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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
PAPERS RELATING TO
indicate a decrease of crime, is probably due to the severer discipline introduced into the gaol. The number of prisoners still bears an abnormal proportion to the population, and the fact can scarcely excite surprise in view of the hard struggle for livelihood among the people of China, and the immediate neighbourhood to the Colony of the Province of Kwangtung of which the extremely dense population is said to be the most lawless in the Empire.
Population.
43. Statistics of the estimated population are given in the Colonial Secretary's report, but it may be well to point out here that the difference between the number returned at the census of 1881 (160,402) and that estimated for 1888 (215,000) shows an increase of 34 per cent. in seven years, and that the ratio of women to men, which was 1 to 2.56 in 1881, is now estimated at 1 to 2.52. This great, and apparently permanent, disproportion between the sexes would appear to justify special caution in applying to Hong Kong that deprivation of protection from certain disease which has been deemed expedient in England.
Public Works.
44. The Tytam waterworks have been already mentioned under the head of Expenditure. During the period under review the great dam of the main reservoir, the tunnel and conduit received their finishing work, and the service reservoir and filter beds were commenced and completed.
45. Victoria College, which has been several years in construction, was also completed in July last. It is unquestionably a very handsome building of which the Colony may be proud, but it has cost a large sum ($251,587) and promises also to be extremely costly in maintenance. Seeing how grievous is and must have been the need of other public works, and noting that provision might have been made for the same number of pupils in a more modest building, I cannot but feel that it would have been better if much of the expense incurred, and time devoted to this edifice, had been diverted in other directions.
46. A building has been commenced and completed for the reception of girls, in charge of the Registrar General, who have been rescued from kidnappers or from brothel slavery, their maintenance, as hitherto has been customary, in a building connected with the Tung-Wa Hospital having proved unsatisfactory.
47. Of the works now most urgently required, the filter-beds for the Pokfulam waterworks, which previously to the construction of the Tytam Works afforded the chief supply of the town, have been commenced; and, it may be hoped, will be completed before next summer, which is the season of the heaviest rain. The water
54
16
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
PAPERS RELATING TO
indicate a decrease of crime, is probably due to the severer disci- pline introduced into the gaol. The number of prisoners still bears an abnormal proportion to the population, and the fact can scarcely excite surprise in view of the hard struggle for livelihood among the people of China, and the immediate neighbourhood to the Colony of the Province of Kwangtung of which the extremely dense population is said to be the most lawless in the Empire.
Population.
43. Statistics of the estimated population are given in the Colonial Secretary's report, but it may be well to point out here that the difference between the number returned at the census of 1881 (160,402) and that estimated for 1888 (215,000) shows an increase of 34 per cent. in seven years, and that the ratio of women to men, which was 1 to 2-56 in 1881, is now estimated at 1 to 2:52. This great, and apparently permanent, disproportion between the sexes would appear to justify special caution in applying to Hong Kong that deprivation of protection from certain disease which has been deemed expedient in England,
Public Works.
44. The Tytam waterworks have been already mentioned under the head of Expenditure. During the period under review the. great dam of the main reservoir, the tunnel and conduit received their finishing work, and the service reservoir and filter beds were commenced and completed.
45. Victoria College, which has been several years in construc- tion, was also completed in July last. It is unquestionably a very handsome building of which the Colony may be proud, but it has cost a large sum ($251,587) and promises also to be extremely costly in maintenance. Seeing how grievous is and must have been the need of other public works, and noting that provision might have been made for the same number of pupils in a more modest building, I cannot but feel that it would have been better if much of the expense incurred, and time devoted to this edifice, had been diverted in other directions.
46. A building has been commenced and completed for the reception of girls, in charge of the Registrar General, who have been rescued from kidnappers or from brothel slavery, their maintenance, as hitherto has been customary, in a building connected with the Tung-Wa Hospital having proved unsatis- factory.
47. Of the works now most urgently required, the filter-beds for the Pokfulam waterworks, which previously to the construction of the Tytam Works afforded the chief supply of the town, have been commenced; and, it may be hoped, will be completed before next summer, which is the season of the heaviest rain. The water
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