HKG-CAR1904-1919 — Page 456

1904-1919

HONG KONG, 1919.

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accommodation by the Chinese continued to be greatly in excess of the supply, as many of those who fled with their families to Hong Kong during 1911, 1912, and 1913 elected to remain in the Colony.

The birth-rate for the year was 3.9 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 20.6 per 1,000 among the Non-Chinese community, as compared with 3.6 and 22.1 for 1918.

The death-rate for the year was 23.3 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 19.9 among the Non-Chinese civil community, as compared with 29.6 and 19.5 for 1918.

The number of deaths from malaria (319) shows a decrease on the previous year (398). The deaths of Chinese from this cause in the City of Victoria numbered 101 out of a population of 320,080 or a rate of 0.3 per 1,000 per annum.

The deaths from plague numbered 426 as compared with 251 in 1918.

Small-pox deaths numbered 15, all Chinese,

There were 3,049 deaths from respiratory diseases, as compared with 3,316 in 1918, and 74 of these were among the Non-Chinese community. Pulmonary Tuberculosis claimed 980 Chinese and 26 Non-Chinese victims, whilst other forms of Tuberculosis represent an additional 539 deaths, making a total of 1,545 or 13.2 per cent. of the total deaths among the community.

Beri-beri was responsible for 555 deaths, as compared with 804 during 1918 and 654 in 1917. During the past few years circulars have been distributed to all large employers of coolie labour calling their attention to the fact that Beri-beri 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.

A tabular statement of the principal causes of death is appended.

(c.)—CLIMATE.

The principal features of the weather in 1919 were:—

(a) The large departures from normal from month to month in atmospheric pressure, temperature, and wind.

(b) A typhoon, which produced a wind velocity of 60 m.p.h. at 7 p.m. on the 22nd August, and a squall at the rate of 84 m.p.h. at 1h. 17m. p.m. on the 22nd August, although the centre passed about 150 miles to the South-West of Hong Kong.

(c) Heat waves from June 15th to July 3rd, July 8th to 25th, July 31st to August 9th, and August 12th to 17th.

Barometric pressure was moderately above normal in February, July and December, and considerably above in September. It was considerably below in June and August. In the latter month it was 29.530 ins. or the lowest on record except in 1911 when it was 29.521 ins. The mean pressure for the year at station level was 29.842 ins. as against 29.847 ins. in 1918, and 29.844 ins. for the past 36 years. The highest pressure was 30.398 ins. on February 4th as against 30.391 ins. in 1918 and 30.509 ins. for the past 36 years. The lowest pressure was 29.287 ins. on August 26th as against 29.108 ins. in 1918 and 28.735 ins. for the past 36 years.

The temperature of the air was considerably above normal in March and April, and moderately above in June. It was moderately below in February, October, November, and December. The mean temperature...