June 2012 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics is now available
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     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (June 18) the June 2012 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).

     In this issue, three feature articles entitled "Foreign Affiliates Trade in Services Statistics of Hong Kong", "Statistics on Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong, 2011" and "Trade Index Numbers" are included.

"Foreign Affiliates Trade in Services Statistics of Hong Kong"

     With increasing globalisation of the world economy, it becomes popular for multinational enterprises to provide services to customers in another economy through setting up affiliated companies abroad.

     In view of the growing importance of services supplied via this mode, C&SD has developed a statistical framework for compiling relevant statistics, known as foreign affiliates trade in services (FATS) statistics.  This feature article introduces the statistical system for compiling inward FATS statistics, and presents selected inward FATS statistics of Hong Kong in 2010.  This feature article also gives a brief account of the development in the compilation of Hong Kong's outward FATS statistics.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Trade in Services Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2802 1350).

"Statistics on Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong, 2011"

     In Hong Kong, Chinese medicine is used to cure various kinds of diseases.  The Chinese medicine sector comprises : (a) manufacture of Chinese medicines; (b) distribution of Chinese medicines, including import/export, wholesale and retail trades; and (c) practising Chinese medicine, including Chinese medicine practitioners of general practice, acupuncture and bone-setting.

     This feature article discusses the updated situation of the Chinese medicine sector in Hong Kong, including the manufacture of Chinese medicines, the distribution of Chinese medicines, the practice of Chinese medicine practitioners and the university programmes on Chinese medicine.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Distribution Services Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2802 1367).

"Trade Index Numbers"

     Trade index numbers are useful indicators for measuring movements in value, price and volume of Hong Kong's external merchandise trade.  There are three types of trade index numbers, viz. value index, unit value index and quantum index.  The old trade index number series had year 2000 as the base year.  Recently, an updating has been conducted.  The new series has year 2010 as the base year.  This feature article discusses compilation method of trade index numbers and introduces the new series.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Trade Analysis Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2582 4914).

     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, June 18, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:00

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