18
.18
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS—ANNUAL.
of the New Territories according to the census of 1901 was 85,011 making when added to the present estimate a grand total of 446,217.
The total strength of the British Fleet on the China Station was estimated at 10,067, as compared with 8,905 in the previous year. At the census taken in 1901 the actual number of members of the Navy present in the Colony was 5,597 and the estimated average number resident in Hong Kong during 1904 is put at 4,360.
The total number of births registered in the Colony was 1,205, and of deaths 6,118. This gives an annual birth-rate of 3.3 and a death-rate of 16.94 per 1,000, as compared with 3.2 and 18.9 in 1903. The death-rates both in the Chinese and non-Chinese sections of the community were lower than any recorded in the last 15 years. The excess of deaths over births is explained by the fact that thousands of Chinese families are represented in Hong Kong by men only, there being a very large floating population of adult males, and that many of the Chinese in case of illness return to their own country. It should also be remembered that a large proportion of births among the Chinese remains unregistered, though steps are being taken to remedy this irregularity as far as possible.
(B.) PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION.
It is satisfactory to note that during the year under review better acquaintance on the part of the Chinese with the requirements of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance of 1903 has resulted in a marked decrease in the opposition, especially with regard to the cleansing and disinfection of houses, that at first did much to impede its successful operation.
The houses that are in course of erection in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance show considerable improvement on the existing type of house as regards adequate lighting and ventilation. The question of overcrowding is still an urgent one, the number of persons per acre in the built-over area of the Central Districts having increased from 562 in 1902 to 608 in 1904. It was hoped that the electric tramway, opened early in the year, would cause the coolie classes to move to the outskirts of the City, but it has rather had the opposite effect, the tendency being for labourers to come into the centre of the City to live and to take advantage of the cheap fares to go out to their work.
Under the Insanitary Properties Resumption Scheme an area of 24,898 square feet has been resumed in one of the most densely populated areas of the City for the purpose of forming a wide street through the existing block of houses, and a further
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Page 26
18
.18
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS—ANNUAL.
of the New Territories according to the census of 1901 was 85.011 making when added to the present estimate a grand total of 446,217.
The total strength of the British Fleet on the China Station was estimated at 10,067, as compared with 8,905 in the previous year. At the census taken in 1901 the actual number of members of the Navy present in the Colony was 5,597 and the estimated average number resident in Hong Kong during 1904 is put at 4,360.
The total number of births registered in the Colony was 1,205, and of deaths 6,118. This gives an annual birth-rate of 33 and a death-rate of 16'94 per 1,000, as compared with 3-2 and 189 in 1903. The death-rates both in the Chinese and non-Chinese sections of the community were lower than any recorded in the last 15 years. The excess of deaths over births is explained by the fact that thousands of Chinese families are represented in Hong Kong by men only, there being a very large floating population of adult males, and that many of the Chinese in case of illness return to their own country. It should also be remembered that a large proportion of birtha among the Chinese remains unregistered, though steps are being taken to remedy this irregularity as far as possible.
(B.) PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION.
It is satisfactory to note that during the year under review better acquaintance on the part of the Chinese with the requirements of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance of 1903 has resulted in a marked decrease in the opposition, especially with regard to the cleansing and disinfection of houses, that at first did much to impede its successful operation.
The houses that are in course of erection in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance show considerable improvement on the existing type of house as regards adequate lighting and ventilation. The question of overcrowding is still an urgent one, the number of persons per acre in the built-over area of the Central Districts having increased from 562 in 1902 to 608 in 1904. It was hoped that the electric tramway, -opened early in the year, would cause the coolie classes to move to the outskirts of the City, but it has rather had the opposite effect, the tendency being for labourers to come into the centre of the City to live and to take advantage of the cheap fares to go out to their work.
Under the Insanitary Properties Resumption Scheme an ∙area of 24,898 square feet has been resumed in one of the most densely populated areas of the City for the purpose of forming a wide street through the existing block of houses, and a further
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