XN000022-1981-02-27 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1981

LAND CENSUS IN MARCH

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HONG KONG'S DECENNIAL CENSUS FOR THE LAND POPULATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT FROM MARCH 6 TO 15.

THE PURPOSE OF THE CENSUS IS TO OBTAIN UP-TO-DATE BENCHMARK INFORMATION ON THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG — ITS SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION, AND A BROAD RANGE OF DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.

THIS INFORMATION IS VITAL TO ALL GOVERNMENT PLANNING PARTICULARLY IN SUCH FIELDS AS HOUSING, EDUCATION, TRANSPORT, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

CENSUS DATA ARE USED, FOR EXAMPLE, IN PROJECTING FUTURE HOUSING DEMAND, IN EVALUATING THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES, IN DETERMINING WHERE NEW SCHOOLS ARE TO BE BUILT, AND IN BUDGETING FOR THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE SCHEME.

THE CENSUS ALSO PROVIDES DATA NEEDED BY BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS AND RESEARCH BODIES FOR PLANNING THEIR ACTIVITIES.

AS IN PREVIOUS DECENNIAL CENSUSES, THE 1981 CENSUS WILL COVER THE ENTIRE POPULATION. WITHIN THE 10-DAY PERIOD, ENUMERATORS FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL VISIT AND INTERVIEW ALL HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG.

A TWO-PHASE' DESIGN IS EMPLOYED FOR THE 1981 CENSUS ALL HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE ASKED SIMPLE QUESTIONS ON AGE, SEX AND RELATIONSHIP TO HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD FOR EVERY MEMBER- MORE DETAILED QUESTIONS ON HOUSING AND RENT, AND QUESTIONS SUCH AS MARITAL STATUS, FERTILITY, ADDRESS FIVE YEARS AGO, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, PLACE OF BIRTH AND ORIGIN, EMPLOYMENT CHARACTERISTICS, INCOME AND DISABLEMENT WILL ONLY BE ASKED OF 20 PER CENT OF HOUSEHOLDS AND THE IR MEMBERS.

HOUSEHOLDS FOR THE 20 PER CENT DETAILED ENUMERATION ARE SELECTED BY A RANDOM METHOD. A LETTER FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL BE SENT TO THE SELECTED HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO INFORM THEM AND TO SOLICIT THEIR CO-OPERATION.

UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE, ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE CENSUS MUST BE TREATED AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. NEITHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS NOR PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO INDIVIDUAL DATA.

IN ADDITION, ALL CENSUS ENUMERATORS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE AN OATH NOT TO DISCLOSE ANY INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION COLLECTED IN THE CENSUS TO OTHER PERSONS NOT ENGAGED IN CENSUS WORK. ALL QUESTIONNAIRES CONTAINING PERSONAL PARTICULARS WILL BE DESTROYED BEFORE MARCH 1982.

A CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDER FOR THE OPERATION WAS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ON JANUARY 27 TO PROVIDE THE CENSUS WITH LEGAL BACKING,

UNDER THE ORDER, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE OBLIGED TO ANSWER THE CENSUS QUESTIONS CORRECTLY AND ACCURATELY TO THE BEST OF THE IR KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF.

/HOUSEHOLDERS ARE