ENG-1988 — Page 385

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口

RAU

Population and Immigration

AT the end of 1988 there were 5 736 100 people in Hong Kong, comprising 2 937 200 males and 2 798 900 females, an increase of 20.3 per cent on the 1978 population estimate of 4 769 900.

The growth rate of the population averaged 1.9 per cent over the 10-year period, with fluctuations from year to year, mainly because of changes in migration flows.

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Between 1978 and 1980, in particular, there was a large inflow of immigrants from China - both legal and illegal - and an influx of boat people from Vietnam. Reflecting this, the average annual growth rate of the population was 3.6 per cent during the period. The average annual growth rate recorded for the period 1981-8 was 1.4 per cent, largely because of a reduction in the inflow of immigrants following revisions in the immigration policy in 1980 and 1982.

The rate of natural increase in the population dropped steadily over the 10-year period from 12 to eight per 1 000. This was the result of a declining birth rate, from 17 per 1 000 in 1978 to 13 per 1 000 in 1988, and a stable death rate, at about five per 1 000.

With its land area of only 1 071 square kilometres, and 5 736 100 people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places in the world. The overall population density per square kilometre was 5 330, although this figure conceals wide variations between different areas in the territory. The density in the metropolitan areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Kowloon and Tsuen Wan was 21 000 people per square kilometre, while that in the New Territories was 1 650 per square kilometre. This situation is changing with the continuing development of the new towns in the New Territories, designed to alleviate the high population density in the urban areas and to provide better housing and an improved living environment to more people

The age distribution of the population has changed considerably in the 10-year period. In 1978, 27.8 per cent of the population were under 15; in 1988 the figure was 22.1 per cent. The proportion of people aged 65 and above has risen from six per cent to 8.3 per cent. In line with these changes, the proportion of people of working age (those between 15 and 64) has increased from 66.2 per cent to 69.6 per cent. The dependency ratio - the ratio of the young and the aged to people in the 15 to 64 age group – has dropped from 512 per 1 000 in 1978 to 437 per 1 000 in 1988.

The ratio of males to females has also changed. It showed an increase between 1978 and 1981, and a decline thereafter. In 1978, there were 1 051 males to every 1 000 females; in 1981 the figure was 1 084, and in 1988 it was 1 049. The increase in the proportion of males over females during the period 1978–81 can largely be explained by the substantial inflow of immigrants, who were predominantly male.

The 1986 By-Census showed that 59.3 per cent of the people were born in Hong Kong, and most have their family origin in Guangdong Province. People with their origin in