HK population rises to 7.49m at mid-year

Hong Kong's population at mid-year increased by 2.1 percent, or 152,000 to 7.49 million, from 7.34 million at mid-2022, the Census and Statistics Department announced on Tuesday.

The increase is mainly attributable to a net inflow of 174,000 Hong Kong residents recorded during the period, with an inflow of 31,000 One-way Permit holders and a net inflow of 143,000 other Hong Kong residents.

Meanwhile, over the period from mid-2022 to mid-2023, a natural decrease of 22,000 in population was recorded, with 32,600 births and 54,600 deaths. 

A government spokesperson said with the gradual relaxation of anti-epidemic control measures since the second half of 2022, normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland and other parts of the world has been progressively resumed.

“Many Hong Kong residents who stayed abroad during the epidemic have returned to Hong Kong, while some Mainland and overseas persons have also been admitted to Hong Kong through various schemes. A large net inflow of Hong Kong residents was hence recorded in the first half of 2023,” said the spokesman.