The Hong Kong population was 6.9708 million at the end of last year, according to the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) under the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Thursday in Hong Kong.

The population represents an increase of 55,100 people over that at the end of 2004, including the natural growth of 19,000 and a net movement increase of 36,100 residents.

The statistics show that among the total population at the end of last year, 6.7484 million were usual residents and 222,400 were mobile (provisional) residents.

(People's Daily February 17, 2006)