XN000022-1989-10-24 — Page 2

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1989

PILOT CENSUS SET FOR NOVEMBER

A PILOT CENSUS WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM NOVEMBER 3 TO 12 TO TEST THE OPERATION OF A POPULATION CENSUS WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN MARCH 1991, THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS, MR BENJAMIN MOK, ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY).

CENSUS

OFFICERS WILL VISIT 40,000 HOUSEHOLDS TO OBTAIN PERSONAL AND HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION DURING THE PILOT CENSUS. THESE HOUSEHOLDS HAVE BEEN SELECTED RANDOMLY TO REPRESENT THE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION.

THE MAJORITY OF THE SAMPLED HOUSEHOLDS WILL ANSWER ONLY SIMPLE QUESTIONS ON AGE, SEX AND RELATIONSHIP TO HOUSEHOLD HEAD CONCERNING THEIR MEMBERS BY COMPLETING A SHORT QUESTIONNAIRE WHICH THE DEPARTMENT WILL SEND OUT NEXT WEEK. THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES WILL COLLECTED BY THE CENSUS OFFICERS.

THE IN ADDITION, ONE-SEVENTH OF

BE

SAMPLED HOUSEHOLDS WILL BR ASKED MORE DETAILED QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE HOUSEHOLD, SUCH AS HOUSING AND RENT, AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING BACH OF THEIR MEMBERS, SUCH AS MARITAL STATUS, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, PLACE OF BIRTH, PLACE OF RESIDENCE FIVE YEARS AGO, DURATION OF RESIDENCE, LABOUR FORCE

CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME.

IN

HOUSEHOLDS SELECTED FOR THE DETAILED ENUMERATION, HOWEVER, WILL NOT RECEIVE THE CENSUS SCHEDULE IN ADVANCE. IT WILL BE FILLED BY THE CENSUS OFFICERS DURING THEIR VISIT TO THE HOUSEHOLDS.

THE COMMISSIONER CALLED ON THE PUBLIC ΤΟ GIVE FULL AND ACCURATE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS. HE ASSURED THE PUBLIC THAT ALL INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WOULD NOT BE DISCLOSED TO ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OR ANY PRIVATE ORGANISATION.

"THE PILOT CENSUS IS GOVERNED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE UNDER WHICH THE PUBLIC ARE LEGALLY OBLIGED TO SUPPLY THE REQUIRED INFORMATION, WHILE THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF INDIVIDUAL ANSWERS WILL BE PROTECTED.

"THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES THE CENSUS OFFICERS TO TAKE AN OATH SECRECY BEFORE TAKING UP THEIR DUTIES." HE SAID.

OF

THE COMMISSIONER DESCRIBED A POPULATION CENSUS AS A COMPLEX BUT IMPORTANT STATISTICAL EXERCISE.

"IT PROVIDES UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION WHICH IS VITAL FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN FORMULATING PLANS AND POLICIES TO IMPROVE HOUSING,

AND EDUCATION, TRANSPORT, RECREATION, MEDICAL

SOCIAL

AND

OTHER FACILITIES."

SERVICES,

"THE PILOT