In the light of the recent changes in the situation and the trend of women giving births in Hong Kong, the C&SD has enhanced the data coverage for compiling the fertility statistics. The enhancements together with a brief account of the fertility trend in Hong Kong over the period from 1975 to 2004 were discussed in a feature article "The fertility trend in Hong Kong, 1975–2004" published in the April 2005 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics.

Previously, fertility statistics were compiled by counting all live births born in Hong Kong in a year, including those born in Hong Kong to Mainland women, regardless of whether their spouses were Hong Kong residents or non-Hong Kong residents (i.e. including those cases where neither the child's mother nor father was Hong Kong resident). On the other hand, live births born outside Hong Kong to Hong Kong residents were not included. Under the enhanced approach, the live births used in the calculation of fertility statistics include (i) those born in Hong Kong to women who are Hong Kong residents; (ii) those born in Hong Kong to Mainland women whose spouses are Hong Kong residents (noting that these women would mostly come to settle in Hong Kong in due course); and (iii) those born outside Hong Kong to women who are Hong Kong residents. Meanwhile, babies born in Hong Kong with both mothers and fathers being not Hong Kong residents are not included. The enhancements implemented enable the data to better reflect the actual fertility situation of Hong Kong for the purposes of observing social phenomena, projections and planning.