*********************************************************
The Statistics Advisory Board held a meeting today (June 13) to review the main scope of government statistical work and its recent developments.
At the meeting, members were updated on the latest progress of preparation for the 2011 Population Census (11C).
The Commissioner for Census and Statistics and Chairman of the Statistics Advisory Board, Mr Fung Hing-wang, said, "The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) will conduct the 11C between June 30 and August 2, 2011. A multi-modal data collection approach will be used in the 11C under which the data collection process will be divided into two phases. In the first phase, households are encouraged to choose the self-enumeration mode through submission of an e-questionnaire online or by postal return (the latter applicable to short form questionnaire only). For the remaining households not choosing the self-enumeration mode, C&SD will assign census officers to conduct face-to-face interviews in the second phase."
Members were briefed on the new 2009/10-based Consumer Price Index (CPI) series released recently by the C&SD. The rebased CPIs were compiled based on the latest expenditure patterns of households derived from the 2009/10 Household Expenditure Survey. It is an established practice to rebase the CPIs once every five years in order to ensure that up-to-date expenditure patterns of households are accurately reflected in the compilation of the CPIs.
Members noted that the C&SD was rendering professional assistance to the Labour and Welfare Bureau in preparing the manpower requirement projection by major industry group and strategic sector for the new round of Manpower Projection exercise. Members were informed of the defined coverage of the major industry group and the strategic sector, as well as the methodology used to perform the quantitative projection of the manpower requirement projection and the qualitative analyses of information gathered through extensive consultations with stakeholders and desktop researches.
Moreover, members discussed the latest developments in the compilation of trade statistics in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Balance of Payments (BoP) by using the new statistical standards recommended by the United Nations and International Monetary Fund. Under the new standards, trade statistics in GDP and BoP will better reflect the rapid development of globalisation in trade and the latest trend in international trade. Plans are in hand to implement the new statistical standards in 2012, and launch publicity to facilitate data users in understanding and analysing the new statistics.
Also reported at the meeting was the latest progress of the planning of the 2013 World Statistics Congress (WSC) to be held in Hong Kong in August 2013. The Local Organising Committee and Local Programme Committee for the 2013 WSC have commenced various kinds of preparatory work and discussions with relevant parties on matters related to the hosting of the event.
The Board reviewed other statistical developments since the previous meeting, including the latest progress of compiling statistics for the Six Industries; and latest developments on enhancing application of information technology to statistical work.
The Statistics Advisory Board is a non-statutory advisory body which advises the Commissioner for Census and Statistics on matters pertaining to government statistical work. Its membership consists of established professionals of the business sector, the academia and the community, which provides for a wide representation to assist the Commissioner in integrating views of data users, raw data suppliers and statisticians. The terms of reference and composition of the Board can be found on the C&SD website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/about_us/our_advisory_board/index.jsp).
Ends/Monday, June 13, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:02
NNNN