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There is a remarkable increase in the population of Kennedy Town and Shektongtsui, which now numbers 11,032 as compared with 4,282 in 1897 and 3,581 in 1891. If this increase is a real one, which there is apparently no reason to doubt, it is difficult to account for, although there are reasons which would account for a considerable portion of it.
There is a slight decrease in the Saiyingpun District, the numbers in 1901, 1897, and 1891, being 44,722, 45,570, and 34,559 respectively.
The Taipingshan District shows a small increase of 1,892 over 1897. In 1891 there was a popu- lation in this quarter of 31,302, the decrease since that year being due to the destruction of the Chinese houses on the Taipingshan Resumption Area.
No. V District does not show any material change, the increase since 1891 being only 1,230.
The Chungwan District continues to grow, and the population has increased from 36,196 in 1891 to 51,243 in the present year. This represents an increase of 41 per cent.
The number of inhabitants of the Wantsai and Hawan Districts is 23,487. The number in 1891 was 16,944.
The total increase in the number of Chinese inhabitants of the city is thus 14,783 over 1897, and 36,287 over 1891. Out of the increase of 14,783 over 1897, 14,242 were males and only 541 females.
26. The European and American residents at the Peak number 412 as compared with 381 in 1897 and 213 in 1891. These figures do not include the European Police, of whom, however, there was only one living there on this occasion. The number of Chinese was 1,786, of whom some were work- men employed on new buildings. The increase over 1897 is 195.
The European and American children below the age of 15 numbered 47.
27. The number of Europeans and Americans residing in the Hongkong villages was 167. In this total are included the crews of a steamer at Aberdeen and of one at Shaukiwan. In 1897 the number was 125; in 1891 it was not stated.
28. The Chinese population of Shaukiwan numbered 9,159, which shows an increase of 1,721 over 1897, and of 1,867 over 1891.
29. 805 Chinese reside in the village of Stanley, and 2,787 in Aberdeen. The population of the latter village remains, therefore, practically the same as in 1897, while that of the former one has decreased by 239 since 1897, and by 77 since 1891.
30. The village of Pokfulam now contains 610 Chinese inhabitants as compared with 384 in 1897 and 269 in 1891.
31. The European and American population (including Portuguese) in British Kowloon numbers 668 as compared with 377 in 1897 and 183 in 1891. This remarkable increase is not confined to the Non-Chinese community, as the Chinese population now amounts to 42,976, having thus more than quadrupled itself in 20 years. The figures for the last four Censuses are as follows:-
1901,
Male.
.32,860
Female.
Total.
10,116
42,976
1897,
.19,202
7,240
26,442
1891,
14,499
5,498
19,9
1881,
9,02
The above figures are for British Kowloon proper, and do not include any portion of the New Territory.
The extraordinary growth of this portion of the Colony may be ascribed to several causes, among which may be mentioned the activity of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, and the estab lishment of Cement works at Hunghom.
The great demand for steam launches at Manila, which has arisen since the American occupation, has also given a very considerable impetus to this trade during the last three years, nearly all the estab- lishments for building these vessels being situated on the Kowloon side of the Harbour.
The number of Chinese families in Kowloon is 6,718. The proportion of females to males is well maintained.
The number of European and American children below the age of 15 is 58. The Chinese below: that
age number 5,126.
32. The Europeans, Americans and other Non-Chinese on board the shipping in the Harbour numbered 1,001 as compared with 1,016 in 1891. Of the Europeans. 299 were British. 108 Germans, *nd 35 Norwegians. There were 153 Americans. The large number of the latter is accounted for
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