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Non-Chinese victims whilst other forms of Tuberculosis represent an additional 530 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 651 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 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 1919 were:--
(a) The large departures from normal from month to month
in atmospheric pressure, temperature, and wind.
(3) A typhoon, which produced a wind velocity of 60 m.p.h. at 7 p.m. on the 22nd, and a squall at the rate of 81 n.p.h. at 117 p.m. on the 22nd, although the centre passed about 150 miles to the South-West of Hongkong.
(r) 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 Septembor. It was considerably below in June and August. In the latter mouth it was 20 530, or the lowest on record except in 1911 when it was 29-521 The mean pressure for the year at station level was 20842 as against 29-847 in 1918, and 29844 for the past 36 years. The highest pressure was 30-398 on February 4th as against 30-391 in 1918 and 39 509 for the past 30 years. The lowest pressure was 20 287 on August 26th as against 29 108, in 1918 and 28 735 for the past 30 years.
The temperature of the air was considerably above normal in March and April, and moderately abore in June. It was moderately below in February, October, November, and December. The mean temperature for the year was 722 as against 71°2 in 1918 and 718 for the past 36 years. The highest temperature was 022 on August 1st as against 912 in 1918 and 970 for the past 30 years. The lowest temperature was 39°4 on February 4th as against 42°-1 in 1918 and 3290 for the past 30 years.
The rainfall was moderately above normal in July and August, and moderately below normal in May, June, and September. The tota! for the year was 78 140 as against 101-605 in 1918, and 83-620 for the past 36 years. The greatest fall in one civil day was 4-795 on July 5th and the greatest in one hour was 1350ini. between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. on October 1st.
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The wind velocity was considerably below normal from February to June and from September to December. It was moderately above in July and August. The mean velocity for the year was 114 m.ph. as against 110 m.p.h. in 1918 and 127 m.p.k. for the past 36 years. The maximum velocity for one hour as recorded by the Beckley Anemograph was 00 miles at 7 pmn. on August 22nd as against 63 miles in 1918 and 108 for the past 35 years. The maximum squall velocity, as recorded by the Dincs Baxendell Anemograph, was at the rate of 84 m.p.h. at 1h 17m. p.m. on August 22nd as against 94 m.p.h. in 1918 and 105 m.p.li. for the past 9
years.
The climate of Hongkong 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 0° lower than at the Observatory, Kowloon. The humidity is usually greater than in Kowloon and approaches saturation for several days at a time during March and April when mist is very prevalent. In summer 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 Lyetuun 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 monsoon in
summer.
X. POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH SERVICES.
The total Revenue from the Postal Service in 1919 amounted to $450,056.75, being $22,923.87 more than that collected in 1918. The net expenditure amounted to $103,931.64, being less than that of 1918 by $52,176.05. The balance of revenue over expenditure amounted to $346,125.11.
The revenue collected in 1919 from radio-telegrams amounted to $10,350.03, being $13,061.22 less than that collected in 1918. Advices of vessels signalled at the Lighthouses yielded $470.40 and semaphore messages $15,40, making a total of $10,835,83 for the Telegraph Service. The expenditure amounted to $34,150.81, The number of radio-telegrams forwarded during the year was 1,110 consisting of 15,577 words, and 2,825 received consisting of 37,121 words.
28th November, 1920,
A. G. M. FLETENER,
Colonial Secretary.
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