Hong Kong in Figures (1)

2004

2005

Area and Climate

Land area ¹ (km²)

1 104

1 104

1 104

Air temperature (⁰C)

Highest

34.6

35.4

Lowest

7.7

6.4

Total rainfall (mm)

1 739 

3 215 

Population

Mid-year population ('000)

6 883

6 936

Sex ratio ²

929

920

Population growth rate (%)

0.8

0.4

Expectation of life at birth (years)

         Male

79.0

78.8

         Female

84.7

84.4

Number of domestic households ('000)

2 166

2 195

Labour, Employment and Earnings

Labour force ('000)

3 516

3 538

Number of employed persons ('000)

3 277

3 341

Unemployment rate (%)

6.8

5.6

Median monthly employment earnings (HK$)

9 800

10 000

Personal Income Tax Rate

Maximum rate of total income from employment in Hong Kong (%)

16

16

16

(Note: to be changed to 15% from 2008-09)

Corporate Income Tax Rate - Rate of income sourced in Hong Kong (%)

17.5

17.5

17.5

(Note: to be changed to 16.5% from 2008-09)

Hong Kong in Figures (2)

2004

2005

2006

2007

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

GDP at current market prices (HK$ billion)

1 291

1 383

Annual rate of change in GDP in real terms (%)

+8.6

+7.5

Per capita GDP (HK$ '000)

190.4

202.9

External Merchandise Trade (HK$ billion)*

Domestic exports

126

136

Re-exports

1 893 

2 114 

Imports

2 111 

2 329 

Merchandise trade balance

-92 

-79 

Consumer Prices

Annual rate of change in Composite Consumer Price Index (%)

-0.4

+1.0

Commerce

Annual rate of change in retail sales volume (%)

+9.1

+6.1

Annual rate of change in business receipts of selected industries (%)

Communications

+1.0

+5.1

Insurance

+22.3 

+16.0 

Business Services

+8.3

+4.9

Money and Finance

Exchange rate ³

Euro

9.69

9.68

Japanese Yen

0.0720

0.0707

US dollar ⁴

7.788

7.777

Canadian dollar

6.00

6.42

Money supply M3 ⁵ (HK$ billion)

4,190

4,407

Foreign currency reserve assets ⁶ (US$ billion)

123.6

124.3

Hong Kong in Figures (3)

2004

2005

Transport, Communications and Tourism

Port container throughput ('000 TEUs)

21 984

22 602

Air cargo throughput ('000 tonnes)

3 090

3 402

Mobile phone subscribers per 1 000 population ⁷

 662 [1180]

 682 [1226]

747

[1 369]

818

[1 521]

Visitor arrivals ('000)

21 811

23 359

Social Conditions

Percentage of population having attained tertiary education ⁸ (%)

22.0

22.9

Domestic households living in

            Public rental housing ⁹(%)

30.1

30.2

            Subsidized sale flats⁹(%)

16.7

16.4

            Private permanent housing ⁹(%)

52.2

52.4

Hospital beds ¹⁰ (per 1 000 population)

5.1

5.0

Residential flats newly completed

46 983

42 012

Overall crime rate (per 100 000 population)

1 199

1 137

Notes:

 The above statistical data are compiled by the Census and Statistics Department and other government departments and organizations.

1. Figures are at end of the year.

2. Males per 1 000 females.

3. Figures refer to Hong Kong dollars per unit of foreign currency.  They are the averages of the daily closing middle-market rates for the respective years.

4. As from 17 October 1983, the Hong Kong dollar has been linked to the US dollar at a fixed rate of HK$7.80 = US$1.00.  Since then, the exchange rate of Hong Kong dollar against the US dollar in the foreign exchange market has moved only within a narrow range.

5. Money supply M3 refers to the sum of cash held by the public plus customers’ deposits placed with authorized institutions (AIs) plus negotiable certificates of deposit issued by AIs and held by non-authorized institutions.

6. Figures include foreign currency assets held in the Exchange Fund and the Land Fund.

7. Figures exclude pre-paid SIM cards.  Figures including pre-paid SIM cards are presented in square brackets.

8. Refers to population aged 15 and over.

9. Subsidised sale flats mainly include flats sold by the Housing Authority under the Home Ownership Scheme.  Private Sector Participation Scheme and Tenants Purchase Scheme.  They do not include those flats that can be traded in open market.

Information source: Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, People’s Republic of China. Last update: September, 2008