XN000022-1980-05-07 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1980

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TRADE BODIES TO BE CONSULTED ON ECONOMIC CENSUS

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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL IN THE COMING FEW MONTHS HAVE CONSULTATIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH TRADE AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND SELECTED ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE TRANSPORT, STORAGE COMMUNICATION, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICE SECTORS TO PREPARE FOR A BENCHMARK ECONOMIC CENSUS NEXT YEAR.

FOR THIS CENSUS, THE FINANCING SECTOR WILL EXCLUDE BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES.

THE PURPOSE OF THESE DISCUSSIONS IS TO OBTAIN THEIR VIEWS ON THE QUESTIONNAIRES TO BE USED IN THE CENSUS AND THE IR REQUIREMENTS FOR ECONOMIC DATA.

IN UNDERTAKING ECONOMIC CENSUSES, THE DEPARTMENT ALWAYS FOLLOWS THE ACCOUNTING PRACTICE OF THE TRADE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, A SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.

THE ASSOCIATIONS AND ESTABLISHMENTS SELECTED FOR CONSULTATIVE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE INFORMED BY LETTER IN ADVANCE. STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT VISITING THEM WILL CARRY A GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARD.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE CENSUS, TO BE CONDUCTED IN 1981 FOR THIS YEAR, WAS PLANNED IN SUPPORT OF THE GENERAL EFFORTS TO DIVERSIFY INTO THE TERTIARY SERVICES SECTORS, AND IN ORDER TO BUILD UP THE BASIC DATA REQUIRED TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS OF DIVERSIFICATION.

THE CENSUS PROPOSES TO COLLECT DATA SUCH AS THOSE RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR COSTS, OTHER OPERATING COSTS, BUSINESS TURNOVER, CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, AND CAPITAL STOCK.

THESE STATISTICS, WHICH ARE REQUIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THEIR FORMULATION OF POLICY DECISIONS, WILL REFLECT THE COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE VARIOUS ECONOMIC SECTORS, PROVIDE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORKINGS AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TERTIARY SECTORS, AND ENABLE AN ASSESSMENT TO BE MADE OF THE SECTORAL CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IN ADDITION TO THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS OPERATING SOME 60 000 COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND SOME 5 000 COMMERCIAL VESSELS, THERE ARE OVER 8 000 ESTABLISHMENTS IN THESE SECTORS. ALTOGETHER THEY EMPLOY ABOUT 200 000 PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.

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