July 2008 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 (July 21) the July 2008 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).   

    In this issue, four feature articles entitled "Analysis of Hong Kong's External Merchandise Trade by Mode of Transport", "Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Transport Sector, 1997 to 2006" , "Consumption Expenditure of Hong Kong Residents Travelling to the Mainland of China, 2007" and "Statistics on Sectoral Concentration" are included.

"Analysis of Hong Kong's External Merchandise Trade by Mode of Transport"

    External merchandise trade is one of the important economic activities of Hong Kong.  Goods are brought into or out of Hong Kong by various means of transport.  In 2007, the value of Hong Kong's external merchandise trade by air accounted for 35.0% of Hong Kong's total value of trade in goods.  Another 33.5% was transported by land, 27.0% by ocean and 3.8% by river.  The remaining 0.6% was mainly postal parcels and accompanied goods of passengers travelling on various means of transport.

    This feature article analyses the performance and characteristics of Hong Kong's external merchandise trade by mode of transport during the period 1997 to 2007. 

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

"Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Transport Sector, 1997 to 2006"

    With the progress in social and economic development in Hong Kong and the busy trade and tourism activities, the transport sector accounted for 7.7% of the Gross Domestic Product at current factor cost in 2006.

    This feature article describes the business performance and operating characteristics of the transport sector during 1997 to 2006.

    For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Logistics and Producer Prices Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel: 2894 8402).

"Consumption Expenditure of Hong Kong Residents Travelling to the Mainland of China, 2007"

    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 2007, Hong Kong residents made 69.7 million person-trips to the Mainland for business and personal purposes.  Of all the trips to the Mainland, business travel accounted for 33% (or 22.9 million person-trips) and personal travel for 67% (or 46.8 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 46.8 million personal trips to the Mainland, 54% 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 38% were same-day trips.  The remaining 62% were overnight trips, with average length of stay of 3.4 nights.

    In 2007, total consumption expenditure of Hong Kong residents making personal travel to the Mainland amounted to $29.1 billion.  The average expenditure per person-trip was around $620.  For overnight trips of personal travel to the Mainland, the average expenditure per person-trip was around $820.  That for same-day trips was around $310.

    For enquiries about this feature article, please call the National Income Section (1)3, C&SD (Tel: 2582 4643).

"Statistics on Sectoral Concentration"

    A wide range of statistical indicators can be compiled from the results of annual economic surveys of C&SD for analysing the business situation and performance of various economic sectors in Hong Kong.  Among others, statistics on sectoral concentration can throw light on the extent of business concentration within individual sectors.

    This feature article analyses the extent of business concentration in selected economic sectors of Hong Kong by making reference to the concentration ratios and Herfindahl-Hirschman Indices in terms of business receipts in 2005 and 2006.

    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 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 the publication free of charge at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/index.jsp).

    Print version of the publication is available for sale at HK$110 per issue.  Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of 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 the publication is also available for sale online at the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk).
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    Enquiries about the contents of the publication can be directed to the General Statistics Section (1)B of C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738).

Ends/Monday, July 21, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:00

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