HONG KONG - Hong Kong's population has grown to 7,234,800 as of the end of June, from 7,187,500 a year earlier, according to latest official data.

This represents a 0.7-percent increase over the one-year span, according to the Census and Statistics Department.

The data showed that births, as well as the inflow of One-way Permit holders from the mainland settling in Hong Kong, contributed the most to the population increase.

There were 58,700 births and 45,400 deaths. The number of One- way permit holders from the mainland totaled 43,500 over the period, according to the data.