XN000022-1974-01-18 — Page 6

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Friday, January 18, 1974

BIRTHS SHOW UPWARD TREND

More births and deaths were registered last year, according to

figures released today by the Registrar General, Mr. Walter Hume.

The number of births registered during the year rose slightly to

80,147 1,094 over the 1972 figure of 79,053 while the number of registered

deaths increased by 215 to 21,360.

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Although the increase in registered births was only about 1.38

per cent, Mr. Hume said it was significant in that 1973 was the second successive

year in which the total of registered births showed an increase.

The greatest number of births registered in one year was 115,263

in 1963. The number declined every year thereafter until the downward trend

was reversed in 1972.

Of the total number of births registered last year, 78,104

were Chinese (40,216 male and 37,888 female) and 2,043 non-Chinese

(1,024 male and 1,019 female).

A. total of 20,224 were registered on Hong Kong Island, 49,011

in Kowloon and 10,912 in the New Territories. These represented increases of

1.58 per cent, 1.35 per cent and 1.14 per cent respectively over the 1972 figures,

In issuing these figures, Mr. Hume emphasised that they were in

respect of registered births only.

"There are always a number of births every year which are not

registered by the parents at the time, with the result that while the figures

for the registered births show trends, they do not give a completely accurate

picture," he said.

The total