49
are totally illiterate."
The four school censuses say little about the education of girls, except that it was rare. However, the 1921 School Census did record that only 145 girls were full-time students at that date, which is only a little better than the 51 noted in the 1911 Census, despite the foundation of three girls' schools, and one fully co-educational school between 1911 and 1921 in the New Territories.
The question of the degree of literacy of males in traditional Chinese society is one of considerable debate. The evidence of the 1911, 1921, and 1931 Censuses, and the 1902-1921 School Censuses in the New Territories should not be ignored in this debate. They show unequivocally that the villagers believed that between 55 and 66% of the adult men of the villages were literate, and that about a quarter or a third of the male children aged 5-15 were at school at any time. There seems no good reason not to take this evidence at face value.
Occupation
Both the 1911 and the 1921 Census include tables of "Occupations". Both sets of records are difficult to use, although the figures in the 1911 Census are better. In 1921, in fact, the census officer apologised for the poor quality of the "Occupation" statistics. In 1911, the occupation of 22,770 males and 14,386 females in the Northern District are recorded. This probably represents all those who claimed to have an occupation, and omitted infants, the elderly, and those women who claimed only to be housewives. Occupations are recorded for a male population approximately equivalent to all males aged over 15. In 1921, however, occupations were recorded for 34,753 males, against a total male population of 37,287. It must be assumed that persons with more than one occupation (e.g., a farmer and a carpenter, both part-time) were entered under each occupation in 1921. "Student" is not given as an occupation in 1921.
In both 1911 and 1921 the occupation figures for Southern District include the New Kowloon populations, although a separate "Occupations" table is included for the Southern District floating population in 1921. In 1981 it is unclear if the islands boat people
49
are totally illiterate."
The four school censuses say little about the education of girls, except that it was rare. However, the 1921 School Census did record that only 145 guls were full-ume students at that date, which is only a little better than the 51 noted in the 1911 Census, despite the foundation of three girls' schools, and one fully co-educational school between 1911 and 1921 in the New Territories.
The question of the degree of literacy of males in traditional Chinese society is one of considerable debate. The evidence of the 1911, 1921, and 1931 Censuses, and the 1902-1921 School Censuses in the New Territories should not be ignored in this debate. They show unequivocally that the villagers believed that between 55 and 66% of the adult men of the villages were literate, and that about a quarter or a third of the male children aged 5-15 were at school at any time There seems no good reason not to take this evidence at face value.
Occupation
Both the 1911 and the 1921 Census include tables of "Occupations ** Both sets of records are difficult to use, although the figures in the 1911 Census are better In 1921, in fact, the census officer apologised for the poor quality of the "Occupation” statistics** In 1911, the occupation of 22,770 males and 14,386 females in the Northern District are recorded. This probably represents all those who claimed to have an occupation, and omitted infants, the elderly, and those women who claimed only to be housewives Occupations are recorded for a male population approximately equivalent to all males aged over 15. In 1921, however, occupations were recorded for 34,753 males, against a total male population of 37,287. It must be assumed that persons with more than one occupation (2 g, a farmer and a carpenter, both part-time) were entered under each occupation in 1921. "Student" is not given as an occupation in 1921
In both 1911 and 1921 the occupation figures for Southern District include the New Kowloon populations, although a separate "Occupations" table is included for the Southern District floating population in 1921 In 1981 it is unclear if the islands boat people
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