**********************************************************
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) announced today (June 5) the commencement of the 2006 Annual Survey of Companies in Hong Kong Representing Parent Companies Located outside Hong Kong.
The survey aims to collect information useful to the Government in formulating strategies for cultivating a favourable environment for conducting business in Hong Kong.
The survey covers all companies in various economic sectors in Hong Kong that represent their parent companies located outside Hong Kong. A questionnaire has been sent earlier to the relevant companies. These companies are requested to complete the questionnaire and return it to the C&SD by June 10, 2006.
Information to be sought in the survey includes general information of these companies and opinions of the senior management of these companies in conducting business in Hong Kong.
The survey is conducted under Part IIIA of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Chapter 316). It is a voluntary statistical survey notified in the Government Notice No. 1914 in the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Gazette of March 24, 2006. In accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance, the collected information relating to individual companies will be kept in strict confidence. Only aggregate information, which does not reveal details of individual companies, will be released.
The Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Mr. Fung Hing-wang, appealed to the senior management of these companies to spend a few moments to fulfil their social responsibilities by completing the questionnaire themselves as their opinions are vital to the survey.
To facilitate these companies in providing information, an electronic template of the questionnaire is available for use upon request.
If necessary, staff of the C&SD will visit individual companies and assist them in completing the questionnaire. They will each carry a Government Identity Card and a certificate for conducting the survey, which are available for inspection.
Enquiries regarding the survey may be directed to the Business Expectation Statistics Section of the C&SD (telephone: 2123 2107 or e-mail: regional-offices@censtatd.gov.hk ).
Ends/Monday, June 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 10:05
NNNN