Hong Kong's population swelled to 6,900,700 at the end of 2006, according to the Census and Statistics Department's provisional figures announced on Thursday.

The figure represents a 0.9 percent year-on-year rise, or 62, 900 more people than at the end of 2005.

From the end of 2005 to the end of 2006, Hong Kong recorded 65,800 births and 36,900 deaths, a natural increase of 28,900.

There was an inflow of 54,200 one-way permit holders, representing 86 percent of the overall population increase. There was a net outflow of 20,200 people.

Among the total population, 6,667,800 were usual residents and 232,900 were mobile residents. The population figure excludes visitors. There were 337,600 visitors in Hong Kong at the end of 2006.

Chinese ethnicity forms 95 percent of the population. The largest non-Chinese ethnic groups in the city are Filipinos and Indonesians.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2007)