1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1914.
(b.)-PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION.
323
29
The activity in building operations which was so noticeable a feature of 1912 and 1913 has only slightly abated, and the demand for housing accommodation by the Chinese continued to be greatly in excess of the supply, as many of those who fled with their families to Hongkong during 1911, 1912, and 1913 elected to remain in the Colony. However, in August and September, 1914, nearly 60,000 Chinese hastily returned to China, owing to fears of a bombardment of the Colony following the outbreak of the European War. The Chinese quarters, which had been in an overcrowded condition throughout the plague season, were thus relieved of their excess, but not in time to prevent the severe epidemic of plague which had been predicted in the report for 1913. The relationship between overcrowding and plague was discussed at length in the report for 1912.*
The general birth-rate for the year was 9.3 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 16.8 per 1,000 among the non-Chinese community, as compared with 11.7 and 15.8 during 1913.
The general death-rate for the year was 23.8 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 12.9 among the non-Chinese community, as compared with 21.7 and 10.9 during 1913.
The number of deaths from Malaria (241) shows a decrease on the previous year (290). The deaths of Chinese from this cause in the City of Victoria numbered 73 out of a population of 247,500, or a rate of 0.29 per 1,000 per annum. All districts show a reduction in mortality from this cause except the Stanley (rural) district, where a large number of workmen have been employed throughout the year in the construction of the extension to the Tytam Waterworks.
The deaths from plague numbered 2,020, as compared with 386 in 1913 and 1,768 in 1912.
Small-pox deaths numbered 91, all Chinese, with the exception of one Portuguese infant and one British shipwright.
There were 2,252 deaths from respiratory diseases among the Chinese, as compared with 2,537 in 1913. Pulmonary tuberculosis and phthisis claimed 742 Chinese victims, while other forms of tuberculosis represent an additional 312 deaths, making a total of 1,054, or 11.3 per cent. of the total deaths among that community.
Beriberi was responsible for 399 deaths, as compared with 339 during 1913 and 231 in 1912. During the past few years circulars have been distributed to all large employers of coolie labour calling their attention to the fact that beriberi is produced by the consumption of white rice as the staple article of diet without a sufficiency of other foods, and advising that beans should be supplied with the rice when fresh meat or fresh fish cannot be afforded.
The influx of thousands of strangers from the neighbouring provinces is a sufficient explanation of the temporary rise in the number of deaths from this disease.
A tabular statement of the principal causes of death is appended (p. 34).
* Colonial Reports-Annual, No. 762.
Page 330
Page 331
1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1914.
(b.)-PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION.
323
29
The activity in building operations which was so noticeable a feature of 1912 and 1913 has only slightly abated, and the demand for housing accommodation by the Chinese continued to be greatly in excess of the supply, as many of those who fled with their families to Hongkong during 1911, 1912, and 1913 elected to remain in the Colony. However, in August and September, 1914, nearly 60,000 Chinese hastily returned to China, owing to fears of a bombardment of the Colony following the outbreak of the European War. The Chinese quarters, which had been in an overcrowded condition throughout the plague season, were thus relieved of their excess, but not in time to prevent the severe epidemic of plague which had been predicted in the report for 1913. The relationship between overcrowding and plague was discussed at length in the report for 1912.*
The general birth-rate for the year was 93 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 16.8 per 1,000 among the non-Chinese community, as compared with 117 and 15·8 during 1913.
The general death-rate for the year was 23-8 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 12-9 among the non-Chinese community, as compared with 217 and 10-9 during 1913.
The number of deaths from Malaria (241) shows a decrease on the previous year (290). The deaths of Chinese from this cause in the City of Victoria numbered 73 out of a population of 247,500, or a rate of 0.29 per 1,000 per annum. All districts show a reduction in mortality from this cause except the Stanley (rural) district, where a large number of workmen have been employed throughout the year in the construction of the extension to the Tytam Waterworks.
The deaths from plague numbered 2,020, as compared with 386 in 1913 and 1,768 in 1912.
Small-pox deaths numbered 91, all Chinese, with the exception of one Portuguese infant and one British shipwright.
There were 2,252 deaths from respiratory diseases among the Chinese, as compared with 2,537 in 1913. Pulmonary tuberculosis and phthisis claimed 742 Chinese victims, while other forms of tuberculosis represent an additional 312 deaths, making a total of 1,054, or 11-3 per cent. of the total deaths among that community.
Beriberi was responsible for 399 deaths, as compared with 339 during 1913 and 231 in 1912. During the past few years circulars have been distributed to all large employers of coolie labour calling their attention to the fact that beriberi is produced by the consumption of white rice as the staple article of diet without a sufficiency of other foods, and advising that beans should be supplied with the rice when fresh meat or fresh fish cannot be afforded.
The influx of thousands of strangers from the neighbouring provinces is a sufficient explanation of the temporary rise in the number of deaths from this disease.
A tabular statement of the principal causes of death is appended (p. 34).
* Colonial Reports-Annual, No. 762.
Page 330Page 331
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.