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According to the results of the 2011 Population Census, there were 171 322 persons from the mainland of China having resided in Hong Kong for less than seven years (PMRs) in 2011.
PMRs refer to persons who reported that they (i) were born in the mainland of China (Mainland); (ii) were of Chinese nationality with place of domicile in Hong Kong; and (iii) had stayed in Hong Kong for less than seven years. However, persons who were admitted to Hong Kong via the One-Way Permit (OWP) scheme but had returned to stay in the Mainland most of the time or migrated to other countries subsequently are excluded from the figures of PMRs. Persons from the Mainland who stayed in Hong Kong for employment or study and reported their place of domicile not in Hong Kong are also excluded.
The number of PMRs dropped markedly from 266 577 in 2001 to 171 322 in 2011. This was mainly due to the fact that fewer OWP holders had entered Hong Kong in the recent years. Likewise, the proportion of PMRs to the whole population (excluding foreign domestic helpers) decreased from 4.1% in 2001 to 2.5% in 2011.
Over 40% of PMRs in 2011 were women aged 25-44 and most of them were OWP holders who came to Hong Kong to join their husbands. Another 20% of the PMRs were children aged under 15. The number of PMRs aged under 15 dropped significantly over the past ten years from 93 365 in 2001 to 34 181 in 2011 and this accounted for more than 60% of the decrease in the number of PMRs over the same period.
There were 115 323 domestic households with at least one household member being PMRs in 2011, representing about 5% of all domestic households in Hong Kong. Domestic households with PMRs tended to be larger in size because many PMRs came to Hong Kong to join their next of kin. The average size of these households was 3.5 in 2011, higher than that of 2.9 for all domestic households. About 82% of female PMRs aged 18 and over were living with their spouses and/or children whereas the corresponding proportion for male PMRs aged 18 and over was 50%. Only 6% of PMRs aged 18 and over were living alone and this proportion was less than that of 9% for the whole population aged 18 and over.
Further details about the characteristics of PMRs are available in the publication entitled "Hong Kong 2011 Population Census Thematic Report : Persons from the Mainland having resided in Hong Kong for less than 7 Years" which has been published today (December 14). Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp170.jsp?productCode=B1120061).
Ends/Friday, December 14, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:00
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