1872 — Page 196

No. 20.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Census Returns of the Population of the Colony for the year 1872, are published for general information.

By Command,

CECIL C. SMITH,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Ilongkong, 10th February, 1873.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 31st January, 1873.

Sir, In accordance with the Memorandum on C. S. O. No. 3,151, I caused the Census of this Colony to be taken on the night of the 1st December last; the Returns would have been sent in sooner, had they not been delayed by the pressure of work incidental to the commencement of the year.

The Returns call for no particular report. There is an apparent decrease in the number of Europeans and Americans resident in the Colony, but I am of opinion, that the figures given under this head in the Returns for 1870-1871 are not correct, and my reasons for supposing so are these:-

If we look at Table No. 13, it will be seen that since the year 1864 there has been each year a gradual increase, on the average of about 82 persons on the previous year. I can, therefore, scarcely think that in April 1871, when the last Census was taken, there could have been so large an increase as 447.

There is no doubt that at least 100 of this number ought to appear under the heading of Temporary Residents, the latter only being returned as 57 in 1871, whereas in previous years they averaged more than 160.

If we take 82 as the average increase per annum in the number of European residents, the correct Return would be nearer 2,371 than 2,736; consequently this year would show an increase of 149, instead of a decrease of 216.

Since the taking of the last Census, the Chinese Population has increased.

The total Population of all nationalities, however, is smaller by a couple of thousand, but this is secounted for by the withdrawal of the Native Regiment, and by there having been no large Men-of- war in the Harbor on the 1st December.

I take this opportunity of enclosing certain Returns for the Blue Book.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

M. S. TONNOCITY, Acting Registrar General,

The Honorable CECIL C. SMITH,

Acting Colonial Secretary,

HONGKONG.