HK population up 61,500 in 2012

The provisional estimate of Hong Kong's Population was 7,173,900 at the end of 2012, representing an increase of 61,500 or 0.9 percent from 2011, Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department announced Tuesday.

According to the statistics, obtained by subtracting the number of deaths of 43,100 from the number of births of 91,600, the natural increase of the population from the end of 2011 to the end of 2012 amounted to 48,500. Over the same period, there was a net movement of 13,000 Hong Kong residents.

The Hong Kong Population is measured on the definition of Resident Population, which comprises Usual Residents and Mobile Residents. Among the total population at the end of 2012, 6,954, 600 were Usual Residents and 219,300 were Mobile Residents.

Usual Residents include two categories of people: 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 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.

Under the current practice, the latest population figure is released on a provisional basis in each round. The revised figure will be released six months later.