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Monthly Digest of Statistics March issue now on sale

A feature article entitled "Revisions to Hong Kong's Commodity Classification Systems" is published in the March 1996 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics.

There are at present two different commodity classification systems used in Hong Kong the Harmonised System (HS) and the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC).

HS is developed by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) as a multi- purpose classification of commodities. It harmonises a variety of customs, statistical and transport nomenclature and classification of commodities and is mainly used for customs purpose.

It was formally promulgated by WCO in 1983. Hong Kong has also adopted HS in full for trade declaration purpose since 1992.

On the other hand, SITC is developed by the United Nations as a commodity classification system for reporting merchandise trade statistics.

It has undergone several revisions and the current version is called the SITC Revision 3 (SITC R3). Hong Kong has adopted SITC R3 for trade statistics reporting since 1992.

This feature article introduces the basic structure of these two commodity classification systems and their relationship.

The revisions to them which have taken effect as from January are described and the implications to traders and users of trade statistics are also explained.

The March 1996 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics is now on sale at $50 a copy. It contains most up-to-date information on Hong Kong's situation regarding economic growth, the labour market, inflation and many other social and economic issues.

Purchase of this publication can be made at the Government publication Centre, ground floor, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong.