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POPULATION
per cent of the population was under 15; in 1980 the figure was 25.3 per cent. The relative figure for those aged 65 and above has risen from 4.3 per cent to 6.1 per cent. As a result of the changing numbers of the young and the aged, the proportion of the working age population (those aged 15 to 64 years) has increased from 58.6 per cent to 68.6 per cent. This shows that there is a greater potentially productive population available to support children or those who have retired. The dependency ratio the ratio of the young and the aged to those in the 15 to 64 age group - dropped from 708 per thousand in 1970, to 458 per thousand in 1980.
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People in Hong Kong live longer nowadays. Between 1970 and 1980, the expectation of life, at birth, increased by four per cent for males and by about three per cent for females. The life expectancy for those born in 1980 is 70.1 years for males and 76.8 years for females. About 98 per cent of the population can be described as Chinese on the basis of language and place of origin. At the end of 1980, the estimated number of non-Hong Kong Com- monwealth citizens residing either permanently or temporarily in Hong Kong was 65,000. These comprised: British 22,200 (excluding members of the Armed Forces); Indian 14,000; Malaysian 8,700; Australian 7,600; Singaporean 4,300; Canadian 3,700; and other Com- monwealth countries 4,500. The estimate for non-Commonwealth alien permanent and temporary residents was 66,800. Of these, the largest groups were: Filipino 11,600; American 11,100; Pakistani 7,700; Japanese 7,000; Thai 7,700; Portuguese 6,500; In- donesian 3,100; German 2,000; Korean 1,800; French 1,400 and Dutch 1,100.
About 57 per cent of the population was born in Hong Kong. Most of these people, and the greater part of the immigrant Chinese population, originated from Guangdong (Kwangtung) Province in China. The Cantonese group forms the largest community while the second largest group is Sze Yap, followed by the Chiu Chow group. The remaining Chinese population have their origins in other parts of Guangdong (Kwangtung), Shanghai and the coastal provinces of China.
Marriages
All marriages in Hong Kong are governed by the Marriage Ordinance and the Marriage Reform Ordinance. Under the Marriage Ordinance, at least 15 days' notice of an intended marriage must be given to the Registrar of Marriages. The Registrar has discretionary powers to reduce the period of notice in special circumstances or to grant a special licence dispensing with notice altogether. But this is done only in the most exceptional circum-
stances.
Marriages may take place either at places of public worship licensed for the celebration of marriages, or at any of the 12 full-time marriage registries and four part-time sub- registries located in the main urban districts and rural centres. During the year, 48,271 marriages were performed in the registries and 2,574 at licensed places of worship. The total of 50,845 was 5,623 more than in 1979. All records are maintained at the principal marriage registry at the City Hall.
During 1980, group marriages - with up to six couples being married at the same time- were introduced at some registries. These proved popular and helped meet the increasing demand for marriage registrations. Arrangements for weekend marriage registrations were extended and these were also popular.
The Marriage Reform Ordinance provides that all marriages entered into in Hong Kong on or after October 7, 1971, shall imply the voluntary union, for life, of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, and may be contracted only in accordance with the Marriage Ordinance. It declares valid certain customary marriages and other marriages