38.
23:27
The death-rate for the year was 23.27 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 14.83 among the non-Chinese civil community, as compared with 25.47 and 20.46 for 1922.
The deaths from Malaria numbered 674 (454 in 1922). The deaths of Chinese from this cause in the City of Victoria numbered 260 out of a population of 350,000 or a rate of 0.74 per 1,000 per annum.
The deaths from Plague numbered 136 as compared with 1,071 in 1922.
Small-pox deaths numbered 1,141, of which all but nine were Chinese.
There were 4,317 deaths from respiratory diseases other than Pulmonary Tuberculosis as compared with 4,863 in 1921, and 35 of these were among the Non-Chinese community. Pulmonary Tuberculosis claimed 1,472 Chinese and 31 non-Chinese victims whilst other forms of Tuberculosis represent an additional 605 deaths making a total of 2,108 or 13.56 per cent. of the total deaths among the community.
Beri-beri was responsible for 1,270 deaths, as compared with 892 during 1922 and 526 in 1921.
A tabular statement of the principal causes of death is appended.
(c.)—CLIMATE.
The climate of Victoria is similar in its broad features to that of Kowloon and the New Territories, but at the higher levels, from 1,400 to 1,800 feet above sea level the temperature is on the average about 3° lower than at the Observatory, Kowloon, in the winter, and 8° lower in the summer. The humidity is usually greater than in Kowloon and approaches saturation for several days at a time during March and April when mist is very prevalent. In summer the city of Victoria, and the rising terraces behind it, derive little or no benefit from the SW monsoon, being sheltered by steep hills from SE to SW. In winter it is exposed to the NE monsoon, which occasionally blows along the harbour through Lyemun Pass with considerable violence. On the other hand the south-west side of the Island is protected from the NE monsoon in winter and enjoys the benefit of the SW monsoon in summer.
For further particulars see Appendix F.
POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH SERVICES.
The total revenue from the postal service in 1923 amounted to $714,340.03 being $51,477.92 more than that collected in 1922. The net expenditure amounted to $91,639.77. The balance of revenue over expenditure amounted to $622,700.26.