****************************************************
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) announced today (February 23) the commencement of the Annual Survey of Economic Activities for the reference year of 2009. The survey aims to collect up-to-date statistical data from various economic sectors for evaluating their contribution to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product and for ascertaining their cost structure, operating characteristics and output levels. The survey results are useful to both the Government and the private sector in formulating policies and making decisions.
¡@¡@¡@
The survey is conducted under Part III of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Chapter 316 of the Laws of Hong Kong), which requires the responsible persons of the establishments selected for the survey to complete the questionnaire or cause it to be completed by an authorised person to the best of his/her knowledge and belief. It was notified as a mandatory statistical survey in Legal Notice 218 of 2009 in the Government of the HKSAR Gazette of November 6, 2009. In accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance, all collected information which may enable identification of individual establishments will be kept in strict confidence. Only aggregate information, which does not reveal details of individual establishments, will be released.
¡@¡@¡@
Establishments selected to participate in the survey are being individually notified by post, with the relevant questionnaires enclosed in the notification letters.
¡@¡@¡@
The Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Mr Fung Hing-wang, appealed to the management of all selected establishments to fulfill their legal and civic responsibilities by returning promptly the completed questionnaires and co-operating with officers of the C&SD in the course of the survey.
¡@¡@¡@
He also pointed out that audited accounts would not be essential for the supply of income and expenditure data required for the survey. The C&SD accepts figures based on preliminary accounts or estimates which are correct to the best of the respondents' knowledge at the time of submitting the questionnaires.
¡@¡@¡@
To facilitate the selected establishments in providing information, electronic templates of the questionnaires are available for use upon request.
¡@¡@¡@
About 21 000 establishments are selected for participation in the survey.
¡@¡@¡@
The information to be sought in the survey includes type of ownership, origin of investment, floor area, number of persons engaged, compensation of employees (including wages, salaries and other employee benefits), operating expenses, business receipts, capital expenditure and other information related to the business operation of the establishments.
¡@¡@¡@
The selected establishments are required to return the completed questionnaires to the C&SD by end May 2010. If necessary, census officers of the C&SD may phone or visit individual establishments to offer assistance in completing the questionnaires. These officers will each carry a Government/Enumerator Identity Card and a certificate for conducting the survey, which are available for inspection.
Enquiries regarding the survey can be directed to the Economic Surveys Section (1) (Tel.: 2126 7256, Fax: 2827 0551, E-mail: econq1@censtatd.gov.hk) or Economic Surveys Section (2) (Tel.: 2882 4331, Fax: 2805 6105, E-mail: econq2@censtatd.gov.hk) of the C&SD.
¡@¡@¡@
Results of the survey will be released in end 2010.¡@¡@¡@
Ends/Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Issued at HKT 10:00
NNNN