FLUCTUATION IN POPULATION,
The population of the Colony is liable to much variation dependant on political conditions in South China and the state of trade in Hong Kong.
During the year 1927 the exchange of people between Hong Kong and neighbouring Chinese Territory by river steamships and railway shows a balance of 55,786 in favour of emigrants.
The actual figures so furnished are shown in the following table.
Immigrants Emigrants By railway 363,347 314,640 By Steamships 181,100 285,593 Total 544,447 600,233These figures do not take into account the large interchange of population by sailing vessels.
BIRTHS.
In dealing with Birth Statistics in Hong Kong it is essential to remember that Registration of Births is largely evaded by the Chinese especially in regard to female children.
The births registered during the year 1927 numbered 7500.
The distribution of these births according to race and sex is shown in the following table:
1926 1927 Total Males Females Males Females 1926 1927 Chinese 2,022 1,202 4,128 3,048 3,224 7,176 Non-Chinese 163 154 163 161 317 324 Total 2,185 1,356 4,291 3,209 3,541 7,500This gives a general civil birth rate of 8.4 compared with 4.5 per 1,000 in 1926.