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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (September 22) the September 2008 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, four feature articles entitled "Hong Kong's Imports Measured on Free On Board (F.O.B.) Basis for 2007", "Inward and Outward Portfolio Investment of Hong Kong, 1998 to 2007", "Socio-economic Characteristics of Hong Kong Residents Making Personal Travel to the Mainland of China, 2007" and "The Real Estate Sector in Hong Kong, 1997 to 2006" are included.
"Hong Kong's Imports Measured on Free On Board (F.O.B.) Basis for 2007"
In accordance with international statistical 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, C&SD has been compiling an additional set of import statistics measured on f.o.b. basis to facilitate analysis on merchandise trade balance and comparison of trade statistics with other economies.
This feature article introduces the concept and application of import statistics measured on f.o.b. basis, and analyses the related statistics for 2007.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Trade Surveys and Research Section, C&SD (Tel: 2582 5255).
"Inward and Outward Portfolio Investment of Hong Kong, 1998 to 2007"
Amid the rapidly changing financial environment, Portfolio Investment (PI) statistics provide an objective basis for decisions on financial monitoring and policy deliberation in the public sector. In addition, PI statistics also support informed business decisions formulation and investment allocations in the private sector.
This feature article presents salient features of Hong Kong's PI statistics from 1998 to 2007 and compares PI statistics of Hong Kong with selected economies.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Balance of Payments Branch (1), C&SD (Tel: 2116 5158).
"Socio-economic Characteristics of Hong Kong Residents Making Personal Travel to the Mainland of China, 2007"
Analyses of the social and economic characteristics of Hong Kong residents making personal travel to the mainland of China (the Mainland) were first introduced in a feature article in the May 2002 issue of the Digest. Updates of the analyses are provided annually.
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In 2007, Hong Kong residents made a total of 46.8 million personal trips to the Mainland. Personal travel covers travel in package tour mode and non-package tour mode for purposes such as holiday-making, visits to friends and relatives, and attending recreational and cultural programmes.
Analysed by sex, the proportion of personal trips made by males (55%) was higher. Analysed by age, the highest proportion of personal trips was made by residents in the age group 40-49 (25%).
Among the trips in respect of personal travel by Hong Kong residents to the Mainland, 26.8 million person-trips were made by employed persons. Of this, the highest proportion was made by residents working in the wholesale, retail and import/export trades, restaurants and hotels sector (29%).
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the National Income Section (1)3, C&SD (Tel: 2582 4643).
"The Real Estate Sector in Hong Kong, 1997 to 2006"
The performance of the real estate sector in Hong Kong had been quite volatile during 1997 to 2006. In particular, the output growth of the industry groups of real estate development and leasing as well as real estate brokerage and agency was, to a large extent, underpinned by the developments in the local property market.
This feature article analyses the industry structure and performance of the real estate sector in Hong Kong over the decade from 1997 to 2006. The analyses in this feature article are mainly based on the statistics compiled from the Annual Survey of Building, Construction and Real Estate Sectors conducted by C&SD. Reference is also made to relevant property market statistics compiled by other government departments.
More detailed analyses by industry are available in this feature article.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Construction and Miscellaneous Services Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel: 2805 6424).
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).
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Enquiries about the contents of the publication can be directed to the General Statistics Section (1)B of C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738).
Ends/Monday, September 22, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:07
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