ENG-1965 — Page 290

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Population

THE total estimated population of the Colony at the end of 1965 was 3,823,200. About 98 per cent could be described as Chinese on the basis of language and place of origin. This estimate is based on a population census taken in 1961 and subsequently adjusted for births, deaths and migration.

The 1961 census showed the total population to be 3,133,131, including 3,483 transients. It had increased by more than 24 millions since the previous census in 1931. An unofficial count in 1941 for air raid precaution purposes put the population at about 1,600,000, but this had been reduced to less than 600,000 by the time the Colony was liberated in 1945. The population, however, grew rapidly with the end of hostilities and in September, 1949, an assess- ment of the population put the total at 1,857,000. During 1965, the population increased by 103,200 to reach the estimated total of 3,823,200. Of this increase, 84,574 was due to the excess of registered births over registered deaths, while 18,626 represented the estimated net balance of migration.

Urban population. At the time of the 1961 census, 33,140 persons, excluding transients, claimed to originate from Commonwealth countries outside Hong Kong. Of these, 27,936 resided in the urban area. According to information provided by the Aliens' Registration Office for non-Chinese alien residents (excluding visitors staying for periods of less than three months and children under 16 years old) the figure at the end of 1965 was 13,442. The largest groups were: American (3,932), Portuguese (1,977), Japanese (1,853), Filipino (751), Dutch (534), German (502), French (457), Italian (415).

Approximately half the urban population is now of Hong Kong birth. Most are Cantonese; the greater part of the immigrant population also originates from Kwangtung province. The urban Chinese population also includes a Fukien community and overseas Chinese whose families originally came from Kwangtung and Fukien.