XN000022-1986-04-29 — Page 9

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TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1986

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STATISTICS COLLECTED IN THE SURVEY ARE REQUIRED BY BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE FOR FORMULATING THE IR DECISIONS.

A DIFFERENT VERSION OF THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE IS USED FOR EACH OF THE FOUR DIFFERENT TRADE CATEGORIES. WHERE APPLICABLE PROJECT RETURNS TO OBTAIN DATA ON INDIVIDUAL CONSTRUCTION SITES AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED.

INFORMATION SOUGHT IN THE SURVEY INCLUDES: TYPE OF OWNERSHIP; NUMBER OF DIRECT EMPLOYEES; COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES; CONSUMPTION OF MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES FOR CONSTRUCTION; PAYMENTS FOR SUB-CONTRACT WORK; OPERATING EXPENSES VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED; VALUE OF PROPERTY UNDER DEVELOPMENT AND ITS ASSOCIATED PROJECT OUTLAYS (INCLUDING LAND VALUE); OTHER FORMS OF BUSINESS RECEIPTS; CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BY THE ESTABLISHMENTS SURVEYED; FLOOR AREA OCCUPIED FOR BUSINESS OPERATION AND COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF INVESTMENT.

THE SURVEY IS CONDUCTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS (ANNUAL SURVEY OF BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SECTORS) ORDER 1984, WHICH WAS MADE UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 316) AND ISSUED AS LEGAL NOTICE NO. 14 IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE OF JANUARY 13, 1984.

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES ARE MAILED TO THE SAMPLED ESTABLISHMENTS. MANAGEMENTS OF THE CONCERNED ESTABLISHMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THEM TO THE DEPARTMENT BY THE END OF JULY 1986. ON REQUEST, CENSUS OFFICERS MAY VISIT ESTABLISHMENTS TO ASSIST IN COMPLETING THE QUESTIONNAIRE.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS APPEALED TO MANAGEMENTS TO RETURN THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES PROMPTLY AND TJ CO-OPERATE WITH CENSUS OFFICERS IN THE COURSE OF ENUMERATION THEREBY FULFILLING LEGAL AS WELL AS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

HE STRESSED THAT INFORMATION RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WOULD BE USED ONLY IN AGGREGATE FORM FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES, IT WAS NOT ESSENTIAL FOR ACCOUNTS TO BE AUDITED BEFORE BEING REFERRED TO IN THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION RELATING TO INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.

THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ACCEPTS FIGURES BASED ON PRELIMINARY ACCOUNTS OR ESTIMATES WHICH ARE CORRECT TO THE BEST OF THE RESPONDENTS' KNOWLEDGE AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION OF RETURNS. THIS APPROACH IS NECESSARY TO AVOID THE DELAY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE RESULT FROM WAITING FOR AUDITED ACCOUNTS.

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