Hong Kong Profile
As of February 2005

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Population According to the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department, the Hong Kong Population was 6 895 500 (provisional) at end-2004, representing an increase of 50 100 (provisional) or 0.7% (provisional) over end-2003.

Obtained by subtracting the number of deaths of 36 600 from the number of births of 47 900, the natural increase of the population from end-2003 to end-2004 amounted to 11 300.

The overall population increased by 50 100 (provisional) over the same period, comprising a natural increase of 11 300 and a net movement (i.e. inflow less outflow) of 38 800 residents.

Both births and inflow of One-way Permit holders (OWPHs) were important constituents of the overall population increase. The ratio of the number of births, at 47 900 during end-2003 to end-2004, to the overall population increase over the same period was 96%. The ratio of the inflow of OWPHs, at 38 100, to the overall population increase was 76%.

Deaths in the meantime offset part of the increase. The ratio of the number of deaths, at 36 600, to the overall population increase was 73%. Besides, not counting the arrival of OWPHs mentioned above, there was a net inflow of 700 persons, bearing a ratio of 1% to the overall population increase.

The Hong Kong Population is measured on the definition of Resident Population, which comprises Usual Residents and Mobile Residents. Among the total population at end-2004, 6 687 600 (provisional) were Usual Residents and 207 900 (provisional) were Mobile Residents.

"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.

The previously released provisional figure for the mid-2004 population was revised to 6 882 600. The number of Usual Residents was revised to 6 671 700 and the number of Mobile Residents to 210 900. The population growth rate from mid-2003 to mid-2004 was 1.2%.

It should be noted that the population figure does not include visitors. The number of visitors present in Hong Kong as at end-2004 was 359 200.

Source: Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, 15 February 2005

Unemployment and Underemployment Statistics for October - December 2004

According to the latest labour force statistics released on January 18 by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 6.7% in September - November 2004 to 6.5% (provisional figure) in October - December 2004. The underemployment rate also declined, from 3.2% to 3.1% (provisional figure for October - December 2004).

Comparing October - December 2004 with September - November 2004, decreases in the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) were mainly observed in the wholesale trade, restaurants, business services and hotels sectors. As to the underemployment rate, decreases were mainly seen in the foundation and superstructure construction, transport and miscellaneous personal services sectors.

Total employment increased by around 20 400, from 3 307 600 in September - November 2004 to reach a new high of 3 328 000 (provisional figure) in October - December 2004. Total labour force also increased, by around 10 200, from 3 543 800 to 3 554 000 (provisional figure) between the two periods.

The number of unemployed persons (not seasonally adjusted) decreased by around 9 200, from 236 200 in September - November 2004 to 227 000 (provisional figure) in October - December 2004, the lowest level since November 2001 - January 2002. Concurrently, the number of underemployed persons decreased by around 1 900, from 112 900 to 111 000 (provisional figure) between the two periods.

Labour Force - During the last quarter of 2004, 3,554,000 was employed; 227,000 (1.4%) was unemployed; and 111,000 (3.1%) was underemployed. In the same period, a total of 218,236 foreign domestic helpers from other nationalities were employed: 121, 534 from the Philippines, 87,842 from Indonesia, 5,068 from Thailand, and 3,792 from other nationalities.

Average wage - Average wage rates for "craftsmen and operatives" are average daily wages, while those for "supervisory, technical, clerical and miscellaneous non-production workers" and "all selected occupations" are average monthly salaries (excluding managerial and professional employees).

Growing income inequality - The income gap between rich and poor has almost doubled: the ratio of average per capita household income between the richest and poorest deciles rose from 10.8 to 1 in 1990 to 19.2 to 1 in 1999. The richest 10% in 1999 possessed 35.9% of national income while the poorest 10% claimed only 1.9%. Before the recession, income inequality could arguably have been attributed to the occupational structure of the service sector and to the high capital value of assets. Income distribution after the Asian financial turmoil was made even worse by corporate restructuring strategies. These included transforming labour contracts to expand contingent work. That, in turn, worsened the power and status imbalance between upper management and workers in general.

High rate of poverty - In addition to income inequality, the incidence of poverty was remarkable in an affluent society like Hong Kong. In 1999, nearly a fifth of the population had a living standard below the poverty line. It was estimated that three of every 10 children below the age of15 were materially deprived. The same was true for 25% of all people aged 65 or over.

Major factors that contributed to this include: 1) the absence of a mandatory pension system; 2) no minimum wage law to combat low pay; 3) increased unemployment; 4) inadequate affordable childcare to assist low-income families (especially mothers and single mothers) to enter the labour market. Despite the alarming level of poverty, the government decided in 1999 to cut standard rates, special grants, and supplements to social security benefits in order to reduce social spending and reinforce work discipline, no matter how low-paid the work.

Source: Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department

Overseas Filipino workers’ major issues in Hong Kong

1. Scrapping of the OWWA Omnibus Policies, which removed benefits of migrant workers and their families like the General Financial Assistance Program and making the payment of OWWA membership fee mandatory.
2. Campaign against government fees like the proposed airport terminal fee, excessive cost of passport, authentication fee for processing of employment contracts, and the issuance of OEC in the country for OFWs whose contracts were prematurely terminated and were not allowed by the immigration department to process in Hong Kong.
3. Campaign against illegal recruitment and overcharging of placement fees.
   4 Setting up of a grievance mechanism for general consular services.

Hong Kong immigration policies affecting foreign domestic workers

1. Two-week rule – a discriminatory policy which allows domestic helpers whose contracts were prematurely terminated to stay in Hong Kong for only two weeks after termination of contract.
2. Employees Retraining Ordinance that requires employers of domestic helpers to pay a levy of $400, exactly the same amount that was deducted from the wages of the foreign domestic workers since April 2003.
3. Arbitrary reduction of wages without a clear-cut set of criteria as basis of the wage review.

Institutions/organizations helping migrant workers with their contact numbers

Tables
Population by Sex

Statistics on Labour Force,
Unemployment and Underemployment

Source: Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department

Average wage as of September 2004

Source: Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department

Foreign Domestic Helpers (FDHs) Population in Hong Kong

Source: Hong Kong Immigration Department

Foreign Residents Residing in Hong Kong

The figures on foreign population are derived from a physical count of arrival and departure records maintained by the Immigration Department. Such figures are a breakdown of the number of persons by their nationalities physically present in Hong Kong on a particular date (usually the last day of a month). They do not represent the total number of foreign residents who have residential status here. The figures also vary from time to time because some foreign residents travel frequently on business trips or on vacation overseas.

* U.K. includes the nationalities of British Citizen, British Dependent Territory Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person and British Subject.

Source: Hong Kong Immigration Department