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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (September 20) the September 2006 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, three feature articles entitled "Hong Kong's Imports Measured on Free On Board (F.O.B.) Basis for 2005", "The Real Estate Sector in Hong Kong, 1995 to 2004" and "Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Economic Activity" are included.
"Hong Kong's Imports Measured on Free On Board (F.O.B.) Basis for 2005"
In accordance with international standards, the import statistics of Hong Kong are valued on cost, insurance and freight (c.i.f.) basis. Yet, import statistics valued on free-on-board (f.o.b.) basis are also useful for certain analytical purposes.
Since 1996, the C&SD has been conducting a sample survey to collect data for compiling import statistics measured on f.o.b. basis to facilitate detailed analysis on visible trade balance and reconciliation of trade statistics with other economies.
This feature article introduces the concept and application of imports valued on f.o.b. basis. Statistics on Hong Kong's imports measured on f.o.b. basis as well as the related insurance premium and freight costs for 2005 are analysed.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Trade Surveys and Research Section, C&SD (Tel: 2582 5255).
"The Real Estate Sector in Hong Kong, 1995 to 2004"
The property market in Hong Kong experienced a remarkable expansion in 1996 and the first half of 1997. This underpinned the rapid growth of the real estate sector during this period. However, as the contagion effect of the regional financial turmoil that swept through East Asia in August 1997 intensified, the property market, then the real estate sector, underwent a distinct downturn since late 1997. In spite of the implementation of a series of fiscal relief measures and release of a number of positive news by the Government as well as the consecutive cuts in interest rates thereafter, sentiment in the property market remained generally weak. As a result, performance of the real estate sector stayed sluggish. In 2004, contribution of the real estate sector to GDP was 4.2%, less than half of the peak of 9.6% in 1997.
This feature article analyses the industry structure and business performance of the real estate sector during 1995 to 2004. The analyses are based mainly on the statistics compiled from the Annual Survey of Building, Construction and Real Estate Sectors conducted by the Census and Statistics Department. Some relevant property statistics compiled by other government departments have also been referred to.
More detailed analyses by industry are available in the feature article.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call Construction and Miscellaneous Services Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel: 2805 6424).
"Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Economic Activity"
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is an important indicator for measuring the economic performance of an economy. The feature article "Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Economic Activity" describes in detail the concepts of GDP, including the compilation of GDP by production, income and expenditure approaches. The article, through analysing statistics of GDP by economic activity, discusses the structural changes experienced by the economy of Hong Kong in the past 15 years from 1989 to 2004. The structural changes include the reduction in manufacturing sector and the expansion in services sector. The article also describes the developments of various sectors (e.g. real estate, retail, restaurants and personal services) that mainly serve the domestic economy of Hong Kong in the past 15 years.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the National Income Section (2)2, C&SD (Tel: 2116 5111).
Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing 140 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population and vital events; labour; external trade; industrial production; land, housing, building and construction; transport, communications and tourism; public accounts, money and finance; prices; commerce; social conditions; energy; and national income and Balance of Payments. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available.
Users can download this publication free of charge at the "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong" (www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk) of the C&SD.
Print version of this publication is available for sale at HK$80 per issue. Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address: 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel: 2582 3025) or through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD's website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/other_services/provision_of_stat/mail_ordering_of_publications/index.jsp). Print version of this publication is also available for sale online at the Statistical Bookstore and the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.isd.gov.hk/eng/bookorder.htm). Print versions if purchased online are offered a discount, at 85% of their original prices.
Enquiries about the contents of the HKMDS can be directed to the General Statistics Section (1)B of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738).
Ends/Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:00
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