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The distribution of population at the Census was as follows:-
Non-Chinese Civil Community, 12,075
Chinese Population.
City of Victoria (including Peak), 219,386
Villages of Hongkong, 16,106
Kowloon (including New Kowloon), 67,602
New Territories, 80,622
Population afloat, 60,948
Total Chinese Population, 444,664
Total Civil Population, 456,739
(6.)-PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION.
The activity in building operations, which was so noticeable a feature of 1912 and 1913, has only slightly 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. However, in August and September 1914, nearly 60,000 Chinese hastily returned to China, owing to fears of a bombardment of the Colony following the outbreak of the European War. The Chinese quarters, which had been in an over-crowded condition throughout the Plague season, were thus relieved of their excess, but not in time to prevent the severe epidemic of Plague which had been predicted in the report for 1913. The relationship between overcrowding and Plague was discussed at length in the report for 1912.
The general birth-rate for the year was 9.3 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 16.8 per 1,000 among the Non-Chinese community, as compared with 11.7 and 15.8 during 1913.
The general death-rate for the year was 23.8 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 12.9 among the Non-Chinese community, as compared with 21.7 and 10.9 during 1913.
The number of deaths from Malaria (241) shows a decrease on the previous year (290). The deaths of Chinese from this cause in the City of Victoria numbered 73 out of a population of 247,500, or a rate of 0.29 per 1,000 per annum. All districts show a reduction in mortality from this cause, except the Stanley (rural) district, where a large number of workmen have been employed throughout the year in the construction of the extension to the Tytam Waterworks.
The deaths from Plague numbered 2,020, as compared with 386 in 1913 and 1,768 in 1912.
Small-pox deaths numbered 93, all Chinese, with the exception of one Portuguese infant and one British shipwright.