now available for sale

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Three feature articles entitled "The Social Security Assistance Index of Prices", "The 1999/2000-based Consumer Price Indices" and "Research and Development Statistics in Hong Kong, 1995-1999" are published in the July 2001 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics, which is now on sale.

"The Social Security Assistance Index of Prices"

The Social Security Assistance Index of Prices (SSAIP) is a Consumer Price Index (CPI) specially compiled by the Census and Statistics Department for use by the Social Welfare Department as a reference in reviewing the standard rates and supplements under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme to take account of price changes.

Similar to other CPIs, the weights of expenditure used in compiling the SSAIP are based on the actual expenditure by CSSA recipients on individual goods and service items. The data are obtained from a Household Expenditure Survey (HES).

The expenditure weights of the SSAIP have recently been updated based on findings of the 1999/2000 HES.

Details of the compilation and application of the index are given in the feature article.

For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Research and Statistics Section, Social Welfare Department (Tel: 2803 5562).

"The 1999/2000-based Consumer Price Indices"

The Consumer Price Indices (CPIs), which reflect the impact of consumer price changes on households, are compiled by combining information on price changes and expenditure patterns. The expenditure patterns are derived from the results of a Household Expenditure Survey (HES) conducted at five-yearly intervals.

A new round of HES was conducted from October 1999 to September 2000 by the Census and Statistics Department. Based on the results of the survey, the composition of the CPI basket, and the expenditure ranges and the weighting patterns of the CPI series have been updated.

After its first release in May 2001, the new 1999/2000-based CPI series has replaced the old 1994/95-based series for analysing the movements in consumer prices. This feature article presents the main features of the new 1999/2000-based CPI series. It also compares the expenditure weights and the movements of the 1999/2000-based CPIs with those of the 1994/95-based CPIs.

For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Consumer Price Index Section, Census and Statistics Department (Tel: 2805 6401).

"Research and Development Statistics in Hong Kong, 1995-1999"

Statistics on research and development (R&D) input are important indicators to reflect the size and distribution of resources devoted to R&D, which is one of the key forces for technological advancement and changes.

This feature article aims to provide an up-to-date picture of the R&D activities in Hong Kong with separate analysis for the business, higher education, and government sectors.

Compared with 1998, the total number of R&D personnel in 1999 increased by 16% to 6741. Most of them were engaged in the higher education and business sectors, which account for 49% and 48% of the total in 1999 respectively.

In 1999, total R&D expenditure amounted to HK$5.9 billion, representing a 5% increase as compared with 1998. Total R&D expenditure as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product has gone up from 0.45% in 1998 to 0.49% in 1999.

For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Science and Technology Statistics Section, Census and Statistics Department (Tel: 2887 5139).

The July 2001 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics is now on sale at $64 a copy. In addition to the above three feature articles, it contains up-to-date information on Hong Kong's economic growth, labour market, inflation and many other social and economic subjects.

This publication can be purchased at the Government Publications Centre, Ground Floor, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong. It is also available for sale at the Publications Unit of the Census and Statistics Department, 19th Floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Regular subscription can also be arranged with the Publications Sales Section of the Information Services Department (Tel: 2842 8844 or 2842 8845). Internet users may place mail orders of the publication through the website of the Information Services Department.(Address : http://www.info.gov.hk/isd/book_e.htm).

Enquiries about the contents of this Digest can be directed to the General Statistics Section (1)B of the Census and Statistics Department (Tel: 2582 4738).

End/Monday, July 23, 2001

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