ENG-1997 — Page 8

Hong Kong: The Facts

Population: 6.617 million (estimate at end-1997)

Hong Kong Island

1.38 million

21.3%

Age structure

Kowloon

2.05 million

31.6%

Median age: 34.9

Under 15: 18.1%

Over 64: 10.4%

New Territories

3.05 million

46.9%

Sex ratio

Marine

0.02 million

0.2%

(As at July 1, 1997)

Overall: 1 013 males per 1 000 females

Under 15: 1 075

Overall density

Birth rate

Over 64: 816

Death rate

Kowloon

6 160 people per square kilometre.

Kwun Tong District has 54 030 people per square kilometre.

Housing

3.3 million people live in public housing, which includes 934 800 flats. In 1997,

Hong Kong had 1.92 million domestic households, 45.7% occupied by the owner, 49.6% by tenants, and 4.8% either rent-free or employer-provided.

Area: 1 095 square km

Hong Kong Island

80 square km 47 square km

9.1 per 1 000 popn

Life expectancy Male 76.4

Nationalities

Predominantly of Chinese descent

Largest foreign

passport-holder groups

4.8 per 1 000 popn

Female 81.9

Indonesia

34 300

Canada

33 600

95%

UK

31 400

Thailand

25 500

Japan

24 900

India

24 600

(mid-1997):

Australia

23 300

Philippines USA

146 400

41 000

Malaysia

15 000

Religion and custom

New Territories

794 square km

Outlying Islands

174 square km

Reclamation since 1851

60 square km

Buddhists and Taoists make up the vast majority. Christians 592 500; Muslims 80 000; Hindus 12000; Sikhs 1 200; Jews 1 000.

Weather

Average annual rainfall

2 124.3 mm

Wettest period

Hourly

daily

monthly

Driest

109.9 mm (May 8, 1992)

534.1 mm (July 19, 1926)

Highest temperature

36.1°C (August 19, 1900 and August 18, 1990)

Lowest temperature

0.0°C (January 16, 1893)

Highest wind speed

259 km/h at HK Observatory, 284 km/h at Tate's Cairn (Typhoon Wanda, September 1, 1962)

1 241.1 mm (May 1889)

10% humidity (January 16, 1959)

Transport

Roads

The 1831 km of roads carry 500 228 licensed vehicles, or about 273 vehicles per kilometre.

Bridges

Longest: Tsing Ma suspension bridge (main span 1 377 metres) and the 463-metre cable-stayed Kap Shui Mun bridge. A 280-metre viaduct links the two.

Air movements

1997–165 154 flights; 28.3 million passengers; 1.79 million tonnes of freight

Shipping movements

1997-43 557 ocean vessel arrivals; 43 620 departures;

total cargo 134.46 million tonnes

Container throughput

14.5 million TEUS.

Employment

Total number employed: 3.12 million in third quarter of 1997

Major Employment sectors

Wholesale, retail and import/export, trades, restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance, real estate and business services

Community, social and personal services

Civil Service

Transport storage and communications

Unemployment rate

Average wages (Selected industries)

1.03 million

34% of workforce

386 940

13% of workforce

310 099

21% of workforce

183 110

5.8% of workforce

176 319

5.5% of workforce

2.9%

$11,113 per month