This part is in supplement to [Introduction to the 2001 Population Census].

1. Why do we need a census?
2. What is the difference between a census and a by-census?
3. What are the estimated number of households and persons to be visited/enumerated in the Census?
4. When is the Census Moment? 
5. Why is the Census conducted in March?
6. Why don't you take the Census in the summer holidays?
7. HK residents who are away from HK for business, working & tour purposes are supposed to be counted but how can this be done if the whole family is away from HK and cannot be reached during the Census period?
8. In designing the Census, what criteria have been used for selecting data topics?
9. What are the data topics for the 2001 Population Census?  What data topics have been added or deleted when compared with the 1996 Population By-census?
10. Will there be the possibility of double-counting persons with more than one residence?
11. When will households receive the householder letters?
12. At what time of the day will the enumerator call at the household? 
13. Can households make appointment for the enumerator's visit? 
14. How long will it take to complete an interview for a household?
15. If my household has two residences, do my household members  need to be interviewed in both of them?
16. Can households opt for simple enumeration or detailed enquiry ?
17. All members of my household will not be in HK during the 13-day Census period. What should I do?
18. Can I ask to check the Hong Kong Identity Card of the enumerators?
19. Can I ask to change the enumerator if I know him?
20. Are household members required to provide answers in person?  Why?
21. Can I refuse to answer any question? If no, why?
22. Am I required to provide information on my Hong Kong Identity Card number?
23. According to law, what is the penalty to persons who wilfully provide untrue answers?

 

1.

Why do we need a census?

It is established practice since 1961 for Hong Kong to conduct a population census once every ten years to obtain information on the size, composition and characteristics of the Hong Kong population. The population census is a very important source of statistics for small geographical areas and population sub-groups. It also provides the base population for compiling population estimates and projections. Population censuses were conducted in 1961, 1971, 1981 and 1991. Following this practice, the next census should be conducted in 2001. 

In order that more up-to-date information on the population could be made available, a population by-census is also conducted in between two censuses. Thus, in 1966, 1976, 1986 and 1996, there were population by-censuses conducted. Following this practice, the next census should be conducted in 2001.

The information collected is vital to Government planning and policy formulation, particularly in such fields as education, housing, transport, medical and social services. The data are also important to the private sector for formulating business strategies and to researchers for conducting social and economic studies.

 

 

2.

What is the difference between a census and a by-census?

A by-census differs from a full census in not having a complete headcount of the population but enquiring on the detailed characteristics of the population on the basis of a large sample. The size and characteristics of the entire population are inferred from the sample results in accordance with appropriate statistical theory. As a result, the statistics obtained from a by-census may be slightly less precise than those from a census. Other than the above, the contents and features of a census and a by-census are quite similar.

The data provided by the series of population censuses and by-censuses are core data for the population statistical database of Hong Kong.
 

 

3.

What are the estimated number of households and persons to be visited/enumerated in the Census ? 

The Census will cover all households and persons in Hong Kong. We estimate that some 6.9 million persons in about 2.2 million households will be enumerated in the Census.
 

 

4.

When is the Census Moment ? 

 3:00 a.m. on 14 March 2001.
 

 

5.

Why is the Census conducted in March?

Conducting the Census in March takes into consideration such factors as weather (avoiding disruption caused by bad weather conditions) and the avoidance of long holidays like the summer vacation when large population movements could take place.
 

 

6.

Why don't you take the Census in the summer holidays?

Weather is one of the factors that we need to consider when conducting fieldwork of such a huge scale. We are subject to much higher risk of typhoon in summer. Frequent raining in summer also affects the fieldwork.

Besides, the period from July to August is the peak season when many local people leave Hong Kong for a long holiday. Large scale population movements would affect the Census operation.
 

 

7.

HK residents who are away from HK for business, working and tour purposes are supposed to be counted but how can this be done if the whole family is away from HK and cannot be reached during the Census period?

Enumerators will make several visits in order to contact households for enumeration.  However, there will still be some households which we cannot contact during the whole Census period. A self-administered questionnaire (SAQ) will be left with each of these households at the end of the Census operation.  They will be asked to return the completed SAQ by mail.  With this, the Department can apply certain statistical methods to tackle the situation.
 

8.

In designing the Census, what criteria have been used for selecting data topics?

In deciding the topics for the Census, the following factors have been considered:

  1. Usefulness of data;
  2. Willingness and ability of the respondents to answer;
  3. Ability of enumerators to understand the questions and communicate with respondents;
  4. Existence of other data source/data collection channel;
  5. Processing efforts; 
  6. Keeping the interviewing time within reasonable length; and
    Recommendations of the United Nations.

9.

What are the data topics for the 2001 Population Census ? What data topics have been added or deleted when compared with the 1996 Population By-census?

Regarding data topics for the 2001 Population Census, please refer to Section 2.7 of the [Introduction to the 2001 Population Census] on questionnaire contents .

Topics for the 2001 Population Census basically are similar to those of the 1996 Population By-census except for 'duration of residence in present district and 'previous district of residence'.  These two topics are not included in the 2001 Population Census.  Meanwhile, a number of new topics are added in the 2001 Population Census. They are: mode of transport to place of study, mode of transport to place of work, number of rooms, mortgage payment (or loan repayment) and ethnicity.
 

10.

Will there be the possibility of double-counting persons with more than one residence?

These persons should be counted at the residence where they usually live.  If the usual place of stay is not fixed, they will be counted at the place where they are at the Census moment.
 

11.

When will households receive the householder letters?

The Department will despatch letters on 9 March and households can expect to receive the letters around 10 to 12 March.  For some households living in premises for which there are no clear mailing addresses, letters will be delivered to them by hand on the first few days of the Census period.
 

12.

At what time of the day will the enumerator call at the household? 

Visits will normally be paid from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
 

 

13.

Can households make appointment for the enumerator's visit? 

Yes.  If they wish to do so, they should call the hotline enquiry centre of the Census and Statistics Department (tel. no.: 2926 6688) or phone the number specified on the appointment card deposited by the enumerator. We will try our best to arrange a mutually convenient time.
 

 

14. 

How long will it take to complete an interview for a household?

For the Long Form, it depends on the number of household members in the household. The interview will take about 25 minutes for, say, a household with 4 members.  For the Short Form, it depends on whether the households have already completed the questionnaires themselves and in any case, the interview will only take a few minutes.
 

 

15.

If my household has two residences, do my household members need to be interviewed in both of them?

Household members are to be counted at the residence where they usually live.  If your usual place of stay is not fixed, you will be counted at the place where you are at the Census moment.  We have fully taken into account such situation in designing the Census.  Questions on the "usual accommodation in Hong Kong at present" and "whereabouts at the Census moment" have been included in the questionnaire to decide at where should a person be counted. 

In the Census, census officers will visit all quarters in Hong Kong; hence both of your residences will be visited by census officers to collect information.  However, you need not make any special arrangements, but just, when your residences are visited by census officers, provide accurate answers to the questions in the questionnaire.
 

16.

Can households opt for simple enumeration or detailed enquiry ? 

No.  Since households are selected for detailed enquiry or simple enumeration under a scientific sampling procedure, exchanging the Long Form for the Short Form or vice versa will, from a statistically point of view, lead to bias in the Census results.
 

 

17.

All members of my household will not be in HK during the entire 13-day Census period. What should I do?

A Self-Administered Questionnaire (SAQ) will be deposited into your mail box on the last day of the Census period (i.e. 27 March). Please complete the SAQ and return it to us by mail on or before 10 April.
 

 

18.

Can I ask to check the Hong Kong Identity Card of the enumerators?

No. You can only check his/her Census Officer Certificate of Identity.  If you wish to verify his/her identity, you may call our hotline at 2926 6688.
 

 

19.

Can  I ask to change the enumerator if I know him?

Yes. Please call our hotline (tel. no.: 2926 6688) to make suitable arrangements.
 

 

20.

Are household members required to provide answers in person? Why?

Face-to-face interview enables more effective communication between respondents and interviewers, which is crucial to ensuring high data quality.  For households selected for the Short Form enumeration, we need to ask the household head in person a few simple questions in order to check the accuracy of information provided in the Short Form.  For households selected for the Long Form enumeration, we need to interview individual members in order to collect information from them.  During the interview, we need to show to them, for some questions, the answers available for selection or some supplementary information.
 

21.

Can I refuse to answer any question? If no, why?

The Census is conducted under the Census and Statistics (2001 Population Census) Order, which was made by the Chief Executive in Council in May 2000 under section 9 (a) of the Census and Statistics Ordinance for the conduct of the 2001 Population Census.

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.

Census data are widely used by both the Government and the private sector. It is therefore very important for the Census and Statistics Department to ensure that the data are of good quality. This relies very much on the cooperation of the public in providing accurate and complete information. It is therefore necessary for Hong Kong, as in many other places in the world, to make it a legal obligation to provide data in the Census. In actual fact, the general public is highly supportive to Census work in the many rounds of censuses/by-censuses in the past.
 

 

22.

Am I required to provide information on my Hong Kong Identity Card number?

You and your household members are not required to provide identity card numbers in the Census. 
 

 

23.

According to law, what is the penalty to persons who wilfully provide untrue answers?

According to law, they are liable to a fine of $5,000 and to imprisonment for 6 months.
 

This part is in supplement to [Introduction to the 2001 Population Census].

This page was last updated on 26 February 2001.