ENG-1972 — Page 257

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POPULATION

land-dwellers, whereas the Tanka and Hoklo groups are traditionally boat-dwellers. These people differ from each other in physical appearance, dress and custom. The usual village community consists of a single clan but two and three clan villages are common and multi-clan villages also occur. By custom, men are compelled to marry outside their own clan but, as far as is known, intermarriage between land and boat- dwellers is rare.

The Cantonese form the biggest community in the New Territories. They occupy the best parts of the two principal plains in the north-western section and own a good deal of the most fertile valley land in other areas. The oldest Cantonese villages-those of the Tang Clan in the Yuen Long district-have a history of continuous settlement dating from the late 11th century. Some of the villages on Lantau date back to the late 13th century.

The Hakka people began to enter this region at about the same time as the first Cantonese, or possibly even before. The latter were, however, the more successful settlers and in areas where both groups live side by side the Hakka are now always found upstream, along foothills, and generally on poorer land.

The Tanka people have been in the region since time unknown and are the prin- cipal seafaring people of South China, owning large sea-going junks and engaging in deepsea fishing. They speak their own distinctive dialect of Cantonese. During the past few years, young men and women of the Tanka community have begun to take factory jobs and thousands have now moved their homes ashore.

The Hoklo people, like the Tanka, have been in the area since time unknown. Their name suggests that they originated from Fukien Province (Hokkien), but this is probably a misnomer, Fukien being only one of their places of origin. They are traditionally boat-dwellers and are mostly found in eastern waters. In some places, they have lived ashore for several generations.

With rapid urbanisation of certain districts in the New Territories, notably Tsuen Wan where large resettlement and low-cost housing estates have been built, an increas- ing number of families have moved to these satellite towns from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The total population of the New Territories on census day March 9, 1971 was 693,915 including 28,215 boat people.

The Census and Statistics Department

The department was set up in December 1967 to collect and co-ordinate govern- ment statistics. Besides censuses, the department collects, compiles and analyses Hong Kong's trade statistics; calculates the Consumer Price Index; conducts surveys and research of various kinds; and supplies statistical information to commercial concerns and international organisations. The department also maintains frequent contacts with other statistical organisations, institutions of higher learning and with the specialised agencies of the United Nations. A major commitment during 1972 was the analysis and publication of the full population and housing census held in 1971, together with a census of manufacturing establishments.