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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) announced today (February 4) the commencement of the following five annual economic surveys for the reference year of 2007:
(1) Annual Survey of Industrial Production;
(2) Annual Survey of Building, Construction and Real Estate Sectors;
(3) Annual Survey of Wholesale, Retail and Import and Export Trades, Restaurants and Hotels;
(4) Annual Survey of Transport and Related Services; and
(5) Annual Survey of Storage, Communication, Financing, Insurance and Business Services.
These annual surveys are conducted under the continuous "Programme of Annual Economic Surveys", aiming to collect up-to-date statistical data for evaluating the contribution of various economic sectors to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product and for ascertaining their cost structure, operating characteristics and output levels. The survey results are useful to both the Government and the private sector in formulating policies and making decisions.
Establishments selected to participate in the surveys have been individually notified and sent relevant questionnaires.
The Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Mr Fung Hing-wang, appealed to the management of all selected establishments to fulfill their legal and civic responsibilities by returning promptly the completed questionnaires and co-operating with officers of the department in the course of the surveys.
He stressed that information relating to individual establishments would be kept in strict confidence in accordance with the Census and Statistics Ordinance. Only aggregate information that does not reveal details of individual establishments will be released.
Mr Fung also pointed out that audited accounts were not essential for the supply of income and expenditure data required in the surveys. The department accepts figures based on preliminary accounts or estimates which are correct to the best of the respondents' knowledge at the time of submitting the questionnaires.
To facilitate the selected establishments in providing information, electronic templates of the questionnaires are available for use upon request.
About 12 000 establishments are selected for participation in the entire Programme.
The Annual Survey of Industrial Production covers establishments engaged in manufacturing, quarrying, and electricity, gas and water.
The Annual Survey of Building, Construction and Real Estate Sectors covers establishments engaged in building and civil engineering construction; real estate development; architectural, surveying and project engineering; real estate leasing, brokerage and maintenance management.
The Annual Survey of Wholesale, Retail and Import and Export Trades, Restaurants and Hotels covers establishments engaged in wholesale trade; retail trade; import and export trade; restaurants; hotels and boarding houses.
The Annual Survey of Transport and Related Services covers establishments engaged in provision of land, sea and air transport services, such as those operating public buses, tramways, railways, taxis, public light buses, trucks, ferries, ships and airlines. It also covers establishments engaged in the provision of transport-related services such as car parks, vehicular tunnels, travel agents and cargo forwarding agents.
The Annual Survey of Storage, Communication, Financing, Insurance and Business Services covers establishments engaged in storage and warehouse, communications, financing (except licenced banks, restricted licence banks, deposit-taking companies and representative offices of banks incorporated outside Hong Kong), insurance and business services (such as accounting and auditing; advertising; information technology related services; employment agency; equipment and machinery rental; legal; news agency; secretarial and other business services).
In general, the information to be sought in the surveys includes type of ownership, origin of investment, floor area, employment, compensation of employees (i.e. wages, salaries and other employee benefits), operating expenses, business receipts, capital expenditure and other information related to the business operation of the establishments.
The five surveys are conducted under Part III of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Chapter 316 of the Laws of Hong Kong).
The selected establishments are required to return the completed questionnaires to the C&SD by July 31, 2008 (but preferably by end May 2008). If the completed questionnaires are not received by May 31, 2008, census officers of the C&SD may phone or visit individual establishments to offer assistance in completing the questionnaires. These officers will each carry a Government Identity Card and a certificate for conducting the surveys, which are available for inspection.
Enquiries regarding these annual surveys can be directed to the relevant Sections of the C&SD listed in the attached table.
Results of these surveys will be released in December 2008.
Ends/Monday, February 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 10:00
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