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The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 56 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (July 27).
This publication contains findings of the Thematic Household Survey conducted during September to December 2013, which collected information from Hong Kong residents on their time use pattern, including time allocation and participation in various activities. Relevant respondents were also asked of their intention to undertake further study. In addition, the survey also collected information on the general profile of home-makers and their likelihood of taking up a job as well as on employed persons' intention of ending job career to full-time take care of family members.
The survey results showed that for some 6 044 400 persons aged 15 and over taken together, they spent an average of 11.6 hours per day on "activities related to personal basic necessities (including sleeping)"; 5.0 hours on "free-time / leisure activities"; 3.4 hours on "paid work"; 1.8 hours on "unpaid activities" (such as participation in voluntary work, taking care of family members and doing housework); 1.0 hour on "travel"; and 0.6 hour each on "education and training" and "activities outside Hong Kong" at the time of enumeration.
Time allocation of a person was closely related to his / her economic activity status. Economically active persons spent on average relatively more time per day on "paid work" (5.8 hours). Among the economically inactive persons, students spent on average relatively more time per day on "education and training" (5.7 hours). Home-makers spent on average relatively more time per day on "unpaid activities" (5.7 hours), while retired persons spent on average relatively more time per day on "free-time / leisure activities" (7.8 hours).
Over one half (56.2%) of the persons aged 15 and over were satisfied (very satisfied / quite satisfied) with their own time allocation whereas 6.8% were dissatisfied (quite dissatisfied / very dissatisfied). The remaining 37.0% considered their satisfaction level as "average".
Regarding participation in unpaid activities, about one-tenth (11.4%; some 690 700 persons aged 15 and over) had participated in voluntary work for institutions / organisations during the 12 months before enumeration. Analysed by sex, females had a higher participation rate (13.5%) than their male counterparts (9.2%).
Besides, 5.5% (some 334 400 persons aged 15 and over) had participated in unpaid activities for relatives / friends living apart (such as repairing electrical appliances, escorting to clinic, doing housework and taking care of children / the elderly) during the 1 month before enumeration. Analysed by sex, females had a higher participation rate (6.0%) than their male counterparts (5.0%)
Around two-thirds (67.3%) of persons aged 15 and over from households with domestic helpers did not do any housework, as compared to about one-fourth (24.4%) for those persons from households which had not employed domestic helpers.
91.7% of persons aged 15 and over had participated in one or more types of social and leisure activities, including cultural activities, sports activities, religious activities, social entertainment activities and self-entertainment activities, during the 1 month before enumeration. The majority (80.1%) had participated in social entertainment activities, followed by sports activities (56.2%) and self-entertainment activities (54.1%). Generally speaking, younger persons, economically active persons, students, home-makers, never married persons, persons having attained post-secondary education and persons from households with higher monthly household income were more eager to participate in social and leisure activities.
Analysed by sex, males had a higher participation rate in sports activities (59.2%) than their female counterparts (53.5%). On the other hand, females had higher participation rates in cultural activities and religious activities (10.6% and 14.5% respectively) than their male counterparts (8.5% and 10.4% respectively).
Excluding persons who were attending schools or were not available for work due to long term sickness, the survey results showed that 16.1% of all persons aged 15 and over (some 848 200 persons) were interested in taking programmes / training courses to upgrade educational attainment or enhance vocational skills at the time of enumeration. Generally speaking, females, younger persons, economically active persons, never married persons, persons having attained post-secondary education and persons from households with higher monthly household income were more interested in undertaking further study.
Moreover, the survey results showed that there were some 654 400 home-makers aged 15 and over, constituting 10.8% of all persons aged 15 and over. Among them, 637 500 (97.4%) were females and 16 900 (2.6%) were males. Of those 637 500 female home-makers, some 38 300 (6.0%) expressed that they would "definitely / very likely" take up a full-time or part-time job when there was one. The most commonly cited reason for taking up a job was "earning money" (cited by 79.4% of those female home-makers), followed by "killing time" (34.8%) and "gaining exposure" (12.5%). The majority (89.6%) perceived that "flexible working hour" would raise their interest in taking up a job, followed by "job sharing" (67.3%) and "working at home" (67.1%).
In the survey, all employed persons were asked about whether they intended to end their job career to full-time take care of family members during the 3 years after enumeration. Of some 3 419 500 employed persons, 1.8% indicated that they had such intention.
More details of the survey, including the population coverage and survey methodology, are presented in the publication.
Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp140.jsp?productCode=B1130201).
Enquiries about the contents of the publication can be made to the Social Surveys Section (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 0592 or email: thematic@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, July 27, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:33
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