A526
HONGKONG
(as compared with 347,401 in 1921); Kowloon, 262,899 (as compared with 123,488); New Territories, 95,503 (as compared with 83,163); and the floating population, 69,008 (as compared with 71,154).
The Garrison consists of British and Indian troops. There is also a local Volunteer Defence Corps. The approaches to the harbour are strongly forti- fied, the batteries consisting of well-constructed earthworks. The
The western entrance is protected by guns on Mount Davis, Stonecutters Island and Belcher Point. The Lyee-Mùn Pass is defended by forts on the Hongkong side and another on Devil's Peak on the mainland.
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 an- other large establishm nt on the Kowloon side near to Yaumati.
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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 draining 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 (19.0 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 assump- tion 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.
TRADE IN 1934
The Statistical Office of the Imports and Exports Department reports that, during the first eleven months of 1934, Imports of merchandise into the Colony of Hong Kong totalled $377.7 millions (£28.4 millions), as compared with $164.1 millions (£31.3 millions) in the corresponding period of 1933: a decrease in terms of H.K. currency of 18.6 per cent., whilst Exports of merchandise were valued at $296.7 millions (£22.3 millions), as compared with $375.1 mil- lions (£25.3 millions) in the corresponding period of 1933: a decrease in terms of Hong Kong currency of 20.9 per cent.
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Figures for the month of November, 1934 show that imports of merchandise into the Colony amounted to a declared value of $38.8 millions (£3.2 millions), as compared with $40.6 millions (£2.9 millions) in November of 1933: a de- crease in terms of local currency of 4.4 per cent.
Exports of merchandise totalled $29.5 millions (£2.4 millions), as compared with $33.7 millions (£2.4 millions): a decrease in terms of local currency of 12.6 per cent.
The following table shows comparative figures of imports and exports of Merchandise and Treasure during the months of November, 1934 and November,
1933:
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