XN000022-1979-03-13 — Page 3

TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1979

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FIRST ECONOMIC CENSUS FOR THE BUILDING. CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SECTION FOR 1979

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A NEW SECTION HAS BEEN FORMED IN THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT AN ECONOMIC CENSUS EARLY NEXT YEAR OF THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SECTORS FOR 1979.

TWO ECONOMIC CENSUSES HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN ON THE ECONOMIC SECTORS ENGAGED IN MINING, MANUFACTURING, ELECTRICITY, GAS AND WATER, AND WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) IN ANNOUNCING THIS.

THESE SECTORS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, CONTRIBUTED OVER 53 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) IN 1976.

THE NEW ECONOMIC CENSUS WILL COLLECT DATA ON THE TYPE OF OWNERSHIP, EMPLOYMENT, DAYS AND HOURS WORKED, LABOUR AND MATERIAL COSTS, SUB-CONTRACT PAYMENTS, OPERATING EXPENSES, SALES AND RECEIPTS, WORK-IN-PROGRESS, CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, STOCK OF FIXED ASSETS AND SO ON.

TO FACILITATE DATA COLLECTION, THE QUESTIONNAIRE WILL BE ALIGNED AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO THE TRADE PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING AND BOOK-KEEPING.

DURING THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THE DEPARTMENT WILL CARRY OUT A SERIES OF CONSULTATION DISCUSSIONS WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, BUILDING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATIONS AND SELECTED LAND DEVELOPERS AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENTS.

THE DISCUSSIONS WILL ENABLE A QUESTIONNAIRE AND A

TABULATION PROGRAMME TO BE DRAFTED.

IT IS PROPOSED TO CARRY OUT, BY OCTOBER, A PILOT CENSUS TO TEST THE DRAFT QUESTIONNAIRE AND THE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES.

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