SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1981
1980 POPULATION ESTIMATE
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THE ESTIMATED POPULATION OF HONG KONG AT THE END OF DECEMBER 1980 WAS 5 147 900, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 130 900 PEOPLE OR 2.6 PER CENT OVER END-1979. THE SLOWER RATE OF INCREASE AS COMPARED WITH THE GROWTH RATE OF 6.3 PER CENT FOR 1979 WAS DUE TO A LOWER LEVEL OF IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA AS WELL AS A NET OUTFLOW OF 32 873 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
THE LARGEST CONSTITUENT IN THE POPULATION GROWTH WAS NET IMMIGRATION, THAT IS THE BALANCE OF TOTAL ARRIVALS OVER TOTAL DEPARTURES, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 69 560 OR 53 PER CENT OF THE GROWTH.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BIRTHS FOR 1980 WAS 86 518, AN INCREASE OF 4.2 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 83 019 FOR 1979. THE INCREASE WAS DUE TO THE GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN THE CHILDBEARING AGES AND ALSO AN INCREASE IN BIRTHS (1 357 AS COMPARED WITH 618) GIVEN BY VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
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THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS FOR 1980 WAS 25 173- COMPARES WITH 25 268 FOR 1979. OVERALL, NATURAL INCREASE, THAT IS THE BALANCE OF BIRTHS OVER DEATHS, CONTRIBUTED TO A GAIN OF 61 345 PEOPLE OR 47 PER CENT OF THE GROWTH.
COMMUNITY CAN HELP EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST DRUG ABUSE
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THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MR GRAHAM BARNES TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED ON THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST DRUG ABUSE.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE TELEMATCH AND PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN HELD AT THE ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND.
MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT THE DISTRICT IS A FAST DEVELOPING COMMUNITY WITH A YOUNG POPULATION.
TO HELP THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO TEMPTATION TO TRY DRUGS, HE SAID, WE SHOULD CHANNEL THE IR ENERGIES AND CURIOSITY BY PROVIDING MORE AND BETTER RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL FACILITIES AND TO INSTILL A SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INTO THEM THROUGH GUIDANCE AND EDUCATION.
MR BARNES NOTED THAT AS A RESULT OF YEARS OF DETERMINED AND CONCERTED JOINT EFFORTS BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, THE GOVERNMENT, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND ENTHUSIASTIC CITIZENS, HONG KONG'S FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE HAD ACHIEVED CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS.
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