February 2006 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics now available for sale
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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (February 20) the February 2006 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).

In this issue, two feature articles entitled "Usage of Personal Computer and Internet Service by the Hong Kong Residents from 2000 to 2005" and "Inbound Tourism of Hong Kong" are included.

"Usage of Personal Computer and Internet Service by the Hong Kong Residents from 2000 to 2005"

Given the rapid development of the information technology (IT) in Hong Kong in recent years, it has been considered necessary to collect information on IT usage and penetration regularly in order to gain better understanding of the latest development of IT in the community.  The C&SD has been conducting the Thematic Household Survey on IT usage and penetration annually since 2000.  This feature article describes the usage of personal computer and Internet service by the Hong Kong residents from 2000 to 2005.

For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Social Surveys Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2887 0416).

"Inbound Tourism of Hong Kong"

In 2005, Hong Kong received 23 million visitors, representing a 7.1% increase over 2004.  The large number of visitor arrivals and their spending made tourism one of Hong Kong's important income earners and benefited many industries in Hong Kong.

This feature article describes changes in profile of visitors to Hong Kong and the operating characteristics of the industries related to inbound tourism during 1994 to 2005.  The analyses are mainly based on the relevant figures released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and findings of various sectoral economic surveys conducted by the C&SD.

For enquires about this feature article, please call the Industrial Production and Tourism Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2805 6641).

The February 2006 issue of the HKMDS is now on sale at HK$80 per issue.  Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing 140 tables.  It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong.  Topics include population and vital events; labour; external trade; industrial production; land, housing, building and construction; transport, communications and tourism; public accounts, money and finance; prices; commerce; social conditions; energy; and national income and Balance of Payments.  For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available.

Both print version (full version only) and download version (in PDF format for the full version as well as selected sections and individual feature articles) of the HKMDS can be purchased online at the "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong" (http://www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk).  Download version of the HKMDS can be purchased at 75% of its original price exclusively at the online Statistical Bookstore.  Print versions if purchased online are also offered a discount, at 85% of their original prices at the Statistical Bookstore as well as the Government Bookstore (http://www.isd.gov.hk/eng/bookorder.htm).

For purchase of print version, this can be done through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD's website (http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/eng/prod_serv/forms_index.html).  Purchase can also be made in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address : 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel.: 2582 3025).  Print version of the Digest is also put for sale at selected Post Offices (enquiry hotline: 2921 2222).

Selected sections of the HKMDS are available for purchase online.  In order to better meet the needs of readers who are interested in official statistics of specific subject areas, the 13 sections of the Digest are grouped into four sections : (i) Population, Labour and Social Statistics; (ii) External Trade, Commerce and Industry and Energy Statistics; (iii) Housing, Transport, Communications and Tourism Statistics; and (iv) Money and Finance, National Income, Balance of Payments and Price Statistics.  Besides, feature articles in each issue can be purchased separately.  Selected sections and individual feature articles are only available in download versions, the feature articles are priced at HK$11 each and the selected sections from HK$17 to HK$21 each.

Enquiries about the contents of the HKMDS can be directed to the General Statistics Section (1)B of the C&SD (Tel.: 2582 4738).

Ends/Monday, February 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:01

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