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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (June 22) the June 2009 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, four feature articles entitled "Composite Employment Estimates 2008", "Salient Features of Hong Kong's Balance of Payments Account for 1999 to 2008", "The Profile of Hong Kong Population Analysed by District, 2008" and "Pattern of Smoking" are included.
"Composite Employment Estimates 2008"
In the study of employment statistics, there is a common problem arising from the discrepancies observed between the employment data obtained from establishment-based surveys which refer to occupied posts in firms, and those data obtained from household surveys which refer to persons employed. In Hong Kong, this issue is tackled through the compilation of a set of Composite Employment Estimates (CEE) which reconcile, under a designated statistical framework, the results obtained from the household-based General Household Survey and the establishment-based Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies.
According to the CEE, the overall employment in Hong Kong in 2008 was 3 540 000, larger than that in the previous year by 1.6%. The "Other community, social and personal services" was the largest industry sector in terms of employment. It employed 561 600 persons or 15.9% of overall employment. The next largest industry sectors were the "Import and export trade", engaging 557 100 persons or 15.7% of employment share, and the "Real estate and business services", engaging 382 600 persons or 10.8%.
This feature article provides the CEE figures for 2003 to 2008. It also gives an account of the characteristics of CEE and briefly discusses the differences and usage of the CEE vis-ˆj-vis the other employment figures.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Employment Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel. : 2582 4751).
"Salient Features of Hong Kong's Balance of Payments Account for 1999 to 2008"
Balance of Payments (BoP) statistics are important for monetary and financial monitoring and policy deliberations in different areas in both local and international contexts. Such data also provide an objective basis for gauging the economic situation and in assessing the financial soundness of an economy. BoP data not only are crucial elements for many business and investment decisions, but also facilitate macroeconomic analysis on different aspects of an economy.
This feature article briefly discusses the concepts relating to the interpretation of the BoP account and presents the salient features of Hong Kong's BoP accounts in the past decade.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Balance of Payments Section (1)1, C&SD (Tel. : 2116 8660).
"The Profile of Hong Kong Population Analysed by District, 2008"
C&SD annually compiles statistics on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population by District Council district based on data collected from the General Household Survey (GHS). This feature article provides an analysis on the profile of the population of Hong Kong for various District Council districts as at mid-2008.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the General Household Survey Section (2), C&SD (Tel. : 2887 5506).
"Pattern of Smoking"
C&SD commissioned a private research company to conduct a Thematic Household Survey on pattern of smoking during December 2007 to March 2008 to collect information on the number of smokers and their smoking pattern. This feature article briefly describes the major findings of the survey.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Social Surveys Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2887 0416).
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/Monday, June 22, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:01
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