ENG-1970 — Page 288

POPULATION

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The Hoklo people, like the Tanka, have been in the area since time unknown. They too are boat-dwellers but are less numerous than the Tanka and are mostly found in eastern waters. In some places, they have lived ashore for several generations. The influx of people into the New Territories from China in recent years has been so great that only in the Sai Kung district is the truly indigenous population still in the majority. The newcomers are mostly from Kwangtung province.

A mid-term census was taken in the summer of 1966. The boat people were counted between June 18 and 22 and the remainder of the population between July 19 and August 2. The results showed a 26 per cent reduction in the marine population and a considerable slowing down of the rate of increase of the land population.

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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT

This department was set up in December 1967 to collect and co-ordinate government statistics. During 1970, the department suc- cessfully conducted a Pilot Marine Census in February and a Pilot Land Census in March as part of the preparatory work leading to the Population and Housing Census to be taken in March 1971. Training of chief enumerators, field editors and ordinary enumera- tors for these Censuses commenced in October. Also, a pilot census for a census of manufacturing establishments to be held in 1971 was conducted in August 1970. This census will be the first of its kind in Hong Kong and the success of the pilot census has given rise to optimism for the full Census next year.

The first issue of the Monthly Digest of Statistics, which replaced the Special Statistical Supplement to the Government Gazette, was published in March and contained the available statistics on various topics for the month of January 1970. The department continued to compile monthly trade statistics and the Consumer Price Index, and to prepare monthly issues of Hong Kong External Trade Report for distribution to trade commissions and other organisations. The department also rendered assistance to other departments in setting up systems of collecting statistics and to the City District Offices, the Resettlement Department and social survey groups of the uni- versities in the planning and carrying out of small-scale sample surveys.