ENG-1981 — Page 310

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Population

THE total estimated population at the end of 1981 was 5 207 000, comprising 2 716 800 males and 2 490 200 females. The estimate is based on the Population Census taken in March 1981, adjusted for subsequent births, deaths and migration. This represents an increase of 27 per cent on the 1971 population estimate of 4 090 500.

The average annual rate of increase over the 10-year period was 2.4 per cent, with the rate fluctuating from year to year because of changes in migration flow. During the years 1978-80 in particular, there was large-scale immigration from China both legal and illegal - and a massive influx of boat refugees from Vietnam. The average annual growth rate increased from 1.8 per cent over the period 1971-7 to 3.9 per cent over the period 1978–80. The annual growth rate for 1981 was 1.7 per cent due to a reduction in the inflow of immigrants as a result of a revision of immigration policy at the end of 1980.

At the same time, the rate of natural increase dropped steadily over the period from 15 to 12 per thousand. This was the result of the birth rate declining from 20 per thousand in 1971 to 17 per thousand in 1981, and the death rate remaining stable at about five per thousand. In the early part of the 10-year period, the decline in the birth rate resulted from there being fewer women in the prime child-bearing ages of 25 to 34, and from women generally having fewer children. This latter reason was the main factor in the decline during the remainder of the 10-year period. In recent years, later marriages, and improvements in education and job opportunities, have also contributed to this trend.

The 1981 Census indicated that the increase in population of the New Territories, particularly the new towns, over the 10-year period was especially substantial. The proportion of the population in the New Territories rose from 17.2 per cent in 1971 to 26.1 per cent in 1981 and in absolute terms from 675 582 to 1 303 005. On the other hand, the marine population continued to decrease during this period. Its number in 1981 was less than two-thirds of that in 1971. The populations of Hong Kong Island (1 183 621), Kowloon (799 123) and New Kowloon (1 651 064) rose at slower rates than the overall average during the period.

Hong Kong, with a land area of only 1 061 square kilometres, is one of the most densely populated places in the world. The 1981 Census recorded an overall density per square kilometre of 4 760. But this figure conceals wide variations in density between individual areas. The density for the metropolitan areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Kowloon and Tsuen Wan was 28 479 people per square kilometre; but for the New Territories it was 792 per square kilometre. The most densely populated district was Sham Shui Po, with 165 445 people per square kilometre. This will, of course, change with the development of new towns in the New Territories. Seven new towns are being developed to alleviate the high density in the urban areas and to help provide an increasing population with better housing and an improved living environment.