The Hong Kong population was 6,963,100 (provisional) at the end of year 2007, representing an increase of 53,600 (provisional) or 0.8 percent (provisional) over the end of 2006, the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong said on Thursday.

According to the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department, obtained by subtracting the number of deaths of 38,900 from the number of births of 69,600, the natural increase of the population from end-2006 to end-2007 amounted to 30,700.

The overall population increased by 53,600 (provisional) over the same period, comprising a natural increase of 30,700 and a net movement of 22,900 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-2006 to end-2007, at 69,600, 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 130 percent.

As for the inflow of OWPHs in the same period, at 33,900, the corresponding ratio to the overall population increase was 63 percent.

Deaths during the period offset part of the increase. The ratio of the number of deaths, at 38,900, to the overall population increase was 73 percent. Besides, excluding the arrival of OWPHs mentioned above, there was a net outflow of 11, 000 persons, bearing a ratio of 21 percent 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-2007, 6,732,700 (provisional) were Usual Residents and 230,400 (provisional) were Mobile Residents.

"Usual Residents" include two categories of people: 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 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 mid-year population for 2007 was revised to 6,925,900. The number of Usual Residents was revised to 6,705,500 and the number of Mobile Residents to 220,400. The population growth rate from mid-2006 to mid-2007 was also revised to 1.0 percent.

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.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2008)