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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (April 24) the April 2006 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, five feature articles entitled "The Movement of the Unemployment Rate in 2005", "Analysis of Hong Kong's Imports", "The Wholesale, Retail and Import and Export Trades, Restaurants and Hotels Sectors in Hong Kong", "Gender Imbalance in Hong Kong" and "Expenditure on Information Technology in the Business Sector, 1998-2004" are included.
"The Movement of the Unemployment Rate in 2005"
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell steadily from 7.3% in the first quarter of 2004 to 5.3% in the fourth quarter of 2005, following improvement in the labour market since the latter part of 2003. This was mainly underpinned by the continued upsurge in labour demand amid sustained economic growth and restructuring.
This feature article provides an analysis of the changes in the unemployment rate in 2005 from various perspectives. It aims to give readers a better understanding about the recent unemployment situation in Hong Kong.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the General Household Survey Section (2), C&SD (Tel.: 2887 5506).
"Analysis of Hong Kong's Imports"
Hong Kong is an externally oriented economy. In 2005, the value of Hong Kong's total exports amounted to $2,250.2 billion, while that of imports was $2,329.5 billion. The ratio of the value of total exports to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 1.63, while that of the value of imports to GDP was 1.69.
Goods consumed locally in Hong Kong are mostly imported. Meanwhile, a large proportion of Hong Kong's imports, apart from being consumed locally, is for subsequent re-exportation. This feature article analyses performance of Hong Kong's imports in recent years.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Trade Analysis Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2582 4914).
"The Wholesale, Retail and Import and Export Trades, Restaurants and Hotels Sectors in Hong Kong"
The C&SD conducts annual economic surveys for compiling statistics on the operating characteristics of various sectors of Hong Kong. The statistics compiled are useful to both the Government and the private sector in formulating policies and making decisions. The sectoral economic statistics, embedded with lots of useful information on various trades, are also useful reference for business operators and investors in decision-making.
This feature article first analyses the principal operating characteristics of the wholesale, retail and import and export trades, restaurants and hotels sectors of Hong Kong in 2004, and then analyses the business environment of the sectors, by making reference to some industry averages and analytical ratios derived from statistics on their operating characteristics.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Distribution Services Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2802 1367).
" Gender Imbalance in Hong Kong "
From time to time, there have been quite a number of analyses and reports about gender imbalance in Hong Kong, particularly in the context of marriage trends. Obviously, this is a subject of common concern.
This feature article analyses the gender imbalance situation in Hong Kong based on the results of the 1996 Population By-census and the 2001 Population Census as well as other administrative statistics. The factors accounting for the gender imbalance are also highlighted.
For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Demographic Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel. 2716 8044).
"Expenditure on Information Technology in the Business Sector, 1998-2004"
The rapid development of information technology has been impacting the society at large in this information age. Successful adoption of information technology is often seen as a strong driving force behind fast economic growth in an economy. Information technology has become a very important production factor. To assess the impact of information technology, it is first necessary to have information on the expenditure in this area. This feature article analyses the latest situation of expenditure on information technology in the business sector in Hong Kong.
Total IT expenditure in the business sector increased from $12.4 billion in 1998, to $22.9 billion in 2004. The ratio of IT expenditure to GDP increased from 1.0% in 1998 to 1.8% in 2004. The ratio of IT expenditure to gross output in the business sector also increased from 0.8% in 1998 to 1.4% in 2004.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Science and Technology Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2887 5138).
The April 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, April 24, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:00
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