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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (May 22) reminded the management of the establishments selected in the 2011 round of Annual Survey of Economic Activities to return the completed questionnaires to the department on or before May 31, 2012. The questionnaires were mailed earlier this year to about 20 000 selected establishments.
The survey aims to collect up-to-date statistical data on business performance and operating characteristics of various economic sectors for evaluating their contribution to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product. The survey results are useful to both the Government and the private sector in formulating policies and making decisions.
The Annual Survey of Economic Activities is a mandatory survey conducted under Part III of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Chapter 316). According to section 13(1) of the Ordinance, any person to whom a questionnaire relating to a statistical survey is delivered shall complete the questionnaire or cause it to be completed by other persons to the best of his/her knowledge and belief, and in the manner specified in the questionnaire, and then return the completed questionnaire to the C&SD before the stipulated deadline.
The Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Mrs Lily Ou-yang, appealed to the management of all selected establishments to fulfill their legal and social responsibilities by returning promptly the completed questionnaires and co-operating with the census officers of the C&SD in the course of the survey. Any respondent who is unable to return the completed questionnaire of the above survey on or before May 31, 2012 is required to indicate the reason(s) for such delay and a reasonable date by which the completed questionnaire will be returned.
The questionnaire has been so designed that respondents can complete it themselves by following the relevant explanatory notes. If necessary, the census officers of the department will visit individual establishments and assist them in completing the questionnaires. These officers will each carry a government/enumerator identity card and a certificate for conducting the survey, which are available for inspection.
Mrs Ou-yang pointed out that audited accounts would not be essential for the supply of income and expenditure data required for the survey. The C&SD accepts figures based on preliminary accounts or estimates which are correct to the best of the respondents' knowledge at the time of submitting the questionnaires.
Mrs Ou-yang also stressed that in accordance with the Census and Statistics Ordinance, all collected information relating to individual establishments would be kept in strict confidence and not be released to any unauthorised parties including other Government departments. Only aggregate information that does not reveal details of individual establishments will be released.
Ends/Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Issued at HKT 10:00
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