Non-British
ropean races.
Grouping of
races in
districts.
Housing conditions.
7.
8.
In 1931 the residents of twenty-one different non-British "European" races (including Americans) numbered 1,574 of whom the larger race groups (excluding those recently classed as enemy aliens) were 324 American,
96 Dutch, 227 French, 127 Russians and 124 Spaniards.
There are many districts, particularly in the most
densely populated urban areas, where virtually the whole
population is Chinese.
Prior to the Japanese occupation there were some
districts which were almost exclusively European and
others which were almost exclusively Portuguese, while
the bulk of the Indian community was centred in one
district.
While the Chinese districts remain unaltered in
character, the displacement of population during the enemy occupation, destruction in the course of operations
and the activities of looters have gone far towards
dispersing the minority races throughout the Colony.
These factors have to be taken into account when
considering the question of electoral divisions.
The problem of securing representation for the Chinese population cannot be considered independently of
the housing conditions under which the working classes
live.
The occupational classification made on the 1931 census shows that Metal Workers, Makers of Textile Goods
and Clothing, Makers of Foods, Workers in Wood,
Brick-
layers, Builders and Stone-workers, Workers in Transport
and Communications and Clerks and Draughtsmen form the
main occupational groups.
Workers in the corresponding groups in the United Kingdom would most frequently be tenants of houses.
In Hong Kong it would be a rarity to find any member
of the working classes who was tenant of a house or even of a single floor in a house.
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