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Population
THE total estimated population of the Colony at the end of 1966 was 3,785,300. About 98 per cent could be described as Chinese on the basis of language and place of origin. This estimate is based on the population censuses taken in 1961 and 1966, subsequently adjusted for births, deaths and migration.
The population, from about 600,000 at the end of the Japanese occupation, grew rapidly and at the 1961 census was 3,133,131, including 3,483 transients. The 1966 census showed the total pop- ulation to be 3,716,400, including 3,787 transients. This indicated that the half-yearly estimates of population between these two censuses had been too high and the estimated population at the end of 1965 had to be revised from 3,823,200 down to 3,722,600. During 1966 the population increased by 62,700 to reach the estimated total of 3,785,300. This increase is made up of 77,200 excess of births over deaths, offset by an outward balance of migra- tion estimated at 14,400.
Urban Population. At the time of the 1966 census, 31,405 persons, excluding transients, claimed to originate from Commonwealth countries outside Hong Kong. Of these, 26,065 resided in the urban area. According to information provided by the Aliens' Registration Office for non-Chinese alien residents (excluding visitors staying for periods of less than three months and children under 16 years old) the figure at the end of 1966 was 14,523. The largest groups were: American 4,581, Japanese 2,093, Portuguese 2,031, German 566, Dutch 552, French 482, Italian 424.
Approximately 52 per cent of the urban population is now of Hong Kong birth. Most of these and the greater part of the im- migrant population originate from Kwangtung province. The urban Chinese population also includes a Fukien community and overseas Chinese whose families originally came from Kwangtung and Fukien. New Territories. Cantonese, Hakka, Tanka and Hoklo are the indigenous population of the New Territories. The Cantonese and