The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (November 15) the November 2022 issue of the "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" (HKMDS).
 
     Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains two feature articles entitled "Hong Kong's Imports Measured on Free-on-board Basis for 2021" and "Drug Situation in Hong Kong in 2021". Statistics presented in the "Drug Situation in Hong Kong in 2021" article are based on the data source from the Security Bureau, Government Secretariat.
 
"Hong Kong's Imports Measured on Free-on-board Basis for 2021"
 
     In accordance with international statistical standards, the import statistics of Hong Kong are valued on cost, insurance and freight (c.i.f.) basis. Yet, import statistics valued on free on board (f.o.b.) basis are also useful for certain analytical purposes.
 
     The C&SD has been compiling an additional set of import statistics measured on f.o.b. basis to facilitate analysis on merchandise trade balance and comparison of trade statistics with other economies.
 
     This feature article introduces the concept and application of imports statistics measured on f.o.b. basis, and analyses the related statistics for 2021.
 
     For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Trade Surveys Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5255; email: ims@censtatd.gov.hk).
 
"Drug Situation in Hong Kong in 2021"
 
     This feature article gives an overview of the drug situation in Hong Kong in 2021 by making reference to statistics derived from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse maintained by the Security Bureau, Government Secretariat. Moreover, statistics on the "2020/21 Survey of Drug Use among Students" and law enforcement on drug offences are presented. These data and findings provide useful information on the latest drug situation in Hong Kong, and support an evidence-based approach to the formulation of anti-drug policy and measures. As shown by the total number of reported drug abusers in the Central Registry of Drug Abuse, the drug problem has ameliorated in the last 10 years through the concerted efforts of the Government and the community. However, as compared with 2020, the total number of reported drug abusers rebounded slightly in 2021. Phenomena such as an increase in the reported number of young drug abusers, drug abuse among young adults, and involvement of young people in drug offences, still warrant our attention. 
 
     Statistics of 2020 and 2021 might have been affected by the COVID-19 situation and therefore require careful analysis.
 
     For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Statistics Unit of the Security Bureau, Government Secretariat (Tel: 2867 2753; email: sb_stat@sb.gov.hk).
 
     Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 140 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available. Users can download the Digest at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1010002&scode=460).
 
     Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Dissemination Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:00

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