or lak
(3)
he extent to which similar statistics can be produced in Hong
depends largely upon what the Colonial Government can afford,
and sooner a balance will have to be struck between the value
of certain statistical information and the cost of procuring
such information.
Thres main systems of producing the maximum amount of
statistical information with a minimum of effort exist:
the Powers Samas (mechanical) system, the (manual) Copeland- Chatterson system and the (mechanical) Hollerith system.
The fullest possible examination of these system will be
made both in the way of demonstrations by the companies
concerned and alco by inspection of the systems in actual
operation at the various government offices.A report on the
suitability of these systems for Hong Kong will be made in
due course. From a preliminary investigation the indications
are that with the use of the Copeland-Chattetson system it
should be possible fot a Statistical Office in the Colony
to undertake most of the statistics mentioned under heads A
to D above without any greater expenditure than has been in
the past incurred in the departmental collection and publish- ing of statistics, and without throwing present staffs out of employment.
Further work will include research into the statistical
methods of foreign and imperial governments at the libraries
of the Royal Statistical Society and of the Dominions and
Colonial Offices.It is also hoped that through the Society,
with whom contact has already been made, it will be possible
to get into touch with statisticians of the Bank of England and similar large undertakings.
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