714665-1865-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION-NO-35 — Page 1

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH MARCH, 1865.

HOSPITA ES, exclusive of Establishments,.

POLICE,

GAOLS,

KENT,

do.,

do.,

1,516.65 10,799.75

9,788.00

76.50

TRANSPORT,

CONVEYANCE OF MAILS,

WORKS AND BUILDINGS,.

ROADS, STREETS AND BRIDGES,

MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES,

LAND AND HOUSES PURCHASED,

SPECIAL EXPENSES,

No. 35.

TOTAL,

89.02

150.67

185,316.77

4,578.19

1,204.04

19,201.25

3,237.34

.$249,618.23

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Report and Returus from the Acting Registrar General, connected with the Population and Trade of the Colony, are published for general information.

By Order,

W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 6th March, 1865.

(No. 7.)

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE, VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 31st January, 1865.

SIR,In accordance with your letter No. 995 of 2nd December 1864, I have the honour to forward the enclosed sheets of the Blue Book filled up, viz., Establishment on 31st December 1861-Population-Ecclesiastical Returns--Agriculture, and Manufactures,

I beg, also, to enclose the following Returns of the Census of Hongkong for 1864, viz: No. 1, Census of Hongkong- No. 2, Population of Hongkong-No. 3, Classification and number of Houses in Hongkong-No. 4, Return of Chinese residing in Hongkong--No. 5, Mortality amongst the Chinese Population during 1864-No. 6, Boat Population in the Harbour and Bays of Hongkong-No. 7, Summary of Boat Population.

While forwarding these Returns, I would call attention to the seeming decrease in the Population of Hongkong, whereas, undoubtedly there has been a fair increase.

The Census for 1863 shewed a total population of 121,850, while for 1864 the Returns make only a population of 121,498, hence there is an apparent decrease of 3,352.

However, though in the gross there is this decrease, yet an inspection of the attached Schedules, will manifest a steady increase upon previous years.

In the Returns for 1863, Schedule No. 1, an estimated return is made of 5,000 Street Coolies.

Being of opinion, that the state of the Colony on 31st December 1864, did not warrant such a return. I have not entered anything under this head, considering that the sum of 2,000 was sufficient to include all the persons who live in matsheds or have no certain dwelling place.

Therefore deducting this item from the total for 1863, the Population would be 119,850, while, as I said before, it is for last year estimated at 121,498, showing an increase of 1648.

But the whole Returns shew even a greater increase than this, for a deduction has to be made under the head of Emi- grants; the Office having been removed to "Canton-the Emigration Officer acquaints me that on the 31st December 1864, there were no Emigrants living in this Colony.

Hence, though there was a Return made for 1863, there is none made for 1864.

For the Villages, the Return that only requires notice is the one for Kowloong where there is a difference of 1,053 between this and that for 1863.

Considering the great changes that have taken place on the Cession in Kowloong, the removal of the Village of Tsim- sha-tsui, and a number of detached houses having been pulled down in different places, to carry out the Scheme of the Government for laying out the land,-allowance having been made for these, there will, I conceive, be no difficulty in ac- counting for a diminution just now in the Population there, though the place shews signs of being highly populous at no distant period.

Requesting that these considerations may be submitted with the Returns,-I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,

The Honourable

CECIL C. SMITH, Acting Registrar General.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

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