170
The daily average of prisoners confined in the Gaol was 518, the highest previous average being 726 in 1904. The percentage of prisoners to population, according to the daily average of the former and the estimated number of the latter, was .161 as compared with 183, the average percentage for the last ten years. The Prison discipline was satis- factory, the average of punishments per prisoner being 1.21, as compared with 1.47 in 1905 and 1.1 in 1904.
The remunerative labour carried on in the Gaol consists of printing, book-binding, washing, carpentry, boot-making, net-making, painting and white-washing, mat-making, tailoring, oakum-picking, etc., the profit on the work done being, $37,495.56.
The total strength of the Police Force for 1906 was Europeans 133, Indians 410, Chinese 504, making a total of 1,047, as compared with 1,018 in 1905 exclusive in each case of the four Superior Officers and a staff of clerks and coolies. Of this Force an Assistant Superintendent, who also acted as Magistrate, and 19 Europeans, 85 Indians and 44 Chinese were stationed in the New Territories during the year.
The force of District Watchmen to which the Government contributes $2,000 per annum was well supported by the Chinese during the year.
IX.-VITAL STATISTICS.
(a.) POPULATION.
The population of the Colony according to the Census taken in 1901 was 283,975 while at the Census taken in 1906 it was 301,967 exclusive of New Kowloon and the Army and Navy Establishments. The estimated population at the middle of the year under review was 326,961 as follows:-
Non-Chinese Civil Community,
12,174
Hongkong, Old Kowloon,
191,815
51,600
Chinese Population,
New Kowloon (approximate),
17,790
Floating Population,
42,550
Mercantile Marine,
2,375
306,130
Ariny, (average strength), Navy, (average strength),
3,959
4,698
8,657
Total,......
326,961
New Kowloon was brought under the jurisdiction of the Sanitary Board in 1903, and its estimated population has accordingly been included. The population of the remainder of the New Territories according to the Census of 1901 was 85,011 making when added to the present estimate a grand total of 411,972.
At the Census taken in 1906 the actual number of members of the Navy present in the Colony was 4,698.
A
(b.) PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION.
During the year under review considerable progress has been made in rendering existing domestic buildings rat proof, as a preventive of Plague, 837 ground surfaces of houses having been made good with concrete and cement, while rat runs have been filled up with cement in 286 buildings.
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