XN000022-1981-01-27 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1981

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE INDEX OF NOMINAL AVERAGE DAILY WAGES FOR MANUFACTURING WORKERS MEASURES CHANGES IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY EARNED AS WAGES BY WORKERS IN LARGE ESTABLISHMENTS IN 25 MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. THE INDEX OF NOMINAL AVERAGE DAILY WAGES INCLUDING FRINGE BENEFITS FOR MANUFACTURING WORKERS MEASURES CHANGES IN WAGES AS WELL AS CHANGES IN SUCH FRINGE BENEFITS AS CASH BONUSES AND ALLOWANCES, FREE OR SUBSIDIZED FOOD AND PAID HOLIDAYS.

THE INDEX OF REAL AVERAGE DAILY WAGES FOR MANUFACTURING WORKERS AND THE INDEX OF REAL AVERAGE DAILY WAGES INCLUDING FRINGE BENEFITS FOR MANUFACTURING WORKERS ARE OBTAINED BY DEFLATING THEIR RESPECTIVE NOMINAL COUNTERPARTS BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A).

DETAILS OF WAGE MOVEMENTS IN THE INDIVIDUAL INDUSTRIES WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCLUDED IN THE SEPTEMBER 1980 SURVEY ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

LEGAL BACKING FOR COMING CENSUS ****

THE DECENNIAL POPULATION CENSUS OF HONG KONG TO BE TAKEN IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH WILL BE GIVEN LEGAL BACKING UNDER TWO CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDERS TO BE SET OUT IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE THIS FRIDAY.

UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS (1981 LAND POPULATION CENSUS) ORDER AND THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS (1981 MARINE POPULATION CENSUS) ORDER, ALL PERSONS, WHETHER ON LAND OR ON BOARD VESSELS WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS, WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUPPLY INFORMATION TO ENUMERATORS WHO CALL ON THEM.

THE ORDERS ALSO SPECIFY THE PURPOSE OF THE CENSUS, THE INFORMATION IT REQUIRES. THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH IT IS TO BE CARRIED OUT, AND THE DATE BY WHICH ALL COMPLETED SCHEDULES AND COPIES MUST BE DESTROYED.

UNDER THESE ORDERS, IT IS A DUTY OF THE PUBLIC TO SUPPLY ACCURATE INFORMATION TO ENUMERATORS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT.

+THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE USED TO PLAN THE DEVELOPMENT OF VARIOUS SERVICES FOR THE PUBLIC AND EVERYONE WILL EVENTUALLY BENEFIT FROM THE CENSUS EXERCISE.

+BESIDES, ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION SUPPLIED TO ENUMERATORS WILL BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND, UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDERS, THIS INFORMATION CANNOT BE DISCLOSED TO ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OR PRIVATE ORGANISATION.

+ALL ENUMERATORS WILL HAVE TO TAKE AN OATH OF SECRECY. DATA COLLECTED FROM THE CENSUS WILL BE PROCESSED BY COMPUTER AND THE RESULTS PRESENTED IN TABLE FORM.

+NO PERSONAL PARTICULARS COULD BE IDENTIFIED. ALL CENSUS SCHEDULES WITH THE NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FEBRUARY OR MARCH, 1982, HE SAID.