***********************************************************
The pilot survey for the 2011 population census will proceed to the interview phase from the self-enumeration phase tomorrow (July 17), the Census and Statistics Department said. More than 150 census officers will visit selected households not choosing self-enumeration.
Census officers working on the pilot survey will carry a government/enumerator identity card with photo and a certificate issued by the department authorising the officer to conduct the survey. They will also carry a red satchel with the department logo and register with the management office of the buildings they visit.
Following the established practice of conducting a population census every 10 years, Hong Kong will conduct a population census in 2011. The aim is to obtain up-to-date benchmark information on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population and on its geographical distribution. Such information is vital to the Government for planning and policy formulation and important to the private sector and academia for business and research purposes.
To test the various aspects of the operation well in advance so that any necessary enhancements can be introduced in good time before the census operation in 2011, the department is conducting a pilot survey from June 22 to August 3 this year.
The pilot survey covers some 30,000 quarters in four selected District Council districts: Central and Western, Sham Shui Po, Yau Tsim Mong, and the North. All households and people staying in the selected quarters will be enumerated.
The pilot survey is conducted in two phases. In the first phase, respondents of the selected quarters are encouraged to choose the self-enumeration mode through completion of an e-questionnaire online (eform.censtatd.gov.hk) or postal return (applicable to "short form" quarters). The pilot survey will enter the second phase tomorrow, and account registration for using the electronic questionnaire will end today.
The department will arrange for census officers to conduct interviews in the second phase from July 17 to August 3 for the remaining respondents not choosing self-enumeration. Census officers will in general visit households between 1pm to 10pm from Mondays to Sundays. Households that wish to book a preferred date and time slot for the interview can use the department's online booking service (bookvisit.censtatd.gov.hk) or call 2153 2011.
Households having registered to complete the electronic questionnaire are requested to submit their completed questionnaires on or before July 25. If the department does not receive the completed questionnaires by then, census officers will collect the requested information through face-to-face interviews with the households.
The department called on households to check carefully the identity of census officers before allowing them to enter their premises and to support the survey by co-operating with census officers.
The 2011 population census will be conducted as a mandatory statistical enquiry under the Census and Statistics Ordinance. However, the pilot survey is conducted as a voluntary statistical survey under part IIIA of the ordinance. In accordance with the Census and Statistics Ordinance, information on individuals or households will be treated in strict confidence and will not be released to any other people or organisations (including government departments) outside the department. All questionnaires will be destroyed within 12 months after the survey is completed.
Enquiries about the survey or the identity of census officers can be made on 2153 2011.
Ends/Friday, July 16, 2010
Issued at HKT 11:10
NNNN
