FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1985
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PILOT CENSUS SET FOR MARCH
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A PILOT CENSUS WILL BE CONDUCTED NEXT MONTH TO TEST THE OPERATIONS OF THE BY-CENSUS IN 1986, SO THAT ANY DEFECTS IN THE SYSTEM CAN BE IDENTIFIED AND RECTIFIED BEFORE THE MAIN OPERATION, THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.
THE PILOT CENSUS WILL LAST FOR 10 DAYS FROM MARCH 8 TO 17.
CENSUS ENUMERATORS WILL VISIT 12 000 RANDOMLY SELECTED HOUSEHOLDS TO OBTAIN PERSONAL AND HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION FOR THE QUESTIONNAIRES.
A QUARTER OF THE SAMPLED HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE ASKED MORE DETAILED QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME.
A SPOKESMAN OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ASSURED THE PUBLIC THAT ALL INFORMATION WOULD BE TREATED WITH STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WOULD NOT BE DISCLOSED TO ANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OR PRIVATE ORGANISATION.
+AFTER A STIPULATED PERIODS OF TIME, THESE CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRES WILL BE DESTROYED, HE SAID.
AS IN PREVIOUS POPULATION CENSUSES, THE FIELD STAFF HAVE TO TAKE AN OATH OF SECRECY BEFORE TAKING UP THEIR DUTIES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID, A POPULATION CENSUS IS A COMPLEX, TIME-CONSUMING BUT IMPORTANT EXERCISE IT PROVIDES UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION WHICH IS VITAL FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN FORMULATING PLANS AND POLICIES TO IMPROVE HOUSING, EDUCATION, TRANSPORT, RECREATION, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER FACILITIES. +
THE LAST CENSUS WAS CONDUCTED IN 1981.
*WITH THE RAPID CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG, A BY-CENSUS TO UPDATE THE INFORMATION IS NECESSARY.+
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL BE SENDING OUT LETTERS TO ALL SELECTED HOUSEHOLDS, INFORMING THEM OF THE CENSUS AND REQUESTING THEM TO SUPPORT THE EXERCISE BY PROVIDING FULL AND ACCURATE INFORMATION, THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER LETTER A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE EXERCISE BEGINS, PROVIDING THE NAME AND CENSUS OFFICER CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY NUMBER, OF THE ENUMERATOR WHO WILL VISIT THE HOUSEHOLDS CONCERNED DURING THE SPECIFIED PERIOD.
ENUMERATORS WILL BE CARRYING THE IR CENSUS OFFICER CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY ON THEIR VISITS, AND HOUSEHOLDERS WILL BE ABLE TO CHECK THESE AGAINST THE INFORMATION PROVIDED.
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