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SCS visits Census and Statistics Department (with photos)
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     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) this afternoon (May 2) to exchange views with staff representatives from various grades in the department, and to learn how the department applies artificial intelligence (AI) and data science in official statistical work to enhance its operational efficiency and quality of statistical services. She also took the opportunity to appeal to colleagues to register as voters to fulfil their civic responsibility.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, Mrs Yeung first met with the Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Mr Leo Yu, and the directorate staff to receive an update on the department's latest developments and key initiatives.

     The C&SD staff first introduced the new approach to conducting the 2026 Population Census. Starting from the 2026 Population Census, the C&SD will make more extensive and systematic use of the administrative data collected from various government departments, including immigration records, public housing rentals and welfare payments, to reduce the cost of data collection. The C&SD estimates that the total cost incurred for the 2026 and 2031 Population Censuses will be reduced by about 40 per cent, saving around $680 million.

     Mrs Yeung was then briefed by the staff on data science development strategy of the C&SD, which involves exploring and applying various cutting-edge technologies to enhance work efficiency, such as image recognition, web scraping and computer vision technology for intelligent data collection and processing. The staff also introduced two sets of in-house developed AI models, one of which can accurately validate the classification and the unit value of commodities on import/export declarations within a short period of time, thereby enhancing the quality and efficiency of the data validation process. The other set of AI models is applied to the Electronic System for Cargo Manifests to assist in matching the corresponding import/export declarations and cargo manifests. According to the C&SD, using the two sets of AI models to perform relevant duties has reduced the required manpower by nearly half. In addition to streamlining the process, the data quality has also improved significantly. Some of the saved resources will be reallocated to further drive the development of data science and the statistical areas involving big data, with a view to enabling the C&SD to provide higher-quality statistical services to the community.

     Mrs Yeung said, "As the expectations and demands of the community on the Government and the civil service have continuously grown, the workload of the Government has been increasing while all departments have to reduce expenditure and streamline manpower at the same time. Innovative thinking and flexibility are key to keeping up with the complicated and ever-changing environment. On the premise of maintaining efficient public services, I request that the departments make good plans and review the necessity of all their posts, leverage technology, and optimise manpower arrangements through reorganisation and reprioritisation of work."

     She encouraged the C&SD to continue applying innovative technology to further enhance the timeliness and accuracy of official statistics while streamlining the workflow, so as to meet the demand for statistical information from the Government, the industrial and business sectors and the public.

     Before concluding her visit, Mrs Yeung met with staff representatives from various grades in the department to exchange views on matters of concern to them. The 2025 Voter Registration Campaign is under way. Mrs Yeung took the opportunity to remind colleagues to actively register as electors if they have not done so, and for those who have already registered to submit applications for change of particulars if there is any change in their residential address or other registration particulars, and asked them to pass on the message to their families and friends, so as to cast their votes in the 2025 Legislative Council General Election to be held at the end of this year.
 
Ends/Friday, May 2, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:20
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The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) this afternoon (May 2). Photo shows Mrs Yeung (first right) being brief by staff on the C&SD's new approach to conducting the 2026 Population Census. Through the application of image analysis to detect and classify vessels, the manpower required for the enumeration of marine population will be reduced.
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Census and Statistics Department this afternoon (May 2). Photo shows Mrs Yeung (first left) meeting with staff representatives of various grades in the department to exchange views on matters that concerned them. She also took the opportunity to appeal to colleagues to register as voters to fulfil their civic responsibility and asked them to pass on the message to their families and friends, so as to cast their votes in the 2025 Legislative Council General Election to be held at the end of this year. Looking on are the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung (second left), and the Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Mr Leo Yu (third left).
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Census and Statistics Department this afternoon (May 2). Photo shows Mrs Yeung (second left) being briefed by the staff on an in-house developed AI model applied to the Electronic System for Cargo Manifests to assist in matching the corresponding import/export declarations and cargo manifests, thus reducing the need for manual checks. Looking on is the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung (first left).
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) this afternoon (May 2). Photo shows Mrs Yeung (right) being brief by staff on the C&SD's application of the Visual Language Model for receipt information recognition, thus reducing the need for manual input of different kinds of data on receipts.
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Census and Statistics Department this afternoon (May 2). Photo shows Mrs Yeung (second left) meeting with the Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Mr Leo Yu (third left), and the directorate staff to receive an update on the department's latest developments and key initiatives. Looking on is the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung (first left).