GROWTH OF SHANGHAI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 15

GROWTH OF SHANGHAI.

VERY POPULOUS CITY.

SIXTH LARGEST IN WORLD.

OVER TWO AND A HALF MILLIONS [from our own correspondent.] SHANGHAI, Oct. 10. A census recently taken by the Bureau of Public Safety—a Chinese Muncipal Corporation—gives the total population of " Greater Shanghai," which comprises the International Settlement, French concession, and the Chinese city, together with the suburbs of Nantao and Chapei, as 2,726,000. Of this number 47,800 are classed as foreigners or non-Chinese. These figures, computed by the Chinese authorities, may bo assumed as more or less correct; Greater Shanghai, with a population of over two and a-half million, thus, ranks as tho sixth largest city in the world. Premier place is, of course, taken by Greater London, followed by New York, Greater Berlin, Chicago, Paris, and then Shanghai, in the sixth place. Tho figures for tho international settlement, with an area of approximately 10 square miles, are 827,000 Chinese and 28,000 foreigners. Tho international settlement of Shanghai can undoubtedly claim to bo tho most cosmopolitan city in tho world. The 28,000 foreigners comprise, altogether, 39 different nationals, arid what are described in tho census return as "11 sundries." Neither the authorities nor the people themselves could assign a home or country of origin to tho odd 11, so they were classed as " sundries."

According to the annual report on education issued by the Shanghai Municipal Council at the Public School for Boys there are 27 different nationals among the scholars. English is, of course, compulsory in tho classrooms, but in the playground tho boys occasionally revert to their mother tongue, consequently the medley of languages is reminiscent of the Tower of Babel.

With regard to tho foreign population of Shanghai Japan easily heads the list with over 14,000, followed by Great Britain with approximately 6000. The actual Chinese population of the settlement is almost an unknown quantity, and varies from week to week, depending largely upon the political and social conditions prevailing in the adjoining Chinese districts. When these conditions are uncertain the Chineso population of the foreign settlement goes up by leaps and bounds.