Hong Kong Census

Census were undertaken in Hong Kong during the 19^th. and early 20^th. century however these were for statistical purposes only.  The informative returns that we find in the UK do not exist for the former British Crown Colony of Hong Kong.

An extract from a typical annual Hong Kong Census records the number of Baptisms/Marriages/Deaths as follows:

1873	Baptisms	Marriages	Deaths
Europeans etc. Protestant	53	12	73
Chinese Protestant	36	10
Europeans etc. Roman Catholic	100	19	68
Chinese Roman Catholic	37	7	17
TOTAL	226	48	158

Population was also recorded and the City of Victoria was shown with the following number of “White” male and females in 1873:

	Males	Females
Resident	1463	1057
Military	1001	103
Naval	220	1
Police	127	9
Crews of Merchant Shipping in Harbour	704	19
Temporary Residents	159
Prisoners	68

For the researcher things get slightly easier in 1911 as the UK census includes details of military and navy personnel worldwide – including those in Hong Kong.  An added bonus is that these returns include details of wives and children.  So head on over to your favourite subscription site (Find My Past, Ancestry etc.) and see what you can find.

Now a short story relating to one man who appeared on that 1911 census in Hong Kong.

Ernest Drury was born in Hastings in 1890.  In 1909 he enlisted for military service and the following year sailed for Hong Kong with his regiment, the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.  The 1911 census shows Ernest as a Lance Corporal with the 10^th. Battalion in the Colony. 

In December 1911 the Hong Kong Police Force were experiencing difficulties with numbers and 20 men from KOYLI were transferred to police duties on a temporary basis.  A Police recruitment drive was held in the UK and HK and by the end of the year establishment had been boosted by 72 men (41 from the UK and 31 being recruited locally).  Several of the soldiers from KOYLI who were temporarily on loan obtained their discharge and transferred to the Hong Kong Police. Ernest was one of these men swopping his military service number of 10103 for police collar number 124.

August 1914 saw the outbreak of war in Europe but it was almost a year before members of the Hong Kong Police were allowed to enlist.  Drury was one of the first to leave for active service in July 1915.  On arrival in London he enlisted with the Kings Royal Rifles.  Ernest was promoted to Sergeant the following year and saw action in the Somme earning the Military Medal.

Sergeant R/15465 Ernest Drury died on 17 February 1917 and is remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial in France.