453
28
The corrected birth-rate for the year was 44 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 22.1 per 1,000 among the Non-Chinese community, as compared with 69 and 20-8 for 1917.
The death-rate for the year was 296 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 19-5 among the Non-Chinese community, as compared with 23-7 and 14.00 for 1917.
The number of deaths from Malaria (398) shows a decrease on the previous year (416). The deaths of Chinese from this canse in the City of Victoria numbered 176 out of a population of 299,450 or a rate of 0-6 per 1,000 per annum.
The deaths from Plague numbered 251 as compared with
35 in 1917.
Small-pox deaths numbered 26, all Chinese.
There were 3,169 deathe from respiratory diseases as compared with 2,248 in 1917, and 51 of these were among the Non-Chinese community. Pulmonary Taberculosis claimed 118 Chinese and 6 Non-Chinese victims whilst other forms of Taberculosis represent an additional 616 deaths making a total of 740, or 5-4 per cent. of the total deaths among the community.
Beri-beri was responsible for 804 deaths, as compared with 654 during 1917 and 517 in 1916. 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 ia produced by the consumption of white rice as the staple article of diet with- out 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 1918 were:—
(a) The continuance until the end of February of the fine dry weather which commenced at the beginning of November 1917,
(6) The heavy rains of Juue (24-795 ins,) August (29-230 ins.) and September (18:450 ins.).
(c) A typhoon which passed about 40 miles to the south-west of Hongkong, on the morcing of August 15th. A squall at the rate of 94 miles an hour was recorded by the Dines Baxendel Anemograph at 6, 10. am. Very little damage occurred at Hongkong.
January was a record month as regards most elements. Baro- -metric pressure and sunshine were the greatest on record, and the temperature, humidity and cloudiness the least on record. The wind direction (NE by E) was with 1890, 1898 and 1899, the most northerly on record, and the wind velocity was only 02 m.p.h. greater than the least on record (1916).
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Barometric pressure was considerably above vormal in January and considerably below in Jaly. Departures from normal in other mouths were small. The meau pressure for the year at station level wus 29-847 as against 29-8451 in 1917, and 29844 for the past 35 years. The highest pressure was 30-391" on January 8th as against 30-494 in 1917 and 30-509 for the past 35 years, Tho lowest pressure was 20-108 on August 15th as against 29-078- in 1917 and 28-735 for the past 35 years.
The monthly departures of temperature from normal were small, except in January when the mean temperaturo was no less than 5-8 below normal. The mean temperature for the year was 71-2 us against 710 in 1917 and 718 for the past 35 years. The highest temperature was 91° 2 on July 14th as against 90o-8 in 1917 and 970 for the past 35 years. The lowest temperature was 421 on January 9th as against 38-8 in 1917 and 320 for the past 35
years.
The rainfall was considerably below the average from January to May and considerably above the average in Jane, August and September. The total for the year was 101605 the greatest on record since 1894, when it was 104-25 inches. The greatest fall in one civil day was 7-395 inches on August 3rd and the greatest in one hour was 2420 ins. between 1 a.m, and 2 am, on September 21st,
The wind velocity was considerably below normal in January, April, June (the lowest on record) and October. In August it was moderately above normal, owing to the passage of two typhoons. The mean velocity for the year was 116 m.p.b. us against 11-2 m.p.l. in 1917 and 127 m.p.l. for the past 35 years. Thre maximum velocity for one hour as recorded by the Beckley Anemograph was 63 miles at GerAugust 15ths against 63 miles in 1917 and 108 for the past 35 years. The maximum squall velocity, as recorded by the Dines Buxendell Anemograph, was at the rate of 94 m.p.h. at 6-10 a., on August 15thys against 93 m.p.h. in 1917,and 105 m.p.h. for the past 9 years.
The climate of Hoogkong is similar in its broad features to that of Kowloon and the New Territories, but at the higher levels, from 1,400 to 1,800 feet above sea level the temperature is usually From 3 to 6 lower than at the Observatory, Kowloon. The humidity is usually greater than in Kowloon and approaches saturn- tion for several days at a time during blarch and April when mist is very prevalent. In summor the city of Victoria, and the rising terraces behind it, derive little or no benefit from the SW monsoon, being sheltered by steep hills from SE to SW. In winter it is exposed to the NE monsoon, which occasionally blows along the harbour through Lyemon Pass with considerable violence. On the other hand the South-west side of the Island is protected from: the NE monsoon in winter and enjoys the benefit of the SW mou- soon in summer.
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