XN000022-1984-05-26 — Page 8

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SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1984

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1983 SURVEY OF WHOLESALE AND RETAIL

TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS

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FOLLOWING THE 1982 ANNUAL SURVEY OF WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS, THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS NOW CONDUCTING A FOLLOW-UP SURVEY TO COLLECT DATA FOR 1983.

THIS SURVEY COVERS WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT ESTABLISHMENTS, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS.

QUESTIONNAIRES ARE BEING SENT TO ABOUT 8 100 ESTABLISHMENTS OUT OF A TOTAL OF SOME 110 000 ESTABLISHMENTS FALLING UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE SURVEY.

DATA TO BE COLLECTED IN THE SURVEY INCLUDE THE TYPE OF OWNERSHIP, FLOOR AREA, EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR COSTS, OPERATING EXPENSES, PURCHASES, OPENING AND CLOSING STOCKS, BUSINESS TURNOVER AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

SUCH ECONOMIC DATA WILL PROVIDE THE BASIC INFORMATION ON THE STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE OF THE DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE AND SERVICE SECTOR AND IS NEEDED FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF THE SECTOR'S CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG'S 'GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.

THE SURVEY RESULTS WILL ALSO BE USED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE FORMULATION OF DECISIONS AND POLICIES.

RESPONSE TO THE SURVEY IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT. A CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDER AUTHORISING THE CONDUCT OF THIS SURVEY WAS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL UNDER SECTION 11 OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE AND ISSUED AS LEGAL NOTICE NO. 16 IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE ON JANUARY 13, 1984.

SELECTED ESTABLISHMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO RETURN THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES BY JULY 31, 1984.

OFFICERS OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, WHO CARRY A GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARD WHILE ON DUTY, WILL VISIT THE ESTABLISHMENTS CONCERNED TO ASSIST THEM IN COMPLETING THE QUESTIONNAIRES, IF REQUIRED.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS STRESSED THAT INFORMATION RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WILL BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND THAT ONLY AGGREGATE INFORMATION WHICH DOES NOT REVEAL DETAILS OF INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WILL BE RELEASED.

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