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According to the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department, the Hong Kong Population was 7 008 900 (provisional) at end-2008, representing an increase of 56 100 (provisional) or 0.8% (provisional) over end-2007.
Obtained by subtracting the number of deaths of 41 300 from the number of births of 78 700, the natural increase of the population from end-2007 to end-2008 amounted to 37 400.
The overall population increased by 56 100 (provisional) over the same period, comprising a natural increase of 37 400 and a net movement (i.e. inflow less outflow) of 18 700 residents.
Births and inflow of One-way Permit holders (OWPHs) were important constituents of the overall population increase. For the number of births during end-2007 to end-2008, at 78 700, which comprised births born to Hong Kong residents and non-Hong Kong residents, its ratio to the overall population increase over the same period was 140%. As for the inflow of OWPHs in the same period, at 41 600, the corresponding ratio to the overall population increase was 74%.
Deaths during the period offset part of the increase. The ratio of the number of deaths, at 41 300, to the overall population increase was 74%. Besides, excluding the arrival of OWPHs mentioned above, there was a net outflow of 22 800 persons, bearing a ratio of 41% to the overall population increase.
The Hong Kong Population is measured on the definition of Resident Population, which comprises Usual Residents and Mobile Residents. Among the total population at end-2008, 6 790 200 (provisional) were Usual Residents and 218 700 (provisional) were Mobile Residents.
ˇ§Usual Residentsˇ¨ include two categories of people: (1) Hong Kong Permanent Residents who have stayed in Hong Kong for at least three months during the six months before or for at least three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point; and (2) Hong Kong Non-permanent Residents who are in Hong Kong at the reference time-point.
ˇ§Mobile Residentsˇ¨ are Hong Kong Permanent Residents who have stayed in Hong Kong for at least one month but less than three months during the six months before or for at least one month but less than three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point.
The previously released provisional figure for the mid-year population for 2008 was revised to 6 977 700. The number of Usual Residents was revised to 6 763 000 and the number of Mobile Residents to 214 700. The population growth rate from mid-2007 to mid-2008 was also revised to 0.7%.
The population figures for recent years are shown in the attached table.
It should be noted that the population figure does not include visitors. The number of visitors present in Hong Kong as at end-2008 was 429 600.
Under the current practice, the latest population figure is released on a provisional basis in each round. The revised figure will be released six months later. In other words, while the provisional population figure for end-2008 is released today, the corresponding revised figure will be released in August 2009.
Ends/Monday, February 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:30
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