Demographics of Hong Kong!!

Posted by gmygotravel

Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world with an overall density of some 6,300 people per square kilometre. The term "densely populated, green city" is used to describe the majority of the people living in apartments in high-rise buildings, and most land reserved for open spaces, country parks, and woodland.

Hong Kong has one of the world’s lowest birth rates—0.9 per woman of child-bearing age, far below the replacement rate of 2.1. With just 1,032 babies born in 2009 to every 1000 fertile women, it is estimated that 26.8% of the population will be aged 65 or more in 2033, up from 12.1% in 2005.

Han Chinese residents generally refer to themselves as Hèung Góng Yàhn (traditional Chinese: 香港人; Cantonese Yale: Hèung Góng Yàhn; literally "Hong Kong people") (traditional Chinese: 香港華人), however the term is not resticted to those of Han Chinese decent. Due to Hong Kong's nearly 150 year colonial history that saw the stationing of English, Indians and Russians among other ethnic groups as civil servants or traders. Thus a distinct and legitimate non-Cantonese culture with specifics to Hong Kong grew.

Mixing of cultural groups did not occur much beyond governance and business due to two main reasons:

Between Chinese and other ethnicities: the Cantonese language posed a significant barrier for newcomers. Far too often non-Chinese were stationed in Hong Kong for fixed periods of time (2-,4-,8-year terms) and thus motivation to learn the language was reduced. Furthermore pre-1970's Hong Kong saw official governance favouring English or British culture for the most part. For example English was the only official language and educational institutes of quality were also English speaking. Therefore a continuation of English culture by recent English immigrants was simple and official policy; the need to integrate with the Chinese populations was thus limited. Furthermore Chinese population were largely unable to learn English due to the lack of proper educational facilities in pre-1970 Hong Kong. Racial tensions arose as a result of perceived unbalances, leading to the 1966 and 1967 riots.

Between non-Chinese ethnicities: most non-Chinese ethnic groups came to Hong Kong as traders, civil servants or soldiers in which one's race played a significant role in the determination of class. For example, the 1928 HK Police handbook, clearly assigns power, responsibility and rank based on race (White, Indian and Chinese).

In English the term "Hong Kongers" (or sometimes Hongkongers) and 'Hongkongese' are becoming more popular to describe the people of and unique local culture of Hong Kong.

Chinese make up 95% of the population with the other groups floating at around 5%]. The national census does not break down people of European descent into separate categories, nor are Chinese ethnic subgroups separated in the statistics.