December 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 (December 20) the December 2006 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).

     In this issue, two feature articles entitled "Road Cargo Statistics for 2005" and "Pattern of smoking" are included.

"Road Cargo Statistics for 2005"

     Road traffic has long been an important means for transporting goods between Hong Kong and the mainland of China.  In the past decade, the amount of cargoes transported by road each year ranged from 35.2 million tonnes to 40.5 million tonnes, accounting for some 14% to 18% of the total cargo throughput.

     Feature articles addressing this subject have been published regularly since 2001.  This feature article provides a detailed analysis of the road cargo statistics in 2005.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Trade Surveys and Research Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2582 5255).

"Pattern of smoking"

     The C&SD has collected information on the number of smokers and their smoking pattern on an ad hoc basis through the conduct of statistical surveys since 1982.  The latest survey was conducted during February to May 2005.  This feature article briefly describes the major findings of the survey conducted in 2005.  Comparison with the findings of similar surveys conducted in the past is also presented where applicable.

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

     Users can download this publication free of charge at the "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong" (www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk) of the C&SD.

     Print version of this publication is available for sale at HK$80 per issue.  Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address : 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel. : 2582 3025) or through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD's website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/other_services/provision_of_stat/mail_ordering_of_publications/index.jsp).  Print version of this publication is also available for sale online at the Statistical Bookstore and the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.isd.gov.hk/eng/bookorder.htm).  Print versions if purchased online are offered a discount, at 85% of their original prices.

     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/Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:00

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