SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 1980
PUBLIC URGED TO CO-OPERATE IN 1981 CENSUS
*****
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS NOW CONSOLIDATING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE MAJOR POPULATION CENSUS INVOLVING EVERYONE IN HONG KONG NEXT YEAR.
THE MARINE CENSUS WILL BE TAKEN FROM FEBRUARY 1 TO 4. IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR WHEN TRADITIONALLY ÁLL FISHERMEN RETURN TO BASE WHILE THE LAND CENSUS WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM MARCH 6 TO 15.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THE SIZE COMPOSITION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION, WHICH HAVE IMMENSE EFFECT ON THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, HAVE CHANGED CONSIDERABLY OVER THE YEARS.
+ IT IS VITAL TO UPDATE INFORMATION ON THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION SO THAT GOVERNMENT PLANS CAN KEEP PACE WITH THE CHANGES, HE SAID.
THE DECENNIAL CENSUS WILL BE OF GREAT HELP TO THE GOVERNMENT IN DRAWING UP THESE PLANS FOR HOUSING, EDUCATION, SOCIAL, MEDICAL AND VARIOUS OTHER SERVICES.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE CENSUS WILL BE A TWO-PHASE OPERATION.
+ALL HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE ASKED SIMPLE QUESTIONS ON AGE, SEX AND RELATIONSHIP TO HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD FOR EVERY MEMBER, HÉ EXPLAINED.
IN ADDITION, MORE DETAILED QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION AND TRAINING, OCCUPATION AND EARNINGS, INTERNAL MOVEMENT, DISABLEMENT AND OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC DATA WILL BE ASKED OF MARINE HOUSEHOLDS AND 20 PER CENT OF LAND HOUSEHOLDS.
A RANDOM SAMPLE OF ABOUT 250 000 HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE CROSS-SECTION OF THE POPULATION WILL BE SELECTED FOR THIS DETAILED ENUMERATION.
IN VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CENSUS, THE SPOKESMAN CALLED ON THE PUBLIC TO GIVE STRONG SUPPORT BY PROVIDING FULL AND ACCURATE ANSWERS. MOREOVER, UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE, SUPPLY OF INFORMATION TO THE CENSUS OFFICER IS COMPULSORY.
HE STRESSED THAT INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION GIVEN WILL BE TREATED AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND KEPT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND THAT ALL CENSUS OFFICERS WILL TAKE AN OATH OF SECRECY NOT TO DISCLOSE SUCH INFORMATION.
+THE DATA WILL BE PROCESSED BY COMPUTER AND RESULTS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN AGGREGATED FORM, HE SAID.
+ALL SCHEDULES CONTAINING PERSONAL PARTICULARS WILL BE DESTROYED WITHIN A YEAR AFTER THE CENSUS, HE ADDED.
/2