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The Statistics Advisory Board held a meeting today (December 3) to review the main scope of government statistical work and its recent developments.
At the meeting, Members were updated on the latest progress of the major planning work for the 2011 Population Census (11C).
"It has been an established practice in Hong Kong since 1961 to conduct a population census every 10 years and a by-census in the middle of the intercensal period. The purpose of population censuses/by-censuses is to obtain up-to-date benchmark information on the size and socio-economic characteristics of the population and on its geographical distribution," said Mr Fung Hing-wang, Commissioner for Census and Statistics and Chairman of the Statistics Advisory Board.
"Planning for the 11C is in full swing. For this round of census, in addition to the conventional face-to-face interviews, we will also provide respondents with other means of furnishing their data via postal returns and self-enumerated questionnaires on the Internet. Meanwhile, a series of comprehensive consultations with government departments/bureaux, prominent organisations and the academia regarding such areas as the choice, definitions and classifications of data topics, questioning approach, is being carried out," Mr Fung said.
Members noted that the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) would conduct a new round of Household Expenditure Survey (HES) during October 2009 to September 2010 to collect up-to-date information on the expenditure patterns of households in Hong Kong. The HES is conducted once every five years and the results would be used for updating the relevant information about the basket of consumer goods and services for expenditure weights of the Consumer Price Indices. Preparatory work for the new round of survey had already commenced and the major results would be released around April/May 2011.
Members discussed the methodology and salient findings of a territory-wide survey on persons with disabilities and chronic diseases conducted as a Special Topic Enquiry via the General Household Survey during November 2006 to December 2007. The survey aimed to collect information on the basic profiles of persons with selected types of disabilities and chronic diseases in Hong Kong, which would serve as useful references for the planning and development of rehabilitation services. Detailed results of the survey would be released to the public around end-December 2008.
Also reported at the Meeting was the progress of the full-scale revision exercise of the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC). The C&SD undertook the exercise with a view to enhancing the classification scheme in order that it could better reflect the latest changes in the structure of the Hong Kong economy and the emergence of new economic activities (e.g. information, communications and financial services). Adopting the basic framework and principles of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities Revision 4 (ISIC Rev. 4) released by the United Nations in August 2008, the revised HSIC, i.e. HSIC V2.0, was launched on October 31, 2008 to replace the existing HSIC V1.1.
Members were told that Hong Kong had been participating in the Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey (CPIS) undertaken under the auspices of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since the reference year 2001. In the light of the successful launching of the CPIS, the IMF had proposed that a similar survey should be mounted in respect of direct investment with the objective of setting up a comprehensive database of direct investment positions as from the reference year of 2009. Participation in the proposed Coordinated Direct Investment Survey (CDIS) would enable data compilers around the world to improve the coverage and comparability of Foreign Direct Investment statistics through implementation of best practices and harmonisation of methodologies. Some 130 economies, including Hong Kong, had committed to taking part in the CDIS.
The Board also reviewed other statistical developments since the previous meeting, including the e-government initiatives in statistical work; the latest developments regarding the compilation of labour statistics; promotion of statistical literacy among different sectors of the community; and recent efforts made by the C&SD in strengthening the communication and coordination with the local and international statistical community.
The Statistics Advisory Board is a non-statutory advisory body which advises the Commissioner for Census and Statistics on matters pertaining to government statistical work. The terms of reference and composition of the Board can be found on the C&SD Website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/about_us/our_advisory_board/index.jsp). Agenda of the recent meetings of the Board together with the press releases on key issues discussed are also posted there.
Ends/Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:37
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