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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (October 20) the October 2008 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, three feature articles entitled "Port Transhipment Cargo Statistics, 2002 to 2007", "Salient Features of Hong Kong's External Debt for 2002 to 2007" and "Notifiable Communicable Diseases in 2007" are included.
"Port Transhipment Cargo Statistics, 2002 to 2007"
Port transhipment cargo movements have contributed significantly to the port cargo growth of Hong Kong in recent years. With an average annual growth rate of 11% in the period 2002 to 2007, port transhipment cargo took up 54% of port cargo throughput in 2007. The port transhipment cargo movements between Hong Kong and the Mainland of China accounted for the largest share (41%) of Hong Kong's port transhipment cargo. Furthermore, about 68% of these Mainland - Hong Kong port transhipment cargo were between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region. This feature article analyses the port transhipment cargo statistics of Hong Kong during the period 2002 to 2007.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Shipping and Cargo Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel: 2582 4889).
"Salient Features of Hong Kong's External Debt for 2002 to 2007"
External Debt (ED) statistics provide useful information for international financial surveillance. Reliable, comprehensive and timely ED data allow users to monitor the development of an economy's external liabilities and hence its debt servicing obligations over time. It can also provide an early warning signal of possible debt servicing problems. Statistics on ED of an economy are useful for the formulation and management of the economy's micro and macroeconomic policies and strategies.
This feature article briefly describes the concepts relating to the interpretation of ED statistics and presents salient features of Hong Kong's ED statistics during the period 2002 to 2007.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Balance of Payments Branch (1), C&SD (Tel: 2116 8686).
"Notifiable Communicable Diseases in 2007"
Communicable diseases are of public concern in Hong Kong. The pattern of statistics on communicable diseases in the past year essentially reflects the characteristics of Hong Kong as a highly urbanised and international city. Main disease threats are related to air-borne and droplet-borne diseases while vector-borne diseases are mostly imported from neighbouring areas.
This feature article reviews the occurrences of notifiable communicable diseases in 2007. Comparisons are made with the past years where appropriate.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Communicable Disease Surveillance and Intelligence Office, Department of Health (Tel: 2125 2270).
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).
The print version of the publication is available for sale at HK$110 per issue. Purchase can be made 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). The 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, October 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:08
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