Hong Kong's population reached 6,963,100 at the end of last year, up 53,600 or 0.8% on a year earlier, the Census & Statistics Department says.

Births and the inflow of one-way permit holders were key constituents of the overall population rise. The population's natural increase was 30,700 - resulting from 69,600 babies born to both Hong Kong and non-Hong Kong residents and 38,900 deaths. Last year also saw a net movement of 22,900 residents.

The ratios of births and deaths to the overall population growth were 130% and 73%. The inflow of one-way permit holders was 33,900 and outflow was 11,000. Their ratios to the overall population rise were 63% and 21%.

Among the total population, 96.7% were usual residents and 3.3% mobile residents. The population figure does not include visitors. As at the end of 2007, there were 405,100 visitors.

The department also revised the provisional figures for the 2007 mid-year population to 6,925,900 with 96.8% usual residents and 3.2% mobile residents. The population growth rate from mid-2006 to mid-2007 was revised to 1%.