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"Thematic Household Survey Report No. 64" published
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     The "Thematic Household Survey Report No. 64" is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (March 22).

     This publication contains key findings of the Thematic Household Survey conducted during June to September 2017. The survey collected information from Hong Kong residents on pattern of smoking, and personal computer (PC) and Internet penetration. The target respondents for the two topics were persons aged 15 and over, and persons aged 10 and over respectively.
 
Pattern of smoking
 
     The survey results showed that at the time of enumeration, there were some 615 000 daily cigarette smokers, accounting for 10.0% of all persons aged 15 and over in Hong Kong. The corresponding percentage was 10.5% in 2015 when a similar survey was conducted. Daily cigarette smokers consumed on average about 12 sticks of cigarettes a day, slightly less than 13 sticks in 2015.

     If including persons who consumed other forms of tobacco or related products (e.g. cigar, hand rolled cigarette, water pipe, pipe-smoking and e-cigarette), there were some 620 600 daily smokers at the time of enumeration, accounting for 10.1% of all persons aged 15 and over in Hong Kong. The corresponding percentage was 10.6% in 2015. 
 
PC and Internet penetration

     The survey results showed that the percentage of persons aged 10 and over who had knowledge of using PC at the time of enumeration was 84.0% in 2017, slightly up from 83.3% in 2016. Analysed by age group, the percentage of persons who had knowledge of using PC for both persons aged 55 to 64 (from 77.0% to 81.5%) and persons aged 65 and over (from 34.5% to 37.4%) increased remarkably.

     Findings of the survey also showed increasingly more persons were using smartphone. Some 5 688 300 persons aged 10 and over had smartphones in 2017, over 200 000 more than that in 2016. The smartphone penetration rate was 88.6% in 2017, up from 85.8% in 2016. The increase was particularly remarkable among the elderly. About one in two persons aged 65 and over had smartphone in 2017, compared to only around two in five persons aged 65 and over in 2016.

     Moreover, the percentage of persons aged 10 and over who had used the Internet during the 12 months before enumeration was 89.4% in 2017, up from 87.5% in 2016. The increase was particularly remarkable among persons aged 65 and over (from 44.0% to 51.2%) and persons aged 55 to 64 (from 87.7% to 92.5%).

Other information

     The survey successfully enumerated some 10 000 households in accordance with a scientific sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong.

     Detailed findings of the survey, together with the population coverage and concepts/definitions of key terms, are presented in the publication. Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp140.jsp?productCode=B1130201).

     Enquiries about the contents of the publication can be directed to the Social Surveys Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5103 or email: thematic@censtatd.gov.hk).
 
Ends/Thursday, March 22, 2018
Issued at HKT 11:00
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