CHAPTER 22 POPULATION AND
IMMIGRATION
HONG KONG'S population was estimated at 6 805 600 at end-1998 (3 425 900 males and 3 379 700 females) up 2.8 per cent from a year earlier. This was due to 20 900 more births than deaths and a net inflow of 167 600 persons. The annual population growth rate over the decade averaged 1.8 per cent.
The birth rate continued to decline, from 13 per 1 000 in 1988 to eight per 1 000 in 1998, while the death rate remained at about five per 1 000. Consequently, the rate of natural increase dropped from nine to three per 1 000 over the decade.
Ageing of the population continued. The median age of the population rose from 30 in 1988 to 36 in 1998. The proportion of people aged under 15 fell from 22 per cent in 1988 to 17 per cent in 1998, while that aged 65 and over rose from 8 per cent to 10 per cent.
The age dependency ratio - the ratio of the young and the aged to people of age 15 to 64 - dropped from 433 to 387 per 1 000 over the decade.
With its land area of only 1 097 square kilometres, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places in the world. The land population density per square kilometre was 6 330 in 1998. More statistics are given in Appendix 36.
Immigration Department
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) remains a separate travel area after reunification with China. The Basic Law provides that the HKSAR Government may apply immigration controls on persons from foreign states and regions. Entry into the HKSAR of persons from other parts of China is regulated in accordance with the previous practice.
Apart from controlling the movement of people into and out of the HKSAR, the Immigration Department provides services to local residents including the issue of HKSAR passports and other travel documents, visas and identity cards, the handling of nationality matters and the registration of births, deaths and marriages. Considerable effort goes into detecting and prosecuting immigration law offenders and removing illegal immigrants.
Policies are framed to limit to an acceptable level population growth brought about by immigration, and to control the entry of foreign workers. Immigration procedures for Hong Kong residents, tourists and businessmen are streamlined. Effort is also made to prevent the entry of undesirable persons and the departure of persons. wanted for criminal offences.
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