The provisional figure for the mid-2001 population of Hong Kong was 6 732 100, according to statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department. There was an increase of 67 100 persons as compared with the mid-2000 population, representing a growth rate of 1 per cent.

The compilation of the above population figures has incorporated preliminary results of the 2001 Population Census conducted in March this year.

The system for compiling population figures is complex and requires data from a wide variety of sources. The results of the series of population censuses and by-censuses form the corner stone of the system. These benchmark data are taken together with statistical data generated from administrative systems (such as births, deaths and passenger movement records) and sample surveys (in particular the continuous General Household Survey) to form a population statistical database which serves a multitude of purposes, including the compilation of population figures.

There were 53 300 births and 32 300 deaths in Hong Kong during mid-2000 to mid-2001. The natural increase (i.e. births less deaths) thus amounted to 21 000, accounting for 31 per cent of the population growth.

During the same period, the net movement (inflow less outflow) of Hong Kong Residents showed a net inflow of some 46 100 persons, constituting 69 per cent of the population growth.

Of the 6 732 100 persons in the mid-2001 Hong Kong Population, 6 540 400 were Usual Residents and 191 700 were Mobile Residents.

Statistically, "Usual Residents" include two categories of people: (1) Hong Kong Permanent Residents who have stayed in Hong Kong for at least three months during the six months before or for at least three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point; and (2) Hong Kong Non-permanent Residents who are in Hong Kong at the reference time-point.

"Mobile Residents" are Hong Kong Permanent Residents who have stayed in Hong Kong for at least one month but less than three months during the six months before or for at least one month but less than three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point.

It should be noted that the population figure does not include visitors. The number of visitors present in Hong Kong as at mid-2001 was 160 500.

The 2001 Population Census was conducted in March this year. The census data are being processed and detailed statistics will be released in phases as from the latter part of October 2001.

Based on the provisional data from the 2001 Population Census, the Hong Kong Resident Population on 14 March 2001 was 6 715 000. It includes 6 523 900 Usual Residents and 191 100 Mobile Residents.

For the geographical distribution of the population, 1 337 800 were on Hong Kong Island, or 19.9 per cent of the total; 2 025 800 in Kowloon or 30.2 per cent; and 3 345 600 in the New Territories, or 49.8 per cent. There were still 5 900 residents being the marine population.

The population by District Council districts in March 2001 is shown in Table 1. A comparison with the corresponding figures for the 1991 Population Census and the 1996 Population By-census is also presented.

Based on the population benchmark from the results of the 2001 Population Census, the population figures for mid-1996 to end-2000 have been revised correspondingly (Table 2). The revision has incorporated more accurate estimates of population changes that were not yet available at the time when the previous population figures were prepared.