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POPULATION
The 1981 Census indicated that the sex ratio of the population was 1 093 males to every 1 000 females which compares with 1 033 in 1971. The increase in the proportion of males over females during the 10-year period is a result of the large influx of illegal immigrants, who were predominantly young and male.
The population of Hong Kong is still young; the 1981 Census reveals that 36.1 per cent were below the age of 20. But the median age of the population was 26, compared with 21.7 a decade ago. The age distribution of the population has also changed con- siderably. In 1971, 35.8 per cent of the population were under 15; in 1981 the figure was 24.8 per cent. The proportion of those aged 65 and above has risen from 4.5 per cent to 6.6 per cent. As a result of these changes, the proportion of the population of working age (those aged 15 to 64) has increased from 59.7 per cent to 68.6 per cent, indicating 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 674 per thousand in 1971 to 457 per thousand in 1981.
The 1981 Census showed that 57.2 per cent of the population were born in Hong Kong. About 98 per cent of the population can be described as Chinese on the basis of place of origin. Most of these people originated from Guangdong Province. Those from Guang- zhou, Hong Kong, Macau and adjacent places forms the largest community while the second largest group is Siyi, followed by the Chaozhou group. The remaining Chinese population have their origins in other parts of Guangdong and other provinces of China. Of the non-Chinese population, about a quarter were from the United Kingdom and less than a third from countries in Southeast Asia.
At the end of 1981, the estimated number of non-Hong Kong Commonwealth citizens residing either permanently or temporarily in Hong Kong was 666 000. These comprised: British: 22 300 (excluding members of the Armed Forces); Indian 14 200; Malaysian 8 900; Australian 7 800; Singaporean 4 400; Canadian 4 200; and other Commonwealth countries 4 800. The estimate for non-Commonwealth permanent and temporary residents was 72 900. Of these, the largest groups were: Filipino 15 100; American 11 500; Pakistani 7 500; Japanese 6 800; Thai 8 600; Portuguese 7 000; Indonesian 3 500; German 2 100; Korean 1 900; French 1 400 and Dutch 1 100.
Marriages
IL
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 Marriage. 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 13 full-time marriage registries and four part-time sub-registries located in the main urban districts and rural centres. During the year, 48 203 marriages were performed in the registries and 2 935 at licensed places of worship. The total of 51 138 was 293 more than in 1980. All records are maintained at the principal marriage registry at the City Hall.
During the year additional marriage chambers have been provided and an attractive new marriage registry was opened in Rawlinson House, an old building within a park setting at Victoria Barracks.