7
460
*colony where Imperial considerations are not "involved,
5. Hongkong, when 53 years ago it became a British possession, was inhabited, I understand, by some 7,000 to 12,000 Chinese squatters and fishermen. According to the census of 1891, the population in round numbers amounted to 221,400, of whom 211,000, or more than nine-tenths, were Chinese. The Europeans and Americans numbered 8,500 and nationals of other than European, American, and Chinese nationalities 1,900. The census further analyses, as follows, the European and American population.
Out of the total of 8,500 the resident civil population amounted only to 4,200, the British military and naval forces numbered 2,900 and the remaining 1,400 represented merchants, seamen, police, and others. Of the 4,200 individuals who constituted the European and American civil population, 1,450 only were returned as British; of this number not more than 800 were adult males, and therefore presumably not more than 800 of them would be entitled to vote.
6. I shall revert to these figures shortly in connexion with the question of popular representation.
Meanwhile it may be deduced from them that under the existing form of government the population of Hongkong has in half a century increased (say) twenty-fold, which is prima facie evidence, as you suggest in your despatch, that the colony has been well governed. But a further deduction has also to be made, and that is that under the protection...
7
460
*colony where Imperial considerations are not
"involved, "
5. Hongkong, when 53 years ago it became a
Fritish possession, was inhabited, I understand,
by some 7,000 to 12,000 Chinese Squatters and
fishermen. According to the census of 1891, the
population in round numbers, amounted to 221,400,
of whom 211,000, or more than nine tenths, were
and Americano
Chinese. The Europeans, numbered 8,500 and national-
A
ities other than Europeans, Americans and Chinese
1,900. The census further analyses, as follows,
the European and American population.
Out of the total of 8,500 the resident civil
population amounted only to 4,200, the British
military and naval forces numbered 2,900 and the
remaining 1,400 represent ad merchants, seamen,
police and others. Of the 4,200 individuals, who
constituted the European and American civil popu-
lation, 1,450 only were returned as British; of
this number not more than 800 were adult males,
and therefore presumably not more than 800 of them
would be entitled to vote.
6, I shall revert to these figures shortly
in connexion with the question of popular represen-
tation.
the
Meanwhile it may be deduced from them that
under existing form of government the population of Hongkong has in half a century increased( say)
^
twenty fold in which is prima facie evidence, as
you suggest in your despatch, that the colony has been well governed. But a further deduction has also to be made, and that is that under the pro-
tection
!
$
i
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