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The Census and Statistics (Annual Survey of Economic Activities) Order ("the Economic Activities Order") and the Census and Statistics (Quarterly Survey of Service Industries) (Amendment) Order 2009 ("the Service Industries (Amendment) Order"), both gazetted on November 6, 2009 and tabled at the Legislative Council on November 11, 2009, come into operation today (January 7).
An Annual Survey of Economic Activities covering all major economic activities in Hong Kong is introduced by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) to replace six existing mandatory surveys on different categories of economic activities and one voluntary survey on personal services activities. The Economic Activities Order enables the introduction of this integrated mandatory survey for the collection of annual business operating data of different economic sectors in Hong Kong. Apart from gauging the performance and structural changes of different economic sectors, the statistics obtained are also used for compiling the Gross Domestic Product. The Services Industries (Amendment) Order makes consequential amendments necessitated by the Economic Activities Order.
"Instead of continuing to conduct seven separate surveys, the launch of an integrated survey helps harmonise and standardise the data collection system for all annual economic surveys. This also facilitates the production of more comprehensive and reliable operating statistics on personal services activities to facilitate informed policy analysis and decision making," a spokesman for the C&SD said.
Enquiries in relation to the Economic Activities Order and the Service Industries (Amendment) Order can be directed to the Science and Technology Statistics Section of the C&SD at telephone number 2887 5138 or email address: stb1@censtatd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, January 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:30
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