births registered during the years 1963 to 1972 by sex and race with the percentages of males and females, and of Chinese and non-Chinese. The total number of births registered in 1972 increased by 2,235 from 76,818 in 1971. As will be seen from the Table, 1972 was the seventh year in a row in which the total was below 100,000, but the first year since 1963 in which the number of births registered rose as compared with the preceding year.
175. There is a distinct quarterly pattern of births in Hong Kong as illustrated in Table XXXV, which shows in graphical form that the peak of births is always reached in the last quarter of the year. Births then decline sharply in the next two quarters touching the lowest point in the second quarter of the year. Thereafter a marked increase is always registered in the third quarter, and the upward trend con- tinues until the highest point is again reached in the fourth quarter. Births in the year under review followed this typical pattern, but as in recent years with more moderate quarterly fluctuations when compared with earlier years.
176. Table XXXVI gives the births registered in 1970, 1971 and 1972 by district. This shows that in 1972 the numbers registered on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and New Kowloon rose by 851 and 1,702, and in the New Territories dropped by 318 representing rises of 4.47% and 3.65% and a fall of 2.86% respectively.
177. On Hong Kong Island, increases were recorded in most areas, exceptions being Aberdeen, Stanley, Tung Wah Hospital and Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, where births registered dropped by 268, 6, 69 and 259 respectively. In Kowloon and New Kowloon, there was a decrease of 3,932 at the Kowloon Births Registry mainly due to the opening of the San Po Kong District Births Registry at which 4,147 births were registered, and a decrease of 389 at Yau Ma Tei. Increases were, however, recorded elsewhere-14 at Sham Shui Po, 1,224 at Kwong Wah Hospital, 111 at Kwun Tong and 527 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. In the New Territories, decreases were recorded in three of the main districts whereas in the Islands District and Yuen Long there were increases of 23 and 66 respectively.
178. 390 multiple births were registered in 1972, 387 of twins and three of triplets, producing altogether 783 liveborn babies. 1,058 births were registered as illegitimate, as compared with 111 in 1971. The births registered also included seven foundlings. The sudden increase in the number of illegitimate births shown as such on the register was
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