Statistics Advisory Board discusses developments of official statistics work

     The Statistics Advisory Board held a meeting today (May 14) to discuss official statistics work and its recent developments.

     Members noted that the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) would conduct a new round of Household Expenditure Survey (HES) during the period from October 2019 to September 2020 to collect up-to-date information on the expenditure patterns of households in Hong Kong.

     The Commissioner for Census and Statistics and Chairman of the Statistics Advisory Board, Mr Leslie Tang, said, "The HES is conducted once every five years and the results will mainly be used for updating the expenditure weights of consumer goods and services used for compiling the Consumer Price Indices. Preparatory work for the new round of survey has already commenced and the major results will be released in the second quarter of 2021."

     Members also noted that the preparatory work for the 2021 Population Census (21C) had started. The data collection approach for the 21C, including various aspects relating to the data collection modes, manpower deployment and publicity programmes, was discussed at the meeting.

     Furthermore, the Board noted the major statistical developments depicted in the 2018 Edition of An Outline of Statistical Development which was published on April 25, 2018.

     The Statistics Advisory Board is a non-statutory advisory body which advises the Commissioner for Census and Statistics on matters pertaining to government statistical work. Its membership consists of established professionals of the business sector, academia and the community, which provides for wide representation to assist the Commissioner in integrating views of data users, data suppliers and statisticians. The terms of reference and composition of the Board can be found on the C&SD website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/about_us/our_advisory_board/index.jsp).