M.5
ANNUAL MEDICAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1929.
INTRODUCTION.
In order to give a clear impression of the Public Health conditions obtaining in Hong Kong it is necessary first to describe the situation of the Colony, its geographical features, its climate, the nature of the population, the housing conditions, and the bearing old Chinese traditions, beliefs, and customs have on the question of co-operation with the authorities in the promotion and preservation of the Public Health. It is also desirable to indicate the various organisations which together make up the Public Health machinery.
The Territory under British jurisdiction includes the Colony Proper, namely, the Island of Hong Kong with the Peninsula of Kowloon and the New Territories. In this Report the term Colony means the Colony Proper. The area of the Island is 32 square miles, that of Kowloon is 2 2/3rd square miles, while the New Territories have approximately 300 square miles.
Situated between 22°-9′ and 22°-37′ North Latitude, the area under discussion is just within the northern limits of the tropics. It is in fact practically on the same level as Calcutta. It may be said to form the lower extremity of the left bank of the estuary of the Canton River, at the head of which is the city of Canton, and on an island in which stands the Portuguese Colony of Macao.
Topographically the Island of Hong Kong and the Peninsula of Kowloon may be described as a series of granite ridges separated by narrow valleys and having here and there flat areas facing the sea.
The New Territory is of similar formation with some fairly wide valleys towards the north and west. The features are such that flats suitable for town sites are few in number and limited in extent. In the Island, the only level of any size is that on which the city of Victoria stands, and this does not cover more than one square mile. With regard to Kowloon, not more than one half is flat and convenient for street formation.
The Climate.--Situated just within the northern limits of the tropics and occupying an insular position immediately south of the great land mass of China, Hong Kong's climate is very materially influenced by the direction of the prevailing winds. The North East Monsoon blows from November until April, and during this period the weather is dry and cool and invigorating. From May until October, the season of the South West Monsoon, the air is highly charged with moisture, and the climate is hot, muggy, and enervating. July, August, and September are marked by atmospheric disturbances which now and then culminate in typhoons or cyclones accompanied by blinding sheets of rain.
M 5- M.5
ANNUAL MEDICAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1929.
INTRODUCTION.
In order to give a clear impression of the Public Health conditions obtaining in Hong Kong it is necessary first to des- cribe the situation of the Colony, its geographical features, its climate, the nature of the population, the housing conditions, and the bearing old Chinese traditions, beliefs, and customs, have on the question of co-operation with the authorities in the promotion and preservation of the Public Health. It is also desirable to indicate the various organisations which together make up the Public Health machinery.
The Territory under British jurisdiction includes the Colony Proper, namely, the Island of Hong Kong with the Peninsula of Kowloon and the New Territories. In this Report the term Colony means the Colony Proper. The area of the Island is 32 square miles that of Kowloon is 2 2/3rd. square miles while the New Territories have approximately 300 square miles.
Situated between 22°-9′ and 22°-37′ North Latitude the area under discussion is just within the northern limits of the tropics. It is in fact practically on the same level as Calcutta. It may be said to form the lower extremity of the left bank of the estuary of the Canton River, at the head of which is the city of Canton and on an island in which stands the Por- tuguese Colony of Macao.
Topographically the Island of Hong Kong and the Peninsula of Kowloon may be described as a series of granite ridges separat- ed by narrow valleys and having here and there flat areas facing the sea.
The New Territory is of similar formation with some fairly wide valleys towards the north and west. The features are such that flats suitable for town sites are few in number and limited in extent. In the Island the only level of any size is that on which the city of Victoria stands and this does not cover more than one square mile. With regard to Kowloon, not more than one half is flat and convenient for street formation.
The Climate.--Situated just within the northern limits of the tropics and occupying an insular position immediately south of the great land mass of China, Hong Kong's climate is very materially influenced by the direction of the prevailing winds. The North East Monsoon blows from November until April and during this period the weather is dry and cool and invigorating. From May until October, the season of the South West Monsoon, the air is highly charged with moisture and the climate is hot, muggy and enervating. July, August and September are marked by atmospheric disturbances which now and then culminate in typhoons or cyclones accompanied by blinding sheets of rain.
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