October 2018 issue of “Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics” now available

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (October 15) the October 2018 issue of the "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" (HKMDS).

     Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains two feature articles entitled "Hong Kong's Imports Measured on Free-on-board Basis for 2017" and "Statistics on Sectoral Concentration".

"Hong Kong's Imports Measured on Free-on-board Basis for 2017"

     In accordance with international statistical standards, the import statistics of Hong Kong are valued on cost, insurance and freight (c.i.f.) basis. Yet, import statistics valued on free on board (f.o.b.) basis are also useful for certain analytical purposes.

     Since 1996, the C&SD has been compiling an additional set of import statistics measured on f.o.b. basis to facilitate analysis on merchandise trade balance and comparison of trade statistics with other economies.

     This feature article introduces the concept and application of imports statistics measured on f.o.b. basis, and analyses the related statistics for 2017.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Trade Surveys Section, C&SD (Tel: 2582 5255; email: ims@censtatd.gov.hk).

"Statistics on Sectoral Concentration"

     A wide range of statistical indicators can be compiled from the results of the Annual Survey of Economic Activities conducted by the C&SD for analysing the business situation and performance of various economic sectors in Hong Kong. Among others, statistics on sectoral concentration can throw light on the extent of business concentration within individual sectors.

     This feature article analyses the extent of business concentration in selected economic sectors of Hong Kong by making reference to the Concentration Ratios and Herfindahl-Hirschman Indices compiled in terms of business receipts in 2015 and 2016.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel: 3903 7398; email: asw@censtatd.gov.hk).

     Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 140 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. 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 the Digest free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp460.jsp?productCode=B1010002).

     Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Services Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).