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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (March 19) the March 2012 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, three feature articles entitled "Consumer Price Index and Its Movements during 2002 to 2011", "The Situation of the Six Industries in Hong Kong in 2010" and "Trading Firms Engaging in Sub-contract Processing Arrangement and Providing Manufacturing-related Technical Support Services" are included.
"Consumer Price Index and Its Movements during 2002 to 2011"
The year-on-year rate of change of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is frequently quoted as the indicator of inflation. This feature article analyses the movements of consumer prices in the period 2002 to 2011.
In the past decade, the CPI registered annual decreases in the early years due mainly to the weakness of the global economy. The CPI then reverted to annual increases since 2005 along with the improved economic conditions. In 2008 and 2011, the CPI rose significantly amidst the upsurge in food and energy prices in the international markets and the continued increases in private housing rents.
Apart from presenting the movements of the overall indices in the past decade, this feature article also analyses price changes at various commodity/service section level.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Consumer Price Index Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2805 6401).
"The Situation of the Six Industries in Hong Kong in 2010"
The Government has identified Six Industries where Hong Kong enjoys clear advantages for further development. The Six Industries are cultural and creative industries, medical services, education services, innovation and technology, testing and certification services and environmental industries.
A feature article analysing the economic contribution and employment situation in respect of the Six Industries in 2008 and 2009 was published in the February 2011 issue of HKMDS. This feature article is an updated version of the article published in February 2011, with data on the Six Industries for 2010 incorporated.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the National Income Branch, C&SD (Tel.: 2582 4927).
"Trading Firms Engaging in Sub-contract Processing Arrangement and Providing Manufacturing-related Technical Support Services"
Driven by the open economic policies of China, the Hong Kong economy has been undergoing structural changes since the 1980s. Among other changes, many Hong Kong manufacturers have relocated their manufacturing processes to the mainland of China (the Mainland). Some import and export firms in Hong Kong also operate factories in the Mainland. Through the sub-contract processing arrangement in the Mainland, Hong Kong entrepreneurs have successfully reduced the costs of manufacturing by taking advantage of the large base of labour and land resources in the Mainland. Many of the firms which have moved their manufacturing processes to the Mainland continue to operate in Hong Kong, in the form of import and export firms. These firms also provide manufacturing-related technical support services, e.g. product design, sample and mould making, and production planning, to the associated manufacturing firms in the Mainland.
Feature articles addressing this subject have been published regularly in this Digest since 1995. This feature article provides some latest information on the above development.
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 about 140 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; business performance; housing and property; transport, communications and tourism; public accounts, money and finance; national income and Balance of Payments; prices; and energy. 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 Digest free of charge at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/statistical_report/general_statistical_digest/index_cd_B1010002_dt_detail.jsp).
Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the General Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel.: 2582 4738).
Ends/Monday, March 19, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:00
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