CO129-122 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [5-6] — Page 309

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

3

305

2.

inquirin

In reference to Your Grace's letter as to Registration of Births and Deaths I say that there never has been any attempt made here as yet to compile statistical tables of that description and that this Government proposes to furnish information on the subject except reference to the European and American population.

3.

Looking to the numbers of the Chinese land and boat population frequenting this Colony and to the various causes (of a political and communal nature) which affect the increase and decrease of the population, and also bearing in mind that the great majority (whether Chinese or Mahomedans) are not accompanied here by their wives and families, I am of opinion that such Statistics, if procurable at all, would not be reliable for the purposes contemplated by Your Grace.

4.

It is possible however that by constituting a fresh Department under the Registrar General and by furnishing the Officers of this Department with all necessary powers under an Ordinance expressly framed for the purpose, the number of Births and Deaths annually occurring here might eventually be ascertained with approximate correctness.

At the same time such a result would be comparatively worthless for useful purposes owing to the extra cost of fluctuation...

INDEX.

Edit History

2026-05-19 18:31:35 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
3 305 2. inquirin In reference to Your Grace's letter as to Registration of Births and Deaths I say that there never has been any attempt made here as yet to compile statistical tables of that description and that this Government proposes to furnish information on the subject except reference to the European and American population. 3. Looking to the numbers of the Chinese land and boat population frequenting this Colony and to the various causes (of a political and communal nature) which affect the increase and decrease of the population, and also bearing in mind that the great majority (whether Chinese or Mahomedans) are not accompanied here by their wives and families, I am of opinion that such Statistics, if procurable at all, would not be reliable for the purposes contemplated by Your Grace. 4. It is possible however that by constituting a fresh Department under the Registrar General and by furnishing the Officers of this Department with all necessary powers under an Ordinance expressly framed for the purpose, the number of Births and Deaths annually occurring here might eventually be ascertained with approximate correctness. At the same time such a result would be comparatively worthless for useful purposes owing to the extra cost of fluctuation... INDEX.
Baseline (Original)
3 305 2. inquirin In referencs to Your Grass other as to Registration of Birts and Learts I say state that there never has heve been ཨ་་་ any attempt made her. as yet et to can pile statistical tables of that descriptions and that this lovernment Government proposen prosesser --210 in I information on the subject except reference to the Ewopean and American population. 3. Loothing to the numbers of the Chinese land and boat population I frequenting this Colony and to the Parous Maanwen of a political and communial) affect the native which increase and) decrease of the population, and also bearing in mind, that the great majority - great majority whicher Cniese or Mahomed ans are not -anied here by their wives and accompanied families, I am of opinion that such Statisties, if proeusable at all, would not be reliable for the purposes conter plated: by Your Grace. 4. It is possible how nor hat by I constituting & fresh Department under the Registrar General and by furnishing the Officers of chas Department with all necefany frowers under an Ordinance expressly framed. for the pumpose, the number of Bircks and Dearls annually occuring here might eventually be ascertained with approximate correctness. At the same time such a result, comparatively worthloss for useful fimposes extracens owing to the extr. Ĉ avst of flacuation NDEX.
2026-05-19 18:31:35 · Baseline
View content

3

305

2.

inquirin

In referencs to Your Grass other as to Registration of Birts and

Learts I say

state that there never has

heve

been

ཨ་་་

any attempt made her.

as yet

et to

can pile statistical tables of that descriptions

and that this lovernment

Government proposen

prosesser

--210

in I

information on the subject except reference to the Ewopean and American

population.

3.

Loothing to the numbers of the Chinese land and boat population I frequenting this Colony and to the

Parous

Maanwen

of a political and communial)

affect the

native which

increase and)

decrease of the population, and also bearing

in mind, that the great majority

- great majority whicher

Cniese or Mahomed ans

are not

-anied here by their wives and

accompanied

families, I am of opinion that such Statisties, if proeusable at all, would not be reliable for the purposes conter plated: by Your Grace.

4.

It is possible how nor hat by I constituting & fresh Department under the Registrar General and by furnishing the

Officers of chas Department with all necefany frowers under an Ordinance expressly framed. for the pumpose, the number of Bircks and Dearls annually occuring here might eventually be ascertained with approximate

correctness.

At the same time such

a result,

comparatively worthloss for useful fimposes

extracens

owing to the extr.

Ĉ avst

of flacuation

NDEX.

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.