Directory_and_Chronicle_1928 — Page 882

HONGKONG

869

Of the islands and islets in the waters of the Colony (exclusive of the above acquisitions) the most important is Stonecutter's Island, formerly known as Wong Chune-chów, opposite to and about three-quarters of a mile from the north-western extremity of the Kowloon peninsula. The island is an irregular ridge about a mile in length, and a little over a quarter of a mile broad; the principal eminences are occupied by batteries and no one is allowed to land without a permit. The Quarantine Station also is located here. After the great typhoon of September, 1874, two or three thousand bodies of the victims found afloat were interred on Stonecutter's Island, Kellet's Island is a small rock near East Point, on which formerly stood a fort, now replaced by a small magazine. Green Island, at the western entrance of the harbour, has been planted with trees and now justifies its name all the year round. A lighthouse has been placed on its south-western extremity. One Tree Island is a tiny rock near the entrance to Aberdeen. Aplichau, a considerable island opposite Aberdeen, of which harbour it forms part, has a populous fishing village on its northern shore facing Aberdeen. Lantao and Lamina Islands were brought under British jurisdiction by the Kowloon Convention of 1898. The former has a considerably larger area tliar Hongkong, but both this island and Lamma are very sparsely populated by agriculturists and fishermen. Clieung Chau is becoming popular as a summer resort for Europeans, numerous bungalows having been erected in the European reservation by missionaries and others.

POPULATION AND DEFENCES

A census taken in April, 1921, showed the total population of the Colony to be 625,166, but the Census Officer estimated that, for various reasons, the normal population was greater than that by 30,000. The smaller total, however, gave an increase of 168,427, or 36.87, on the figures for 1911-"the greatest relative increase ever recorded for the Colony." The estimated population of the Colony at the middle of 1926 was 874,420. The non-Chinese population was put at 16,500 and the Chinese population at 857,920, (City of Victoria, 465,000; villages of Hongkong, 33,040; Kowloon, 200,000; New Territories, 87,500; population afloat, 72,380).

The Garrison consists of British and Indian troops. There is also a local Volunteer Defence Corps. The approaches to the harbour are strongly fortified, the batteries consisting of well-constructed earthworks. The western entrance is protected by guns on Mount Davis, Stonecutters Island and Belcher Point. The Ly-ee-mùn Pass is defended by forts on the Hongkong side and another on Devil's Peak on the mainland. The Colony of Hongkong pays to the British Government a military contribution fixed at 20 per cent. of the revenue.

The Naval Yard consists of a large dock, an extensive range of workshops and offices east of the Artillery Barracks, and the Naval Authorities have another large establishment on the Kowloon side near to Yaumati.

CLIMATE

As intimated in earlier paragraphs, Hongkong formerly possessed a most unenviable notoriety for unhealthiness, and in years past the troops garrisoned here suffered grievously from malarial fevers. At the present time, however, the Colony is one of the healthiest spots in the world in the same latitude. The influence of the young pine forests created by the Afforestation Department and the training of nullahs on the slopes have no doubt been beneficial in checking malaria, and the attention latterly bestowed on sanitation has not been without its due effect. The number of deaths from malaria during the past six years were: 1921, 332; 1922, 454; 1923, 674; 1924, 707; 1925, 702; 1926, 587. The last number represents 0.89 per thousand of population. The general death-rate per 1,000 in 1926 was 15.9 (19.05 in 1925). Among the Chinese com- munity the death-rate was 16.01 per 1,000, compared with 19.12 in 1925. Amongst the non-Chinese civilian community the death-rate per 1,000 was 10.9 as against 14.6 in 1925.

Four successive years of comparative drought, 1898-1901, led to the assumption that the rainfall of Hongkong was decreasing. But such is not the case; the mean annual rainfall for the period 1902-11 was 84.21.inches against 68.29 inches for the period 1895- 1901. Until 1918 the rainfall was never so heavy as in the period 1888-1894, when the mean annual fall was 101.08 inches. In 1918 it was 101.605 inches, in 1919 76.14 inches, in 1920 107.88 inches, in 1921 97.34 inches, in 1922 69.435 inches, in 1923 106.74 inches, in 1924 98.57 inches, in 1925 87.59 inches, in 1926 100.78 inches, and in 1927 107.88 inches.

29