M 115
Appendix C.
REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF BIRTHS & DEATHS.
1. Population.
1. (A very real difficulty arises in determining the Chinese population of Hong Kong owing to the geographical relationship of the Colony to China and the fact that there is no effective control over immigration or emigration.
2. Hence, with the exception of actual census years, it may be taken for granted that any estimates of population made in accordance with current methods are liable to be rather wide of the mark.
3. The population at mid-year 1938 based upon the arithmetical increase between the census of 1921 and that of 1931 is calculated as being 1,028,619.
4. This figure takes no cognisance of the very large number of refugees who have sought asylum in these territories since the commencement of Sino-Japanese hostilities in July, 1937. There are some grounds for believing that, at the most conservative estimate, 100,000 refugees were added to the population during the last half of 1937. Various figures are available in regard to the surplus of immigrants (for the most part refugees) over emigrants for 1938.
5. For example, it is known that in 1938 the actual number of passengers arriving by rail and by the more important class of steamships from which reliable figures are obtainable exceeded departures by the same means by 188,039. The port health authorities who are in a position to make an approximate estimate which includes forms of marine transport like launches, sampans, and so on, give the figure 226,874 as the increment for 1938.
6. In addition to this, it must be remembered that a very considerable influx of refugees entered the Colony on foot over land frontiers; although the bulk of this class came over in three major waves in the last three months of the year following upon military operations on the Kwantung-New Territory border. The bulk of this last addition would, of course, not affect the actual mid-year population, but would so influence the number of births and deaths registered during the last half of 1938 as to render it unwise to neglect the accretion in determining birth-and death-rates. If an arbitrary figure of 100,000 is taken for the number of arrivals by land routes, over and above departures in a similar manner, it will be seen that the population of the Colony in 1938 was very approximately as follows:-
On basis of census estimation 1,028,619 Estimated surplus of immigrants over emigrants in 1937 100,000 Surplus by rail and sea in 1938 226,874 Estimated surplus over land frontiers in 1938 100,000 Total 1,455,493M 115
Appendix C.
REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF BIRTHS & DEATHS.
1. Population.
1. (A very real difficulty arises in determining the Chinese population of Hong Kong owing to the geographical relationship of the Colony to China and the fact that there is no effective control over immigration or emigration.
>
2. Hence, with the exception of actual census years, it may be taken for granted that any estimates of population made in accordance with current methods are liable to be rather wide of the mark.
3. The population at mid-year 1938 based upon the arithmetical increase between the census of 1921 and that of 1931 is calculated as being 1,028,619.
4. This figure takes no cognisance of the very large number of refugees who have sought asylum in these territories since the commencement of Sino-Japanese hostilities in July, 1937. There are some grounds for believing that, at the most conservative estimate, 100,000 refugees were added to the population during the last half of 1937. Various figures are available in regard to the surplus of immigrants (for the most part refugees) over emigrants for 1938. >
5. For example, it is known that in 1938 the actual number of passengers arriving by rail and by the more important class of steamships from which reliable figures are obtainable exceeded departures by the same mans by 188,039. The port health authorities who are in a position to make an approximate estimate which includes forms of marine transport like launches, sampans, and so on, give the figure 226,874 as the increment for 1938.
6. In addition to this, it must be remembered that a very considerable influx of refugees entered the Colony on foot over land frontiers; although the bulk of this class came over in three major waves in the last three months of the year following upon military operations on the Kwantung-New Territory border. The bulk of this last addition would, of course, not effect the actual mid-year population, but would so influence the number of births and deaths registered during the last half of 1938 as to render it unwise to neglect the accretion in determining birth-and death-rates. If an arbitrary figure of 100,000 is taken for the number of arrivals by land routes. over and above departures in a similar manner, it will be seen that the population of the Colony in 1938 was very approximately as follows:-
Table I.
On basis of census estimation
1,028,619
Estimated surplus of immigrants over emigrants in 1937 ..
100,000
Surplus by rail and sea in 1938
226,874
Estimated surplus over land frontiers in 1938
100,000
Total
1,455,493
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