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According to the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department, the Hong Kong Population was 6 985 200 (provisional) at mid-2008, representing an increase of 59 300 (provisional) or 0.9% (provisional) over mid-2007.
Obtained by subtracting the number of deaths of 41 100 from the number of births of 75 200, the natural increase of the population from mid-2007 to mid-2008 amounted to 34 100.
The overall population increased by 59 300 (provisional) over the same period, comprising a natural increase of 34 100 and a net movement (i.e. inflow less outflow) of 25 200 residents.
Births and inflow of One-way Permit holders (OWPHs) were important
constituents of the overall population increase. For the number of births during mid-2007 to mid-2008, at 75 200, 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 127%. As for the inflow of OWPHs in the same period, at 39 100, the corresponding ratio to the overall population increase was 66%.
Deaths during the period offset part of the increase. The ratio of the number of deaths, at 41 100, to the overall population increase was 69%. Besides, excluding the arrival of OWPHs mentioned above, there was a net outflow of 13 900 persons, bearing a ratio of 23% 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 mid-2008, 6 768 800 (provisional) were Usual Residents and 216 400 (provisional) were Mobile Residents.
"Usual Residents" 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.
"Mobile Residents" 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 year-end population for 2007 was revised to 6 952 800. The number of Usual Residents was revised to 6 727 000 and the number of Mobile Residents to 225 800. The population growth rate from end-2006 to end-2007 was also revised to 0.6%.
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 mid-2008 was 338 400.
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 mid-2008 is released today, the corresponding revised figure will be released in February 2009.
Ends/Thursday, August 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:15
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