*******************************************************
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (November 21) the November 2005 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, two feature articles entitled "Labour Productivity Index for Major Economic Activities of Hong Kong" and "Expenditure on Information Technology in the Business Sector, 1998 - 2003" are included.
"Labour Productivity Index for Major Economic Activities of Hong Kong"
Labour Productivity Index (LPI) is a very important economic indicator of an economy. It shows how efficient labour input is used for generating real output, and is useful in analysing how changes in labour productivity contribute to an industry and the economy. Factors affecting changes in LPI include changes in technology, organisational structures, management practices and capital, etc.
Two feature articles outlining the methods and data sources for compiling LPIs in Hong Kong were published respectively in the November 2003 and September 2004 issues of the HKMDS. The present feature article, which analyses the LPIs of the whole economy and the selected major economic activities from 2000 to 2004, is an updated version of these two feature articles.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Logistics and Producer Prices Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2894 8402).
"Expenditure on Information Technology in the Business Sector, 1998 - 2003"
The rapid development of information technology has been impacting the society at large in this information age. Successful adoption of information technology is often seen as a strong driving force behind fast economic growth in an economy. Information technology has become a very important production factor. To assess the impact of information technology, it is first necessary to have information on the expenditure in this area. This feature article analyses the latest situation of expenditure on information technology in the business sector in Hong Kong.
Total IT expenditure in the business sector increased from $12.4 billion in 1998, to $23.5 billion in 2003. The ratio of IT expenditure to gross output increased from 0.8% in 1998 to 1.5% in 2003. The ratio of IT expenditure to GDP also increased from 1.0% in 1998 to 1.9% in 2003.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Science and Technology Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2887 5138).
The November 2005 issue of the HKMDS is now on sale at HK$77 per issue. 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.
Both print version (full version only) and download version (in PDF format for the full version as well as selected sections and individual feature articles) of the HKMDS can be purchased online at the "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong" (http://www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk). Download version of the HKMDS can be purchased at 75% of its original price exclusively at the online Statistical Bookstore. Print versions if purchased online are also offered a discount, at 85% of their original prices at the Statistical Bookstore as well as the Government Bookstore (http://www.isd.gov.hk/eng/bookorder.htm).
For purchase of print version, this can be done through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD's website (http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/eng/prod_serv/forms_index.html). Purchase can also be made in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address : 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel.: 2582 3025). Print version of the Digest is also put for sale at selected Post Offices (enquiry hotline: 2921 2222).
Selected sections of the HKMDS are available for purchase online. In order to better meet the needs of readers who are interested in official statistics of specific subject areas, the 13 sections of the Digest are grouped into four sections : (i) Population, Labour and Social Statistics; (ii) External Trade, Commerce and Industry and Energy Statistics; (iii) Housing, Transport, Communications and Tourism Statistics; and (iv) Money and Finance, National Income, Balance of Payments and Price Statistics. Besides, feature articles in each issue can be purchased separately. Selected sections and individual feature articles are only available in download versions, the feature articles are priced at HK$11 each and the selected sections from HK$16 to HK$20 each.
Enquiries about the contents of the HKMDS can be directed to the General Statistics Section (1)B of the C&SD (Tel.: 2582 4738).
Ends/Monday, November 21, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:00
NNNN