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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (May 20) the May 2009 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, three feature articles entitled ˇ§Statistics on Research and Development of Hong Kong, 2003 to 2007ˇ¨, ˇ§The Movement of the Unemployment Rate in 2008ˇ¨ and ˇ§The Wholesale, Retail and Import and Export Trades, Restaurants and Hotels Sectors in Hong Kongˇ¨ are included.
ˇ§Statistics on Research and Development of Hong Kong, 2003 to 2007ˇ¨
Research and development (R&D) is one key impetus for technological advancement. This feature article aims to provide an overall picture of the R&D activities in Hong Kong, with separate analyses presented for the business, higher education and government sectors.
Compared with 2006, the total number of R&D personnel in 2007 increased by 3% to 23 644. Total R&D expenditure in 2007 amounted to HK$12.4 billion, representing a 4% increase over 2006. Total R&D expenditure as a ratio to Gross Domestic Product had gone up from 0.69% in 2003 to 0.77% in 2007.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Science and Technology Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel. : 2887 5138).
ˇ§The Movement of the Unemployment Rate in 2008ˇ¨
Following the downward trend starting from mid-2003, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continued to fall in the first half of 2008 and reached 3.2% in May ˇV July 2008, the lowest level since early 1998. The unemployment rate began to move up in the second half of 2008, alongside the slowdown in business activities in both the domestic and external trade sectors due to the global financial tsunami. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate climbed to 4.1% in October ˇV December 2008.
This feature article provides an analysis of the changes in the unemployment rate in 2008 from various perspectives. It aims to give readers a better understanding about the recent unemployment situation in Hong Kong.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the General Household Survey Section (2), C&SD (Tel. : 2887 5506).
ˇ§The Wholesale, Retail and Import and Export Trades, Restaurants and Hotels Sectors in Hong Kongˇ¨
C&SD conducts annual economic surveys for compiling statistics on the operating characteristics of various sectors of Hong Kong. The statistics compiled are useful to both the Government and the private sector in formulating policies and making decisions.
This feature article presents the principal operating characteristics of the wholesale, retail and import and export trades, restaurants and hotels sectors of Hong Kong in 2007. It also analyses the business environment of the sectors by making reference to industry averages and analytical ratios derived from statistics on their operating characteristics. In view of the emergence of the global financial tsunami in 2008 and its far-reaching implications on the local economy, attempts have also been made to gauge the more recent business performance of the retail trade and restaurants sectors based on the results of related monthly and quarterly surveys conducted for 2008.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Distribution Services Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel. : 2802 1367).
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/statistical_report/general_statistical_digest/index.jsp).
Print version of the publication is available for sale at HK$142 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 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, May 20, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:01
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