TNAG-2512-FCO40-3665-Future-of-Hong-Kong-International-Rights-and-Obligations-(IR-1992 — Page 249

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CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS BR

+ 852 840 1976 P.05

E. Demographic composition of the population

According to the most recent estimate, the population of Hong Kong in mid-1990 is 5,704,500.

10.

11.

There is no up-to-date information on the racial characteristics of the population of Hong Kong. Information on place of birth, which is not the same as race, was elicited in the 1986 By-Census. According to the 1986 By-Census, 5,396,000 residents were enumerated, of whom 3,203,200 (59.4 per cent) were born in Hong Kong, 1,999,200 (37.0 per cent) in China, including Macau and Taiwan, and the remaining 193,600 (3.6 per cent) in various other countries.

F. Special measures taken in accordance with with article 2, paragraph 2

12. Recreational and sporting activities No distinction is made by the Government on racial or religious grounds in providing recreational and sporting facilities and financial support. Regardless of race, Hong Kong people have equal opportunities to participate in all sporting and recreational activities.

It is the policy of the Government to promote sports, both in terms of excellence and at the grass-roots level, for the community as a whole. Major sports, open championships, international events and territory-wide, regional and district events, are open to all.

For all intents and purposes,

13. Economic activities Hong Kong has financial and economic autonomy. It formulates and follows its own economic policies and draws up its own budgets of internal revenue and expenditure, without reference to the United Kingdom.

14.

Hong Kong being a free port and a free economy, and with minimum interference from Government, offers equal opportunities to everyone, irrespective of race, in trade and investment. Foreign investments have been made in Hong Kong because of the favourable economic climate and not because of discrimination in any form. People of Chinese and other ethnic groups (European, Indian, Japanese) play important roles in the economic life of Hong Kong.

15. Employment

The recruitment policy of the Hong Kong Government has been for many years to appoint suitable and qualified local candidates to positions in the public service, but no discrimination is made on the basis of race. The recruitment of overseas candidates is undertaken only when local candidates are not available or are available in insufficient numbers. The main reasons for the difficulties in recruiting local candidates are