Sessional_Paper_1891 — Page 380

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X A, B, C, which shows the amount of Assessment in the whole Colony from 1881 to 1891. The following are the figures of the population and revenue for 1876, 1881, and 1891. The revenue of 1891 is estimated, but at a lower figure than that of 1890-

Date.

1876,

1881,

1891,

Population.

139,144

160,402

221,441

Revenue.

871,307

1,120,796

1,952,098

An examination of these figures reveals that, between 1876 and 1881, the population increased 15.28 per cent., or 30.56 in ten years, and the revenue 28.62 in five years, or 57.24 per cent. in ten years.

Between 1881 and 1891, the population increased 38.05 per cent., and the revenue 74.17 per cent., which shows that the revenue has more than kept pace with the increasing population.

19. An attempt has been made this Census to acquire information regarding the educational statistics of the Colony. For this purpose the heading "No. attending school" was added to the Census forms, and in the Age Table (v. Return XI 4.) instead of following the division of ages, 20 and under, adopted in the former Census, the ages under twenty have been divided into 3 periods, 5 and under, 6 to 16, 17 to 20. Of these periods that of 6 to 16 is regarded as the school-going age. From Return XII B it appears there are in Hongkong of persons of school-going age-

Of these-

of school-going age.

783 Europeans and Americans.

184 Nationalities other than Europeans, Americans and Chinese. 21,331 Chinese,

making a total of 22,298.

566 Europeans and Americans.

87-Nationalities other than European, American and Chinese. 6,720 Chinese,

making a total of 7,373, attend school, or less than of those returned as

20. The number of those returned as attending school (v. Return XII C) is evidently not accurate, which may be due to the term school having been wrongly considered by some of the Chinese to include Government schools only. Whether that be the case or not, the inaccuracy of the returns is proved by the fact that on the same day on which the general Census was held, a Census was also taken of the number of children actually attending school on that day (See Return XII 4). This return shows that on the 20th May as many as 8,085 children actually attended school, though it was a rainy day such as, I am informed, keeps about 10 per cent. of children from school.

If this 10 per cent. be added, the number of children attending school may be estimated at 8,893 which sum comes near the number actually enrolled in 1890, viz., 9,681. Deducting the number of children attending school, 8,893, from the number of persons of school-going age, viz., 22,298, there would be left 13,405 persons not accounted for. Of this number some are educated by private tutors, but it would be difficult to say how many, and the remainder must be presumed to be uneducated. On this point the Inspector of Schools, Dr. EITEL, whom I have consulted, writes as follows:---

"In England and Wales somewhat over one half and in Ireland less than one half of those "children (5 to 13 years of age), who ought to attend school, actually come under "instruction bearing one language only.

"In Hongkong, where most children learn two languages (English as well as Chinese, or English as well as Portuguese) and where, consequently, the school-going age covers "a longer period (6th to 16th year of age), the case is certainly no worse than in

England and Wales with its compulsory attendance laws.

*C

"But the great difference is that, while in England and Wales the existing school accommo- "dation exceeds the demands of actual attendance, in Hongkong the existing accommo- "dation is hardly sufficient for the actual attendance."

21. In Return XIII will be found the number of public and private buildings in the Colony of Hongkong on the 20th May last, which shows that the number of houses assessed at and above £100 (say $600 value) amounted in Hongkong to 1,561 as compared with 983, and in Kaulung to 63 as com- pared with 4, in 1881; and that the number of shops and private dwellings assessed below £100 (say $600 value) per annum amounted in Flongkong to 7,331 as compared with 6,773, and in Kaulung to 1,665 as compared with 977, in 1881. The number of inhabited dwellings, exclusive of naval and military buildings and boats, is 10,620, with a population of 186,506, which gives an average of more than 18 persons to each house. There has also been an increase in the number of naval and military buildings. The number of unoccupied houses amounted to 230 in the city of Victoria, 150 in the Villages, and 145 in Kaulung. A return, XIV, is attached showing the number of unoccupied houses in each district from 1881 to 1891, from which it will be seen that in 1881, 1882, 1883 and 1884, the number of unoccupied houses was larger than at present, and that in 1891 there are fewer houses unoccupied than there were in 1890. In return V will be found the occupations of the Chinese residents.