CO537-1651 — Page 150

=

Facters for

1.

consideration.

Number of inhabitants.

2.

ENCLOSURE 7 (Paragraph 26)

THE EXTENT AND EXERCISE OF THE FRANCHISE

Determination of the extent of the franchise, the

method of preparation of the electoral registers and the

determination of the electoral divisions all involve

consideration of factors some of which are peculiar to

this Colony.

In the population of the Colony there is a lack of

homogeneity in either race or nationality, there is a

tendency for racial groups to congregate in specific areas,

the sub-division of tenements makes housing conditions

unique, there is a high degree of illiteracy, particularly

among females, and finally much of the population is of a

transient nature, the duration of the individual's stay in

the Colony being influenced by the conditions prevailing

in China.

The difficulty in obtaining a true assessment of the

position has been greatly increased by the displacements

of population caused by the enemy occupation.

Owing to the fact that there has been no census since

1931, to the displacement of the normal population during

the war and to the influx of Chinese since 1957, it is

well-nigh impossible to obtain any reasonably clear picture

as to the number of the Colony's inhabitants or the location

of the various racial groups.

It is believed by many that the population of the

Colony, which at the time of the re-occupation was estimated

at six hundred thousand, has already reached a figure of

between one million and one million five hundred thousand.

This figure is very much in excess of that of the population enumerated at the 1931 census (849,751), but it cannot be

said that there is any definite evidence supporting this. The congestion resultant on the widespread devastation of

residential property may well cause the illusion of a greatly

increased population.

42.

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