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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (May 22) the May 2006 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, five feature articles entitled "Consumption Expenditure of Hong Kong Residents Travelling to the Mainland of China, 2005", "The Profile of Hong Kong Population Analysed by District Council District, 2005", "Statistics on Research and Development of Hong Kong, 2000-2004", "Analysis of Hong Kong's External Merchandise Trade by Mode of Transport" and "The Banking Industry in Hong Kong" are included.
"Consumption Expenditure of Hong Kong Residents Travelling to the Mainland of China, 2005"
Analyses of consumption expenditure of Hong Kong residents making personal travel to the mainland of China (the Mainland) were first introduced in the April 2001 issue of the HKMDS in the form of a feature article. Updates of the analyses are provided annually.
In 2005, Hong Kong residents made 62.8 million person-trips to the Mainland for business and personal purposes. Of all the trips to the Mainland, business travel accounted for 36%(or 22.7 million person-trips) and personal travel for 64% (or 40.1 million person-trips).
Personal travel refers to travel which is not business-related. It covers travel in package tour mode and non-package tour mode for purposes such as holiday-making, visits to friends and relatives, and attending recreational and cultural programmes.
Of the 40.1 million personal trips to the Mainland, 52% were destined for Shenzhen, 42% for other places in Guangdong Province and the remaining 6% for other places in the Mainland outside Guangdong Province. Analysed by length of stay, around 35% were same-day trips. The remaining 65% were overnight trips, with average length of stay of 3.5 nights.
In 2005, total consumption expenditure of Hong Kong residents making personal travel to the Mainland amounted to $24.1 billion. The average expenditure per person-trip was around $600. For overnight trips of personal travel to the Mainland, the average expenditure per person-trip was around $770. That for same-day trips was around $290.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the National Income Section (1)3, C&SD (Tel: 2582 4643).
"The Profile of Hong Kong Population Analysed by District Council District, 2005"
The C&SD annually compiles statistics on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population by District Council district based on data collected from the General Household Survey. This feature article provides an analysis on the size and selected characteristics of the population at mid-2005 at the District Council district level. It aims to give readers a better understanding on the profile of the population in different districts of Hong Kong.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the General Household Survey Section (2), C&SD (Tel. : 2887 5506).
"Statistics on Research and Development of Hong Kong, 2000-2004"
Research and development (R&D) inputs are important drivers for technological advancement. This feature article aims to provide an up-to-date picture of the R&D activities in Hong Kong, with separate analysis for the business, higher education and government sectors.
Compared with 2003, the total number of R&D personnel in 2004 increased by 12% to 18 846. Total R&D expenditure in 2004 amounted to HK$9.5 billion, representing a 11% increase over 2003. Total R&D expenditure as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product has gone up from 0.47% in 2000 to 0.74% in 2004.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Science and Technology Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2887 5138).
"Analysis of Hong Kong's External Merchandise Trade by Mode of Transport"
External merchandise trade is one of the important economic activities of Hong Kong. Goods are brought into or out of Hong Kong by various means of transport. In 2005, the value of Hong Kong's external trade by air accounted for 34.2% of Hong Kong's total value of external trade. Another 31.7% was transported by land, 29.7% by ocean and 3.6% by river. The remaining 0.7% included postal parcels and accompanied goods of passengers travelling on various means of transport.
This feature article analyses the performance and characteristics of Hong Kong's external merchandise trade by mode of transport during the period 1995-2005.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Trade Analysis Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2582 4914).
"The Banking Industry in Hong Kong"
Hong Kong is one of the most important international financial centres in the Asia-Pacific region. The banking industry is an essential component of the financial system of Hong Kong. This feature article presents the operating characteristics and business performance of the banking industry in recent years.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Business Services Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2802 1269).
The May 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.
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.
This publication is available, in print and download versions (in PDF format for the full version as well as selected sections and individual feature articles). It can be obtained online at the "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong" (http://www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk). Print version if purchased online is offered at 85% of its original price 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).
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, May 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:00
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