Hong Kong's population is officially 6.21 million - nearly 10 per cent higher than in 1991, according to the first results from the by-census. The survey also showed droves of people are giving up older flats in Kowloon and moving to new towns in search of a better living standard. Meanwhile, the marine population has nearly halved with more fishermen opting to live ashore or quitting the sea in favour of land jobs. A fifth of people now live on Hong Kong Island, a third in Kowloon and just under half in the New Territories, where the population has risen 22.6 per cent to 2.9 million in the past five years. The survey showed marked increases in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, North district, Sai Kung and the islands. On Hong Kong Island, populations fell in Wan Chai where old buildings are being torn down in favour of office blocks, but rose sharply in Southern and Eastern because of new housing developments. Census and Statistics Commissioner Frederick Ho Wing-huen said: 'From everyday observations you can see people are moving from the old shabby buildings in Kowloon and taking themselves off to new districts. 'There are huge increases here and on the islands. A good weekend in a better flat is probably worth all the commuting.' The number of people living on boats has fallen from 17,620 in 1991 to 10,000. Mr Ho said: 'Fishing may not have gone down, but modernisation means you need less people for the same catch. Some people may have gone ashore and some boats may employ mainland fishermen.'
