37
1911 it was 456,739 with 104,287 as the figure for the New Territories and New Kowloon. The estimated total population at the middle of the year under review was 686,680, but this includes the New Territories; and, as the birth and death figures given below do not include those from this area (with the exception of New Kowloon), the population for the purposes of calculating these rates is estimated at 585,880, of whom 14,100 were non-Chinese.
The distribution of population estimated to the middle of 1921 was as follows:----
Population. Non-Chinese Civil Community, 14,100 Chinese City of Victoria (including Peak), 360,000 Villages of Hongkong, 18,360 Kowloon (including New Kowloon), 120,000 New Territories, 100,800 73,420 Total Chinese Population, 672,580 Population afloat, Total Civil Population, 686,680(b)-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 5.68 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 25.88 per 1,000 among the non-Chinese community, as compared with 3.96 and 19.78 for 1920.
The death-rate for the year was 20.29 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 18.08 among the non-Chinese civil community, as compared with 22.78 and 17.9 for 1920.
The number of deaths from Malaria (332) was the same as for 1920. The deaths of Chinese from this cause in the City of Victoria numbered 142 out of a population of 360,000 or a rate of 0.39 per 1,000 per annum.
The deaths from Plague numbered 130 as compared with 120 in 1920.
Small-pox deaths numbered 162, all but two were Chinese.
There were 3,832 deaths from respiratory diseases other than Pulmonary Tuberculosis as compared with 3,834 in 1920, and 80 of
* This figure is wholly misleading as it is impossible to register more than a portion of the births,