Census and Statistics Department appeals to households to support Pilot Survey for 2021 Population Census
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     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) is conducting a pilot survey from June 23 to August 4 to test the questionnaire design and operational arrangements for the 2021 Population Census to be conducted in mid-2021.
 
     A spokesman for the C&SD today (July 17) appealed to households to participate in the pilot survey by means of online questionnaires, telephone interviews or paper questionnaires in order to reduce face-to-face contact, given the emergence of a number of local cases of COVID-19 recently. The spokesman added, "Completing the online questionnaire is convenient and secure. It enables households to submit the requested information anytime and anywhere through the dedicated and secured website using their computers or mobile devices."
 
     Starting from tomorrow (July 18), the C&SD's census officers will visit households who have not completed the survey to collect the requested information by mobile tablets. Each census officer will carry a staff identity card and a certificate issued by the C&SD for conducting the survey. The staff identity card will bear the photo, name and identity number of the census officer concerned. The census officer will also carry a red satchel printed with the logo of the C&SD and the label "Pilot Survey for the 2021 Population Census". Census officers will, in general, visit households from 1pm to 10pm on any day (including Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) during the survey period. 
 
     The spokesman reminded households to carefully check the identity of census officers before allowing them to enter their premises for interview. In case of doubt, households may call the Census Service Centre hotline at 182021. The spokesman appealed to households to support the survey by co-operating with census officers.
 
     The pilot survey covers some 40 000 quarters in four selected District Council districts, namely Wan Chai, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Tsing and Sha Tin. Letters were sent out to households in the sampled quarters earlier inviting them to participate in the pilot survey.
 
     The spokesman reiterated that information collected in the pilot survey regarding individuals and households will be kept in strict confidence and will not be released to any unauthorised parties including government departments. All questionnaires will be destroyed within 12 months after the completion of the survey.
  
     It is an established practice for Hong Kong to conduct a population census every 10 years. The next population census will be conducted in 2021. The aim is to obtain up-to-date benchmark information on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the Hong Kong population and its geographical distribution. Such information is vital to the Government for planning and policy formulation, and to the private sector and academia for business and research purposes.
 
     For more details about the Pilot Survey for the 2021 Population Census, please visit www.census2021.gov.hk.

Ends/Friday, July 17, 2020
Issued at HKT 10:00

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