Hong Kong's population stood at over 6.89 million at the end of 2004, according to provisional figures released Tuesday by the Census & Statistics Department.

The figure was up 50,100 over the previous year, representing a growth rate of 0.7 percent. The number of births was 47,900 while deaths totaled 36,600, giving a natural increase of 11,300.

Both births and inflow of One-way Permit holders were important constituents of the overall population increase. The ratio of the number of births to the overall population increase was 96 percent.

The population is measured on the definition of resident population, which comprises usual residents and mobile residents. Among the total population, about 6.69 million were usual residents and 207,900 mobile residents.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2005)