Thematic Household Survey Report No. 67 published

     The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 67 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 27).

     This publication contains key findings on information technology (IT) usage and penetration based on the Thematic Household Survey conducted during June to September 2018.

     Findings of the 2018 survey revealed that the majority of households (92.3%) had access to the Internet at home at the time of enumeration. Among these households, smartphone was the most popular type of device used for Internet connection at home (99.1%), whereas personal computer (PC) came next (81.4%).  

     People using the Internet have been on the rise. The percentage of persons aged 10 and over who had used the Internet during the 12 months before enumeration increased to 90.5% in 2018, from 87.5% in 2016 when a similar survey was conducted then. In particular, the increase was substantial among persons aged 65 and over (from 44.0% to 56.3%).

     Findings of the survey also showed that smartphone had become more popular. Some 5.8 million persons aged 10 and over had smartphone in 2018, around 0.3 million more than that in 2016. The smartphone penetration rate rose from 85.8% in 2016 to 89.8% in 2018. The increase was particularly remarkable among the elderly. About three in five persons aged 65 and over had smartphone in 2018, compared to only around two in five persons aged 65 and over in 2016.

     Moreover, continually more people had knowledge of using PC. The percentage of persons aged 10 and over who had knowledge of using PC was 85.1% in 2018, up from 83.3% in 2016. The increase was particularly remarkable among persons aged 45 to 64 (from 85.7% to 90.0%) and persons aged 65 and over (from 34.5% to 40.8%).

     Findings of the survey also revealed that online purchase had become more popular. The percentage of persons aged 15 and over who had used online purchasing services for personal matters during the 12 months before enumeration increased to 35.8% in 2018, from 27.8% in 2016.

     Confining the reference period to the six months before enumeration, among the persons aged 15 and over who had used online purchasing services for personal matters during the six months before enumeration, the median amount spent in purchasing products / services online during that period was $4,000, markedly higher than the corresponding figure in 2016 ($2,100). Among these persons, online purchase of daily necessities, clothes and footwear (cited by 76.2% of these persons in 2018, up from 65.0% in 2016) and online travel arrangement (cited by 47.3% of these persons in 2018, up from 38.6% in 2016) were most popular.

Other information

     The survey successfully enumerated target respondents in some 10 000 households in accordance with a scientific sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong.

     Detailed findings of the survey (including usage of online purchasing services and electronic Government services), together with the population coverage and concepts/definitions of key terms, 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 directed to the Social Surveys Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5103 or email: thematic@censtatd.gov.hk).