A524
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 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.
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.
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TRADE IN 1935
According to official trade statistics issued by the Statistical Office of the Imports and Exports Department the combined values of imports and exports of merchandise during the first eleven months of 1935 amounted to $576.4 millions (£57.5 millions), as compared with $674.4 millions (£50.8 millions) in the corresponding period of 1934, representing a decrease of 14.5% in terms of Hong Kong currency and an increase of 13.2% in terms of sterling values.
Imports of merchandise during the first eleven months of 1935 totalled $330.7 millions (£33.1 millions), as compared with $377.7 millions (£28.4 millions) in the corresponding period of 1934: a decrease of 12.4% in Hong Kong dollar values and an increase of 16.5% in sterling values.
Exports of merchandise during the first eleven months of 1935 totalled $245.6 millions (£24.4 millions), as compared with $296.7 millions (£22,3) millions) in the corresponding period of 1934: a decrease of 17.2% in Hong Kong dollar values and an increase of 9.4% in sterling values.
During the month of November, 1935 imports of merchandise amounted to a total of $28.4 millions (£2.1 millions), as compared with $38.8 millions (£3.2 millions) in November, 1934: a dollar decrease of 26,8% and a sterling decrease of 34.4%; whilst exports totalled $23.5 millions (£1.7 millions), as compared with $29.5 millions (£2.4 millions): a dollar decrease of 20.3% and a sterling : decrease of 29.2%.
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