M 9
The rainfall for the year (76.14 inches) was low, having been in 1918 101.6 inches and in 1917 81.48 inches.
POPULATION.
The distribution of the population estimated to the middle of 1919 was as follows:-
Non-Chinese Civil Population, 13,600
Chinese Civil population:--
City of Victoria (including Peak), 320,080
Villages of Hongkong, 16,520 Kowloon (including New Kowloon), 86,550
New Territories (land), 97,100
Population afloat, 64,250
Total Chinese population, 584,500
Total Civil population, 598,100
The last census was taken in 1911 and there has therefore been difficulty in estimating the population of the Colony during the last few years.
The natural increase is negligible beside that due to immigration. A new census will be taken in 1921 and it is probable that the estimates, which have been based on previous censuses will be found too low owing to the immigration of a large but indeterminate number of Chinese since the revolution of 1911.
The Chinese population consists mainly of adult males, but owing to the disturbances in China during the last few years and the immigration of refugees and their families the proportion of females to males appears to have increased.
The boat population is estimated at 64,250 and the registered boats belonging to the port and villages of Hongkong are as follows:-
Passenger boats, class A and B, 1,119 Lighters, cargo and water boats, 1,720 Fishing and other boats, 7,177 Hulks, 66 Total, 10,082The licensed boats in the New Territories numbered 6,639.
IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION.
During the year the river steamers plying between the mainland of China and this Colony brought here 714,601 persons and took away 659,346.