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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (August 20) the August 2008 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, three feature articles entitled "Foreign Affiliates Trade in Services Statistics for Hong Kong", "Statistics on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, 1997 to 2007" and "Hong Kong's External Trade in High Technology Products, 1997 to 2007" are included.
ˇ§Foreign Affiliates Trade in Services Statistics for Hong Kong"
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With increasing globalisation of the world economy, it becomes popular for firms of an economy to deliver services to customers in another economy through setting up affiliated companies abroad.
In view of the growing importance of services supplied via this mode, the Census and Statistics Department has launched studies on developing a statistical framework for compiling relevant statistics. Such statistics are known as foreign affiliates trade in services (FATS) statistics. This feature article introduces the statistical framework for compiling inward FATS statistics, and presents selected inward FATS statistics for Hong Kong in 2006. It also gives a brief account of the development of Hong Kongˇ¦s outward FATS statistics.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Trade in Services Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel. : 2802 1350).
"Statistics on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, 1997 to 2007"
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Expenditure on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) increased drastically during 1997-1998 to 2007-2008. While the CSSA expenditure of 2007-2008 rose slightly when compared with that of 2006-2007, it still amounted to $18 billion, which is almost double the expenditure in 1997-1998. Its share among total recurrent government expenditure increased from 6.0% in 1997-1998 to 9.0% in 2007-2008. During 1997 to 2007, the average growth in total number of cases per annum was 4.4%. This feature article describes the major changes in the number of cases and recipients over this period.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Research and Statistics Section, Social Welfare Department (Tel.: 2892 5225).
"Hong Kong's External Trade in High Technology Products, 1997 to 2007"
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Technology is one of the key drivers in enhancing economic growth and competitiveness of an economy, especially in the context of economic globalisation. Statistics on external trade in high technology products is one of the science and technology indicators in gauging technology diffusion and industry competitiveness. This feature article analyses the performance of Hong Kong's external trade in high technology products during 1997 to 2007.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Science and Technology Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2887 5138).
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 the publication free of charge at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/index.jsp).
Print version of the publication is available for sale at HK$110 per issue. Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of 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 the publication is also available for sale online at the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk).
Enquiries about the contents of the publication can be directed to the General Statistics Section (1)B of C&SD (Tel.: 2582 4738).
Ends/Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:00
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