Sessional_Paper_1931 — Page 156

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The next largest groups were those of Makers of Textile Goods and Articles of Dress (Order No. XIII) who numbered 13,992 and Metal Workers (Order No. VII) totalling 13,754. These represent each about 40 persons per 1,000. In the case of Metal Workers the large detail given in the home classification appears to have been beyond the comprehension of the posting clerks.

Persons employed in Public Administration and Defence (Order No. XXIV) (excluding professional men such as doctors and chaplains who were tabulated under their professions, and clerks) number 12,731; 10,742 being non-Chinese.

Builders, Bricklayers, Stoneworkers, and Contractors (Order No. XVIII) totalled 11,897 or nearly 34 persons per 1,000. A large number of these were unskilled labourers.

Professional Occupations (Order No. XXV) accounted for 10,071 persons or 29 per 1,000. As stated earlier, the number is probably somewhat exaggerated; the number of Professional Students, to take one example only, being greatly in excess of what is likely to exist.

"Other Undefined Workers" (Order No. XXXI), a heterogeneous collection that cannot conveniently be classified elsewhere, totalled 7,769 or 22 per 1,000, and Makers of Foods, Drinks and Tobacco amounted to 7,142 or 20 per 1,000 of those occupied.

The other well-known occupational groups in the home classification are much less fully represented in Hong Kong; none of them having more than 10 persons per 1,000 occupied.

(b) Occupations of Females.

As is to be expected, the largest group of female workers is of those engaged in Personal Service. They numbered 28,088 or nearly 285 per 1,000 of those occupied. 26,590 of these women are in private domestic service and 689 laundry workers.

Agricultural Occupations absorb the next greatest number, 24,468 or 248 per 1,000 occupied.

The third main group is that employed in Transport and Communication which included 12,404 women representing 126 per 1,000 of those occupied. Of these 4,390 were carrying coolies and 7,841 boatwomen.

These three groups absorb nearly 66% of all women workers.

Fisherwomen amounted to 7,194 or 73 out of a thousand, and Textile Workers to 5,207 or nearly 53 per 1,000 occupied.

Women are also represented in considerable numbers in shopkeeping and among hawkers (there being 3,144 women hawkers) so that Commercial Occupations ac count for 4,158 women or 42 per 1,000. Makers of Textile Goods and Articles of Dress naturally include a fair number of women, namely about 3,700.

Female persons employed in Entertainments and Sport amounted to 2,720, a high figure as under this heading were tabulated the inmates of maisons de tolérance.

Professional Occupations absorbed 2,366 women, the majority being teachers, nurses and members of religious bodies. 2,233 women were employed in the Making of Food, Drink and Tobacco, the majority (1,280) being engaged in the manufacture of cigarettes. A proportionately large number (1,739) is also employed in building occupations, the majority being, however, unskilled labour

The remaining occupations represented in Hong Kong do not claim many women workers there being in all cases less than 10 per 1,000 of those occupied. The main other occupations of women are in the manufacture of rubber boots and shoes, and rattan ware makers.