HONGKONG,
but the residents proper are returned at 2,767, the former figures including the naval and military establishments, police, shipping in harbour, and temporary residents. The Indians and others of mixed blood numbered 1,451. Since the -census of 1876 the Chinese population bas considerably increased, and the population <of the Colony may now be roughly estimated at 150,000.
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Hongkong formerly enjoyed a most unenviable notoriety for unhealthiness, and in years past the troops garrisoned here undoubtedly suffered severely. A great deal
• of the sickness in the early days of the Colony was caused by excavating a d other- wise disturbing the disintegrated granite of which the soil of the island mainly con- sists, and which appears to throw off malarious exhalations when upturned. At the present time, however, the Colony is one of the healthiest spots in the world in the same latitude, and when the ignorance of newcomers respecting the climate, the rashness and excesses of seamen, and the squalor and crowded condition of the Chinese quarter of the town are considered, the mortality is by no means excessive. The annual death rate per 1000 for the whole population in 1877 was 26.81, for the British and foreign population, 18.04, or deducting non-residents, 13.78. The annual average rainfall is 78.54 inches, while the average range of the thermometer is from 43 deg. to 89 deg.
The finances of the Colony have for several years gone on improving, and the estimated revenue for 1879 is close upon $1,000,000, while the expenditure is estimated at $932,286.
Hongkong is a free port, and it is therefore impossible to give any return of its imports and exports. During the year 1877, 2,869 vessels of foreign build measuring 2,445,755 tons, were entered. Of this number of vessels 2,109, measuring 1,982,123 tons, or 73.5 per cent. of ships and 80.96 per cent. of the tonnage, were steamers. This proportion was divided amongst the different maritime nations as follows:-British, 1,789 v ssels and 1,616,276 tons, or 84.83 and 81.54 per cent. respectively; French, 88 vessels and 159,192 tons, or 4.17 and 8.03 per cent respec- tively; German, 84 vessels and 66,820 tons, or 3.98 and 3.37 per cent. respectively; Chinese, 8 vessels and 67,417 tous, or 3.79 and 3.40 per cent. respectively; Spanish, 41 vessels and 16,178 tons, or 1.94 and C.82 per cent. respectively; the remaining 27 vessels and 56,240 tons, or 1.29 and 2.84 per cent. resp ctively were American, Danish, and Dutch. Of the sailing vessels, 760 in number and of 463,632 tons capacity, 286, measuring 234,282 tons, or 37.63 per cent. of vessels and 50.53 per cent. of tonnag, were under the British flag. The total number of junks en'ered at the various ports of the Colony (exclusive of local trade) was 25,500, with a tonnag· of 1,798,788.
The trade chiefly consists in opium, sugar, salt, flour, oil, cotton goods, earthen- - ware, amber, ivory, sandalwood, betel, vegetables, granite, &c., &c. The bulk of the
European trade of China and Japan passes through this port.
Hongkong possesses unrivalled steam communication. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company and the Messageries Maritiones convey the European mail weekly, the Pacific Mail Company and the Occidental and Oriental Steamship Company maintain a fortnightly mail service with San Francisco, the Eastern and Australian Mail Steamship Company have a monthly service with the Australian Colonies, and the Australian Steam Navigation Company now run a regular line of steamers between Hongkong and the Australian ports. In addition to all these, several great lines of merchant steamers maintain regular communi- cation between London, Liverpool, and Hongkong, of which the Ocean Steam Ship Company and the Glen line are the most conspicuous. Between the ports on the east coast of China and Hongkong the steamers of Messrs. Douglas Lapraik & Co. ply regularly twice a week and there is constant stram communication with Hoihow, Manila, Saigon, Haiphong, Bangkok, &c. With Shanghai and the ports of Japan there is frequent communication in addition to the mail steamers which leave weekly. Between Hongkong, Macao, and Canton there is a daily steam service. The tele- graphic communication of the Colony extends to nearly every part of the world.