Tuesday, August 25, 2009 | By: rudi butt

Census

Updated (partial) on 9/5/2012

These are some of the records of census I manage to find.

1841
Population (Chinese inhabitants) of 5,650. A different report said 7,450.
This had included 3,650 who lived on land and 2,000 who lived on boats.

References:
- Fan Shuh-ching, The Population of Hong Kong, a report prepared for The Committee for International Coordination of National Research in Demography, Hong Kong: 1974
- The Friend of China, May 15, 1841

1842
Population (Chinese inhabitants) of 12,361.
Among more than 30 occupations listed, the following are of interest.


Occupations
Shops
Souls
Chandlers
67
402
Bakers
6
39
Apothecaries
6
22
Masons
1
380
Tailors
14
89
Barbers
11
66
School-masters
2
10
Opium sellers
24
131
Prostitutes
23
439
Laborers            
   1,366
Hawkers 
600
Having no ostensible employment  
500
Boat population 
2,166
Editor of the Friend of China had this comment concerning this census - the recent census is much too small. The boat population is much more than 2,100. A figure of 5,000 boat people is more realistic. Most of this floating population are outcasts from their own country, perhaps liable to punishment under their own laws. Piracy and robbery are big problems here but, apart from that, the risk of injury in Hong Kong is less than in England.
References:
- The Friend of China, March 24, 1842; March 29, 1842

1901
165 Jews: 99 males and 66 frmales

References:
- Ehrlich, Mark Avrum (Ed.),  Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Cutlure, Vol 3, Santa Barbara: 1911

1911
Population of 366,145. Of this number, 354,187 were Chinese inhabitants.
The census had excluded the Military and Naval establishments, and that portion of the new territory outside New Kowloon

References:
- La Motte, Ellen N., The Opium Monopoly, VII -- Hong Kong, Schaffer Library of Drug Policy

- TO BE COMPLETED -

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