CHAPTER 22
Population and Immigration
up 2.5 per cent from a year
HONG KONG'S population was 6974 800 at end-1999 earlier. This was due to 18 600 more births than deaths and a net inflow of 150 600 persons. The annual population growth
growth rate over the decade averaged 2 per cent.
The birth rate continued to decline, from 12 per 1 000 in 1989 to eight per 1 000 in 1999, while the death rate remained at about five per 1 000. Consequently, the rate of natural increase dropped from seven to three per 1 000 over the decade.
Ageing of the population continued. The median age of the population rose from 30 in 1989 to 36 in 1999. The proportion of people aged under 15 fell from 22 per cent in 1989 to 17 per cent in 1999, while the proportion of people aged 65 and over rose from 8 per cent to 11 per cent.
The age dependency ratio
the ratio of the young and the aged to people of age 15 to 64 - dropped from 430 to 382 per 1 000 over the decade.
With a land area of only 1 098 square kilometres, Hong Kong is one of the world's most densely populated places. The land population density per square kilometre was 6 480 in 1999. More statistics are given in the Appendices.
Immigration Department
After reunification, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) remains a separate travel area with autonomy over its immigration policy. The Basic Law has provided for the HKSAR Government (HKSARG) to apply immigration controls on entry into, stay in and departure from the Region by 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.
The policies aim on the one hand to keep at an acceptable level population growth brought about by immigration, and on the other hand to facilitate the admission of persons, including outstanding talent, professionals and investors, who would bring substantial benefits to help develop the economy. Immigration procedures for Hong Kong residents, tourists and business people are streamlined. Effort is also made to
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