Thematic Household Survey Report No. 73 published

     The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 73 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (April 15).

     This publication contains key findings on information technology (IT) usage and penetration based on the Thematic Household Survey conducted during June to October 2020.

     Findings of the 2020 survey revealed that the majority of households (93.9%) had Internet access at home at the time of enumeration. Among these households, smartphone was the most popular type of device used for Internet connection at home (99.7%), whereas personal computer (PC) came next (80.2%). 

     The use of the Internet remained very popular. The percentage of persons aged 10 and over who had used the Internet during the 12 months before enumeration was 92.4% in 2020, up from 90.5% in 2018 when a similar survey was conducted. In particular, the increase was substantial among persons aged 65 and over (from 56.3% to 65.9%).

     Findings of the survey also showed that smartphone had become more popular. Some 5.99 million persons aged 10 and over had smartphone in 2020, around 0.18 million more than that in 2018. The smartphone penetration rate rose from 89.8% in 2018 to 92.1% in 2020. The increase was particularly remarkable among the elderly. About 2 in 3 persons aged 65 and over had smartphone in 2020, compared to around 3 in 5 persons aged 65 and over in 2018.

     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 43.1% in 2020, from 35.8% in 2018. Among these persons, online purchase of daily necessities, clothes and footwear (cited by 83.5% of respondents in 2020) was most popular, followed by online food delivery ordering (25.6%) and online purchase of food/beverages (20.6%).

     Of the persons aged 15 and over who had used online purchasing services for personal matters during the 6 months before enumeration, the median amount spent in purchasing products/services online during that period was $2,000, as compared to $4,000 in 2018. The significant drop in the median amount spent was attributable to the considerable declines in the online purchase of selected big-ticket items, including online travel arrangement (cited by 6.7% of respondents in 2020, compared to 47.3% in 2018) and online ticket reservation (cited by 5.4% of respondents in 2020, compared to 18.5% in 2018), probably due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

     The usage of mobile payment was also common in Hong Kong. The 2020 survey revealed that some 3 063 500 persons aged 15 and over had used mobile payment during the 12 months before enumeration, constituting 49.4% of all persons aged 15 and over. Among these persons, 77.9% and 76.2% had used mobile payment for online shopping and in-store payment during the 12 months before enumeration respectively.
 
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, together with the population coverage and concepts/definitions of key terms, are presented in the publication. Users can download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?scode=453&pcode=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).