ENG-1995 — Page 472

25 POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION

HONG KONG'S population was an estimated 6 307 900 at the end of 1995 up 2.6 per cent from the estimate a year earlier. This was due to 38 200 more births than deaths and a net inflow of 120 600 people. It represented an increase of 15 per cent on the 1985 population of 5 500 400. The annual growth rate over the decade averaged 1.4 per cent.

The birth rate continued to decline, from 14 per 1 000 in 1985 to 11 per 1 000 in 1995, while the death rate remained stable at about five per 1 000. Consequently, the rate of natural increase dropped from nine to six per 1000 over the decade. The proportion of the population aged under 15 years dropped from 23 per cent in 1985 to 19 per cent in 1995; while the proportion of people aged 65 years and over rose from 7 per cent to 10 per cent. The age dependency ratio

the ratio of the young

and the aged to people between 15 and 64 - dropped from 447 per 1 000 in 1985 to 399

per 1 000 in 1995.

With its land area of only 1 092 square kilometres, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places in the world. The overall population density per square kilometre was 5 890 in 1995. Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, which together represent the territory's older urban areas, had 26 130 people per square kilometre, while in the New Territories, which includes most of the new towns, the density was only 3 010 per square kilometre. More statistics appear in Appendix 32.

Immigration Department

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Besides controlling the movement of people into and out of Hong Kong, the Immigration Department provides travel documents and registration facilities for local residents. This includes the issue of travel documents; visas and identity cards; naturalisation; and the registration of births, deaths and marriages. Considerable effort also goes into detecting and prosecuting those who breach immigration laws, and removing those who have entered Hong Kong illegally.

Policies are framed to limit permanent population growth brought about by immigration into Hong Kong to a level with which the territory can cope, and to control the entry of foreign workers. Every effort is made to streamline immigration procedures for Hong Kong residents, tourists and businessmen. At the same time, the department aims to prevent the entry of undesirable persons and the departure of persons wanted for criminal offences.

The department is implementing a long-term information systems strategy through the application of advanced technology. Immigration officers make regular visits overseas to maintain and enhance liaison with their counterparts in other countries.

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