XN000022-1985-02-15 — Page 5

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1985

5 397 500 PEOPLE HERE

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THE ESTIMATED POPULATION OF HONG KONG AT THE END OF DECEMBER 1984 WAS 5 397 500, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 53 100 PERSONS OR ONE PER CENT OVER THE 1983 FIGURE.

THE BALANCE OF TOTAL ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES SHOWED A NET INFLOW OF 996 PERSONS DURING 1984.

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THERE WERE 77 599 BIRTHS LAST YEAR. DEATHS TOTALLED 25 503. NATURAL INCREASE THE SURPLUS OF BIRTHS OVER DEATHS - AMOUNTED TO 52 096, ACCOUNTING FOR 98 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION GROWTH.

QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED

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THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR REMAINED LARGELY STABLE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1984 COMPARED WITH THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1984, ACCORDING TO SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

HOWEVER, A MODERATE DECLINE IN BUSINESS IS EXPECTED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS IN THE EARLIER EXPECTATIONS.

FIRMS DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FOURTH QUARTER, CONTRARY TO

IN FACT, THE SECTOR'S FOURTH QUARTER BUSINESS ACTIVITY WAS MAINTAINED AT A LEVEL SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

+FURTHERMORE, A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE BUSINESS SITUATION IS EXPECTED FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1985. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1981 THAT THERE HAS BEEN SUCH A STRONG EXPECTATION OF A PICK UP IN BUSINESS, + A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

J

AS FOR THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS' BUSINESS, REPORTING FIRMS EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER CONSISTENT WITH EXPECTATIONS IN THE LAST ROUND OF THE SURVEY. THEY EXPECT LITTLE CHANGE IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

/IMPROVEMENTS IN