Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 658

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The following is the number of boats reported sunk or wrecked during the typhoon :-

Sunk.

П'recked.

Total.

Passenger Boats............

71

83

154

Cargo Boats

209

491

700

Trading Junks

49

181

230

Harbour Boats

28

92

120

Fishing Boats and Junks

16

467

483

373

1,314

1,687

Steam Launches (sunk or wrecked )

34

The number of persons reported to the Police and Harbour Department as missing was 1,347. It is to be feared that the latter figure is very much below the mark. Boats which were lost with all hands, as a very large number were, are not likely to have been reported. Also the greatest loss of life was among the crews of the small craft, which are classified as Passenger and Harbour Boats, yet the total number of lives reported lost in vessels of this description was only 139. The total loss of life in the Boat l'opulation of the Colony at the lowest estimate was probably at least 5,000. It is safe to assume that nearly all the boats returned as "wrecked were total losses, and did not appear among the craft enumerated at the present Census. On the other hand a great many launches and lighters had been raised again by the 20th November and figure in the Census returns. The latter include a number of new boats of every description, but especially Cargo Boats, which were brought in from places outside the Colony to make good some of the typhoon losses.

29. The Boat population found along the Southern Shore of the Harbour numbered 12,260, composed of 7,651 males and 4,609 females. Along the Northern Shore the numbers were 8,502 males and 5,134 females, total 13,636. In the rest of the Harbour the numbers enumerated were 3,067 males and 1,143 females, total 4,210. The total Boat Population of the Harbour (excluding Shaukiwan) is therefore 19,220 males and 10,886 females, total of 30,106. In 901 the number was 28,529.

30. The Boat Population of the Hong Kong Villages is as follows:-

king a

Shaukiwan, Aberdeen, Stanley,.

1906.

1901.

..6,306

5,439

.5,637

5,251

695

881

12,638

11,571

The total number of boats of all classes at Shaukiwan is 781, at Aberdeen 965 and at Stanley 95. In 1901 the number of boats enumerated at Aberdeen was 947 and at Stanley 119.

The Shaukiwan boats appear to have been included in the totals for the Harbour. A number of boats belonging to these three villages were lost in the typhoon. They would be included in the totals given in paragraph 28.

31. The number of European, American and other Non-Chinese children between the ages of 6 and 15 years (inclusive) is 1,363 and of Chinese 31,5p3. Of the latter total 16,860 are males and 14,693 females.

32. The total number of Police engaged in the taking of the Census was 95, in addition to 49 Water Police seamen and 9 Chinese Engineers, Coxswains and Stokers. The number of each rank employed was as follows:-

8 Inspectors

8 Sergeants

14 Lance Sergeants

21 European Constables

2 Indian Sergeants

2 Indian Lance Sergeants

6 Sergeant Interpreters

1 Assistant Interpreter

3 Chinese Sergeants 30 Chinese Constables.