AnnualReport-1931 — Page 343

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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.

6. The mean annual temperature is 72°F. During the summer months the average temperature is 87°F. and there is little variation throughout the twenty-four hours. Situated on the north side of the Island the city of Victoria gets all the heat and moisture of the South West Monsoon but not the breeze, which is cut off by the mountains behind the town. During the winter months the range of temperature is from 70°F. to 45°F. with an average 66°F. necessitating for comfort the wearing of warm clothes and the provision of fires in the houses. Frost is practically unknown.

7. The average yearly rainfall is 85.72 inches. As might be expected most of the rain falls in the summer months.

Population and its distribution.

8. Hong Kong which depends for its prosperity on its trade with China has three fourths of its population concentrated in the cities of Victoria and Kowloon which may justly be described as one city divided into two by the harbour. Outside this city there is little of commercial importance and Hong Kong as a Colony might almost be termed the city and port of Greater Hong Kong.

9. With regard to the numbers, except in census years, there are no accurate statistical figures, the great movement to and from the Colony and the facility with which the border is crossed preventing accurate checking. Hong Kong being the principal entrepôt for South China and its harbour one of the busiest in the world, everyday on an average 5,000 to 6,000 individuals pass to and from China by river steamer or by rail and there are others who arrive and depart by junks or smaller vessels. During times of political unrest in China many thousands from the mainland sojourn in the Colony, some of whom return to their homes when conditions are more settled, others remaining attracted by the opportunities offered for employment.

10. According to the Census taken on March 7th, 1931, the civil population of the whole of the territory under British jurisdiction was 840,473, of which 374,683 were in Victoria and 263,020 in Kowloon and New Kowloon.

11. There are over 20,000 local boats registered at the Harbour Office, the occupants of each of which vary in number from four to forty according to the size and character of the craft. The Harbour authorities believe the population to be 150,000 and certainly 100,000 cannot be an over-estimate.

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