The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 61 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (November 1).

     This publication contains key findings of the Thematic Household Survey conducted during October 2015 to January 2016. The survey collected information on two topics: (i) use of new media among Hong Kong residents, and (ii) enforcement of maintenance orders among Hong Kong residents who had ever been divorced/separated. The target respondents of the first topic were persons aged 10 and over, while those of the second topic were persons aged 16 and over who had ever been divorced/separated.

Use of new media

     The survey results showed that some 4 820 500 persons aged 10 and over usually used the Internet at least 3.5 hours a week during the 12 months before enumeration (referred to as "regular Internet users" hereafter), constituting 75.5% of all persons aged 10 and over in Hong Kong.

     A great majority of regular Internet users (96.7% or some 4 662 600 persons) had performed online social activities to make connection with people and interact/share information via social networking platforms, such as instant messengers, social media and online forums, at least once a day during the 12 months before enumeration.

     The vast majority of the regular Internet users (97.7% or some 4 709 400 persons) had used instant messengers (e.g. WhatsApp, WeChat and Line) or social media (e.g. Facebook and Instagram) at least once a day during the 12 months before enumeration.

     16.7% of regular Internet users (or some 804 300 persons) indicated that they had visited online forums during the 12 months before enumeration. Among them, about one-third (32.2%) did so at least once a day.

     Analysed by age, the rate of having visited online forums during the period was the highest among regular Internet users aged 15 to 34 (25.0%) and the lowest among regular Internet users aged 65 and over (3.1%).

     In the survey, respondents aged 15 and over were asked if they had accessed information about public policies or current affairs during the 12 months before enumeration. If so, they were further asked about the usual channels (allowing more than one channel) for accessing such information during the period, and the most influential channel (out of their usual channels) affecting their attitudes towards issues related to public policies or current affairs. The channels include the Internet channels (including "online media", "social media", "instant messengers" and "online forums") and the traditional channels (including "television", "paid newspapers", "free tabloids" and "radio broadcast", and their online versions (where applicable)).

     The survey results showed that "television" topped the list of usual channels, cited by 95.2% of those 6 058 400 persons aged 15 and above who had accessed information about public policies or current affairs during the 12 months before enumeration. The popularity of other channels was much lower, with "paid newspapers" (60.7%), "word of mouth" (55.0%) and "online media" (37.6%) ranked second, third and fourth respectively.

     Analysed by age, "television" remained on the top of the list of usual channels across all age groups. It was relatively more popular among older persons, with 98.7% of persons aged 65 and over often using that channel. On the other hand, the Internet channels were relatively more popular among younger persons. In particular, "online media" was the third most often used channel among persons aged 15 to 24, cited by 56.1% of the persons concerned. It was also constantly used by 56.0% of persons aged 25 to 34.

     Regarding the most influential channel, "television" again topped the list, cited by 59.4% of those 6 058 400 persons. This was distantly followed by "paid newspapers" (12.6%) and "online media" (10.1%).

     Analysed by age, "television" continued to be the most influential channel across all age groups. On the other hand, "online media" had overtaken "paid newspapers" as the second most influential channel among the younger persons aged 15 to 34. 19.0% of the persons concerned regarded that channel as the most influential one.

Enforcement of maintenance orders

     The survey results showed that some 362 200 persons aged 16 and over had ever been divorced/separated at the time of enumeration, constituting 6.0% of all persons aged 16 and over in Hong Kong.

     It should be noted that as the target respondents may not be willing to reveal that they had ever been divorced/separated, the number of persons who had ever been divorced/separated might be subject to under-reporting. Data users are reminded to interpret the related figures with caution.

     Of those 362 200 persons who had ever been divorced/separated, 16.1% had applied for a maintenance order from the court, while 0.8% intended to do so. The majority (83.1%) had neither applied nor intended to apply for a maintenance order. Commonly cited reasons for not applying or intending to apply for a maintenance order included "no such need" and "both parties agreed not to require each other to provide maintenance".

     Of those 58 300 persons who had ever been divorced/separated and applied for a maintenance order, 94.8% had already known the results of their applications. Among them, the majority (91.4% or some 50 500 persons) were successful in obtaining the maintenance order, while 8.6% were not successful. In addition, some 4 600 persons who had ever been divorced/separated would receive maintenance from their ex-spouse according to a maintenance agreement. In total, about 55 100 persons who had ever been divorced/separated would receive maintenance.

     Excluding some 20 800 persons who had ever been divorced/separated and would receive nominal maintenance of $1 from their ex-spouse or were awaiting the court's ruling on the mode of maintenance payment, 60% of persons who would receive maintenance reported that they had received the maintenance payment in full (including those who had received a lump sum maintenance payment or periodic maintenance payments on time during the 12 months before enumeration), while the remaining 40% reported the opposite.

Other information

     Detailed findings of the survey, together with the population coverage, concepts/definitions of key terms and data limitations, 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 (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5103 or email: thematic@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:30

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