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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (May 21) the May 2007 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, four feature articles entitled "Consumption Expenditure of Hong Kong Residents Travelling to the Mainland of China, 2006", "Statistics on Research and Development of Hong Kong, 2001-2005", "Statistics on Electronic Products and the Electronics Industry" and "The Movement of the Unemployment Rate in 2006" are included.
"Consumption Expenditure of Hong Kong Residents Travelling to the Mainland of China, 2006"
Analyses of consumption expenditure of Hong Kong residents making personal travel to the mainland of China (the Mainland) were first introduced in the April 2001 issue of the HKMDS in the form of a feature article. Updates of the analyses are provided annually.
In 2006, Hong Kong residents made 65.8 million person-trips to the Mainland for business and personal purposes. Of all the trips to the Mainland, business travel accounted for 34% (or 22.4 million person-trips) and personal travel for 66% (or 43.4 million person-trips).
Personal travel refers to travel which is not business-related. It covers travel in package tour mode and non-package tour mode for purposes such as holiday-making, visits to friends and relatives, and attending recreational and cultural programmes.
Of the 43.4 million personal trips to the Mainland, 55% were destined for Shenzhen, 40% for other places in Guangdong Province and the remaining 5% for other places in the Mainland outside Guangdong Province. Analysed by length of stay, around 36% were same-day trips. The remaining 64% were overnight trips, with average length of stay of 3.4 nights.
In 2006, total consumption expenditure of Hong Kong residents making personal travel to the Mainland amounted to $26.3 billion. The average expenditure per person-trip was around $610. For overnight trips of personal travel to the Mainland, the average expenditure per person-trip was around $780. That for same-day trips was around $290.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the National Income Section (1)3, C&SD (Tel: 2582 4643).
"Statistics on Research and Development of Hong Kong, 2001-2005"
Research and development (R&D) are important drivers for technological advancement. This feature article aims to provide an up-to-date picture of the R&D activities in Hong Kong with separate analysis for the business, higher education and government sectors.
Compared with 2004, the total number of R&D personnel in 2005 increased by 17% to 21 960. Total R&D expenditure in 2005 amounted to HK$10.9 billion, representing a 15% increase over 2004. Total R&D expenditure as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product had gone up from 0.55% in 2001 to 0.79% in 2005.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Science and Technology Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel: 2887 5138).
"Statistics on Electronic Products and the Electronics Industry"
Electronic products occupy a prominent position in the import and export trade of Hong Kong. Statistics on electronic products and the electronics industry have been compiled by the C&SD on a regular basis. As there is no international definition on electronic products and the electronics industry, the classifications currently adopted by the C&SD in compiling statistics on electronic products and the electronics industry are based on the results of a study. They are updated on a regular basis taking into account the rapid development of the electronics industry and the emergence of new electronic products.
This feature article analyses the performance of external trade of electronic products and the electronics industry in Hong Kong as reflected in the external trade statistics and industrial statistics respectively in recent years. The classifications of electronic products and the electronics industry adopted in compiling such statistics are also discussed.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Trade Analysis Section, C&SD (Tel: 2582 4914).
"The Movement of the Unemployment Rate in 2006"
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell steadily from 7.2% in the first quarter of 2004 to 4.4% in the fourth quarter of 2006, following improvement in the labour market since the latter part of 2003. This was mainly underpinned by the robust economic growth over the past three years.
This feature article provides an analysis of the changes in the unemployment rate in 2006 from various perspectives. It aims to give readers a better understanding about the recent unemployment situation in Hong Kong.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the General Household Survey Section (2), C&SD (Tel: 2887 5508).
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 this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/index.jsp).
Print version of this publication is available for sale at HK$100 per issue. Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of the 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's website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/other_services/provision_of_stat/mail_ordering_of_publications/index.jsp). Print version of this publication is also available for sale online at the Statistical Bookstore (www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk) and the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk). Print versions if purchased online are offered a discount, at 85% of their original prices.
Enquiries about the contents of this publication can be directed to the General Statistics Section (1)B of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738).
Ends/Monday, May 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:00
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