discontinued, it became necessary to consider an extension of Victoria Gaol and it was found possible by pulling down the offices and stores and re-erecting them in another position with economy of space, to make room for a ward containing 78 cells with yard attached. A contract for this work was let at the beginning of the current year.
# IX-VITAL STATISTICS.
(a.) POPULATION.
The population of the Colony according to the Census taken in 1901 was 283,975 while at the Census taken in 1906 it was 301,967 exclusive of the New Territories, New Kowloon and the Army and Navy Establishments. The estimated population at the middle of the year under review was 428,888 as follows:-
Non-Chinese Civil Community, 14,000 Chinese Population, Floating Population, Hongkong, Kowloon, 199,55074,600
46,240 Mercantile Marine, - 2,770 323,160 Army, (average strength), 4,500 Navy, (average strength), 2,217 6,717 New Territories, (exclusive of Kowloon), 85,011 Total, 128,888
(b) PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION,
During the year under review considerable progress has been made in rendering existing domestic buildings rat proof as a preventive of Plague, 391 ground surfaces of houses have been repaired, and 1,048 buildings have had rat-runs filled up with cement. In addition 20 basements illegally inhabited have been vacated.
New buildings (domestic) to the number of 128 were erected during the year and in these the effect of the present Ordinance is seen in the increased amount of open space about the houses, which the law requires. Scavenging lanes which have to be provided in the rear of new houses also increase the open space about them and tend to reduce overcrowding.
The general death rate for the year was 21.68 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 12.45 per 1,000 among the Non-Chinese Community as compared with 28.35 and 14.78 respectively during 1908.