Census in Hong Kong

Population census in Hong Kong, a collection of demographic data in Hong Kong, is conducted by Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong Government. The census was held every ten year and by-census is held between two census. The last census was in March 2001 and by-census will be from 15th July to 1st August 2006.

Objective
The census is based on the administrative districts in Hong Kong to find out the characteristics and trends in population. The census is conducted in large scale and wide ranges of data would be collected. Statistics collected would be a reference for Hong Kong Government to make policy, or for private organisation to research.

History
Since 1841, when Hong Kong Island was ceded to the United Kingdom, the government has conducted a census in all villages on the island. The modern census began in 1961, and by-census in 1966 and continues every 10 years.

Method
The census in 1961 and 1971 collected the details from every residents. From 1981, although counting of residents still is still be conducted and collection of basic information such as age and gender by questionnaire survey, the very details of characteristics were taken from interviewing a large sample of households and inferred by statistical method. In 2001 census, the ratio of questionnaire to visit is 7 to 1.

By-census is similar to census but only use smaller percentage of households for visiting to deduced the characteristics. 10% of household would be sampled in 2006 by-census.

When census was conducted by questionnaire, a questionnair was sent to each household and sent back to the department by the household. For interview, an enumerator would visit each sample household and fill detailed questionnaires for each household member.

March is selected to a census month to avoid extreme weather conditions like typhoons and major long holiday or summer vacation. In order to recruit sufficient enumerators from secondary schools, a census holiday is implemented during the census year. By-census is conducted in July. The main source of enumerators are from teachers and university students. In 2006 by-census, 5000 of enumerators are recruited with wages between HK$ 6528 to 11648.

Under the Census and Statistics Ordinance, specified persons are legally obliged to provide the information required by the 2001 Population Census. People who refuse to do so are liable to a fine of $500. Also, people wilfully providing untrue answers are liable to a fine of $5,000 and to imprisonment for 6 months.

The census counts each household member, even one might be an illegal immigrant. To ensure the accuracy of data and to encourage those interviewed to provide true answers, their information provided is strictly confidential and would be destroyed within one year.

Privacy
It is an offence for census officers to disclose data pertaining to individual persons or individual households to unauthorized persons. All field workers are required to follow designated procedures strictly, and well-trained on the data confidentiality issues. Completed questionnaires are processed and stored in a special area and any movement of document are recorded. The questionnaires are destroyed with in one year. No information of individual persons or households can be deduced from the processed data.

Content
Two forms are filled out. One is called the short form while the other is called the long form

The Short Form
Questionnaires completed by households are named short forms. Questions include:

For household:
 * set of question aims at enumerating the number of persons in the household.

For person:
 * Relationship to head of household
 * Sex
 * Year and month of birth
 * Whereabouts at the census moment
 * Total amount of time spent in Hong Kong in the past six months
 * Total amount of time to be spent in Hong Kong in the coming six months
 * Usual accommodation in Hong Kong at present

Information filled by census officer, such as:
 * Type of quarters
 * Present status of quarters
 * Occupancy of quarters
 * Number of households in the quarters
 * Type of household

The Long Form
The long form includes the following data items in addition to all of that in the short form:

Information on household and quarters:
 * Household income
 * Number of living/dining rooms
 * Number of bedrooms
 * Number of kitchens
 * Number of bathrooms/toilets
 * Number of other rooms
 * Tenure of accommodation
 * Rent
 * Rates, Government rent and management fee
 * Outstanding mortgage or loan period
 * Mortgage payment or loan repayment

Information on household members:

Demographic and social characteristics:
 * Marital status
 * Nationality
 * Ethnicity
 * Usual language
 * Ability to speak other languages/ dialects

Educational characteristics:
 * School attendance
 * Educational attainment
 * highest level attended
 * highest level completed
 * Place of study
 * Mode of transport to place of study
 * Field of education

Geographical and internal migration characteristics:
 * Place of birth
 * Duration of residence in Hong Kong
 * Place of residence 5 years ago

Economic characteristics:


 * Economic activity status
 * Industry
 * Occupation
 * Place of work
 * Mode of transport to place of work
 * Earnings from main employment
 * Earnings from secondary employment
 * Other cash income