XN000022-1985-04-21 — Page 8

SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1985

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WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADES,

RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS BEING SURVEYED

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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS NOW CONDUCTING AN ANNUAL SURVEY OF THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS FOR THE YEAR 1984.

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

QUESTIONNAIRES ARE BEING SENT TO A SAMPLE OF ABOUT 8 100 ESTABLISHMENTS OUT OF A TOTAL OF SOME 120 000 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 BASIC INFORMATION ON THE STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE OF THE DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE AND SERVICE SECTOR AND ARE 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.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID 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, 1985.

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 WOULD BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND THAT ONLY AGGREGATE INFORMATION WHICH DID NOT REVEAL DETAILS OF INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD BE RELEASED.

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