ENG-1957 — Page 376

322

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

24,500 land-based inhabitants and approximately 7,000 people anchored there for the greater part of the year; Yuen Long, 16,800; Tai O with 12,600 land-based inhabitants and about 2,000 boat dwellers; Shek Wu Hui, 4,800; Tai Po, with 9,000 land-based inhabitants and about 4,000 boat dwellers; Luen Wo Market, 2,900; Peng Chau (Southern District), 4,500; Castle Peak (including Old Town, New Town and Sam Shing Hui), 4,400 with approximately 2,000 floating popula- tion; and Sai Kung, 3,000, excluding floating popula- tion. The total population of the New Territories, excluding New Kowloon, is probably in the region of 360,000.

The population figures for Victoria and Kowloon are entirely approximate: see Chapter 2. The figures for New Territories towns are based on the figures produced by an unofficial census carried out in 1955, to which have been added the natural increase of births over deaths and the estimated increase in population by immigration.

Hong Kong Island is 11 miles long from east to west and varies in width from 2 to 5 miles. It rises steeply from the northern shore to a range of treeless hills of volcanic rock, of which the highest point is Victoria Peak (1,805 ft.) near the western end. Between these hills and the harbour lies the city of Victoria. The old part of the urban areas runs up steep hillside for hundreds of yards, in narrow stepped streets and terraces; but more modern parts of the town stand chiefly on a strip of reclaimed land, averaging 200 - 400 yards in width, which extends 9 miles along the north shore of the Island.

Between the Island and the mainland lies the Port of Victoria, often described, with San Francisco and Rio de Janeiro, as one of the three most perfect natural harbours in the world. Its area is 17 sq. miles, varying in width from 1 to 3 miles. Ocean-going ships generally use the eastern deep- water entrance, known as Lei Yue Mun, which is between