XN000022-1978-03-16 — Page 2

THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1978

FIRST ECONOMIC CENSUS ON HONG KONG TRADES

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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL BE CONDUCTING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THE FIRST ECONOMIC CENSUS OF WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADE AS WELL AS RESTAURANT AND HOTEL BUSINESSES.

A SPOKESMAN OF THE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS WAS PART OF ITS CONTINUOUS PROGRAMME OF ECONOMIC CENSUSES COVERING ALL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY. THE DATA TO BE COLLECTED RELATE TO THE YEAR 1977 AND WOULD INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR COST, OPERATING COSTS, PURCHASES, SALES, CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND STOCK.

QUESTIONNAIRES ARE BEING SENT TO ALL ESTABLISHMENTS IN THIS SECTOR EMPLOYING MORE THAN 20 PERSONS AS WELL AS TO A SAMPLE OF SMALLER CONCERNS RANDOMLY SELECTED.

THE SPOKESMAN APPEALED TO MANAGEMENTS OF THE ESTABLISHMENTS RECEIVING THESE QUESTIONNAIRES TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE FORMS BY JUNE 30, 1978, USING POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

+CENSUS OFFICERS CARRYING GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARDS WILL, UPON REQUEST, VISIT THE ESTABLISHMENTS CONCERNED AND ASSIST THEM IN COMPLETING THE QUESTIONNAIRES,+ HE SAID.

HE EMPHASISED THAT INFORMATION RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISH- RENTS WILL BE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE AND BE USED SOLELY FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES.

+DATA OBTAINED FROM THE CENSUS WILL BE OF USE TO BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISES IN DECISION-MAKING, TRADE PROMOTIONS, MARKET ANALYSIS, AND INTER-TRADE COMPARISONS. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN EVALUATION OF THIS SECTOR'S CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT,+ HE SAID.

THE CENSUS IS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CENSUS ORDER, 1978, PROVIDED IN THE CENSUS ORDINANCE.

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