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According to the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department, the Hong Kong Population was 6 970 800 (provisional) at end-2005, representing an increase of 55 100(provisional) or 0.8% (provisional) over end-2004.
Obtained by subtracting the number of deaths of 38 300 from the number of births of 57 300, the natural increase of the population from end-2004 to end-2005 amounted to 19 000.
The overall population increased by 55 100 (provisional) over the same period, comprising a natural increase of 19 000 and a net movement (i.e. inflow less outflow) of 36 100 residents.
Both births and inflow of One-way Permit holders (OWPHs) were important constituents of the overall population increase. The ratio of the number of births, at 57 300 during end-2004 to end-2005, to the overall population increase over the same period was 104%. The ratio of the inflow of OWPHs, at 55 100, to the overall population increase was 100%.
Deaths in the meantime offset part of the increase. The ratio of the number of deaths, at 38 300, to the overall population increase was 69%. Besides, not counting the arrival of OWPHs mentioned above, there was a net outflow of 19 000 persons, bearing a ratio of 35% 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-2005, 6 748 400 (provisional) were Usual Residents and 222 400 (provisional) were Mobile Residents.
䩕Usual Residents蒅 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蒅 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 2005 was revised to 6 935 900. The number of Usual Residents was revised to 6 722 500 and the number of Mobile Residents to 213 400. The population growth rate from mid-2004 to mid-2005 was 0.8%.
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-2005 was 404 200.
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-2005 is released today, the corresponding revised figure will be released in August 2006.
As a further initiative to enhance the methodology of compiling population figures, additional data have been used in the calculation of the population figures for 2005.
Ends/Thursday, February 16, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:15
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