228966
TEL. NO.
REFERENCE No.
STAT/LF/EST....
Dear Pat,
AIR MAIL
LABOUR
DEPARTMENT,
BASKERVILLE HOUSE.
22. ICE HOUSE STREET,
HONG KONG. 4th September 1967
78
86
Further to my letter of 24th June, 1967, and in response to your letter (reference 16/108 CD. Pt. II) of 31st July, 1967, we are now able to give you some additional information on the economically-active population. This is possible because Ken Barnett has released more details of the 1966 by-census. I enclose two copies each of statistics and of a diagram which give the latest information available. I understand that a hand-book, to be called "The Census and You 1966", is being prepared and you will 'no doubt want copies in due course.
2.
Inevitably, there have been important changes in the composition of the fabour force between 1961 and 1966 because the war-time dent in the demographic pyramid has moved upwards and the post-war bulge is beginning to affect the structure. You will no doubt assess the significances yourself but it might help if I draw your attention to some which occur to us. These are as follows:
3.
(a)
(b)
(c)
more juveniles and more older people are economically active
juveniles under 15 years who are working have increased. Part of this is explained by a change in the classification of students and housewives doing part-time work from being recorded as inactivate in 1961 and active in 1966. A special analysis of part-time work and unpaid family help is being undertaken and this should throw further light on the subject
the increases in the age group of 15 to 19 years are considerable absolutely although relatively the participation of males in the group has fallen from 54.3% to 52.4% while that of females has risen from 47.9% to 51.3%
(a) in the age groups from 20 to 34 years, where the war-time
dent has now moved, there is inevitably a reduction absolutely but relative increases in participation rates for both sexes
(e)
(f)
more men and women over 65 years are economically active
the total labour force has naturally increased but the participation rate of those between the ages of 15 and 64 years has decreased slightly from 66.3% to 66.1%.
As I see the over-all picture about two-thirds of the population between the ages of 15 and 64 years were economically active both in 1961 and 1966. During that period about 500,000 children were born but a smaller number probably came newly on to the labour market and