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Statistical data users can now acquire download versions of the statistical publications and statistical tables of the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) free of charge on the Internet at the Department's "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong" (http://www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk).
The Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Mr Fung Hing-wang, said today (June 7) : "The free download policy is an important milestone in dissemination of official statistics.
"Official statistics are widely applied in business planning, academic research and social studies. In view of this, the C&SD regularly reviews the methods of providing data to facilitate members of the public to use statistical data.
"Taking note of the increasingly pervasive international trend towards making available downloadable official statistical data/products free of charge, we have recently reviewed our policy and decided to implement a free download policy for download versions of statistical publications and tables.
"Official statistics serves as an important ingredient in decision making, within both the public and private sectors. By enhancing the availability and accessibility of Hong Kong official statistics through the free download policy, we hope to promote statistical literacy and better informed decision making in the community. This would also facilitate overseas investors interested in Hong Kong in making investment decisions," Mr Fung added.
The free download policy is implemented at the C&SD's "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong" which was developed in 2001 to provide Internet users with a fast, convenient and simple channel to access statistical publications and tables produced by the C&SD round the clock from anywhere in the world.
Besides latest releases, back issues of all publications released since October 2001 are also available for free downloading.
In the meantime, users can continue to place orders for or subscribe to print versions of publications online at the Statistical Bookstore at a 15% discount of their original prices.
Ends/Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:44
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