XN000022-1978-05-17 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1978

REPORT ON POPULATION PROJECTION

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THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG IS EXPECTED TO REACH 5.2 MILLION BY 1986 AND 5.9 MILLION 10 YEARS LATER ACCORDING TO THE REPORT - +HONG KONG POPULATION: A 20-YEAR PROJECTION+ PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY.

THE REPORT ALSO POINTS OUT THAT THE BALANCE OF THE POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE. IT SAYS: +DUE TO A GENERAL DECLINE IN FERTILITY AND MORTALITY, WE CAN EXPECT TO HAVE RELATIVELY MORE OLD PEOPLE AND RELATIVELY LESS CHILDREN. IN 15-20 YEARS' TIME, OVER NINE PER CENT OF THE POPULATION WILL BE OVER 64 AND ABOUT 24 PER CENT BELOW 15+.

THE REPORT ALSO INCORPORATES THE RESULTS OF A POPULATION PROJECTION EXERCISE CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPART- MENT EARLIER THIS YEAR.

OTHER THAN PRESENTING THE PROJECTED POPULATION BY SEX AND QUIN- QUENNIAL AGE GROUP FOR THE 20 YEARS FROM 1976, THE REPORT GIVES DETAILED ANALYSES ON EACH OF THE COMPONENTS TO POPULATION GROWTH INCLUDING FERTILITY, MORTALITY AND BALANCE OF MIGRATION OVER THE PERIOD 1961-1976 ALONG WITH AN ASSESSMENT ON THEIR LIKELY CHANGES IN THE 20 YEARS TO COME.

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THE REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT $6 A COPY AT THE GOVERN- MENT PUBLICATION CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.

SECRETARY TO COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY APPOINTED ******

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT MR. RAFAEL HUI ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER CURRENTLY SERVING WITH THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, I.C.A.C., HAS BEEN APPOINTED SECRETARY TO THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY APPOINTED YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) TC MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AVOID AN OCCURRENCE SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL.

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