The Annual Survey of Economic Activities (ASEA) aims to provide statistical information for gauging the business performance and operating characteristics of different economic sectors and for evaluating their contribution to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product. The survey results are useful to both the Government and the private sector in formulating policies and making decisions.
Classification of industries
The Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) has been adopted in the survey for sample selection, data collection and dissemination of survey results. The HSIC is devised using the United Nations’ International Standard Industrial Classification as the framework, with local adaptation to reflect the structure of the Hong Kong economy.
HSIC Version 2.0 has been used in ASEA starting from the reference year of 2009, to replace HSIC Version 1.1 used in previous rounds of ASEA.
Survey coverage
The survey covers establishments engaging in the following major economic activities under HSIC Version 2.0:
Sampling frame and sample design
The sampling frame and sample design for different economic sectors are generally similar in the survey. Nevertheless, owing to specific trade practices in some cases, customised sampling frame and sample design are adopted for some economic activities.
Generally speaking, the sampling frame of an industry sector was based on the Central Register of Establishments maintained by C&SD and updated by reference to records of the Business Registration Office of the Inland Revenue Department. The sampling frame for the industry sector was first stratified by industry and, within each industry stratum, by employment size of establishments to form a number of industry / employment size strata. The sample size for each industry / employment size stratum was determined by Neyman’s allocation according to a desired level of precision for the estimated industry value added for individual industries. Individual establishments were systematically selected at a uniform interval after an establishment was randomly selected as a start. About 20 000 establishments are selected for participation in the survey annually.
Information to be collected
The information to be sought in ASEA mainly includes type of ownership, origin of investment, number of persons engaged, compensation of employees (including wages, salaries and other employee benefits), operating expenses, business receipts, capital expenditure and other information related to the business operation of the establishments.
Data confidentiality
Annual Survey of Economic Activities (ASEA) is a mandatory survey conducted under Part III of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Chapter 316). Data collected regarding individual establishments will be kept in strict confidence and will not be released to any unauthorised parties, including government bureaux and departments. Such data will only be used for compiling aggregate statistics which will not enable information relating to individual establishments to be revealed.
Press releases
Press releases are issued to inform the public of release of:
Publications
Statistical publications releasing key statistics on the business performance and operating characteristics of the following industry sectors based on the results of ASEA are available for downloading free of charge at this website:
ASEA is a mandatory survey conducted under Part III of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Chapter 316). According to section 13(1) of the Ordinance, any person to whom a questionnaire relating to a statistical survey is delivered shall complete the questionnaire or cause it to be completed by other persons to the best of his/her knowledge and belief, and in the manner specified in the questionnaire, and then return the questionnaire on or before the specified date. The Ordinance also stipulates that all collected information which may enable identification of individual establishments should be kept in strict confidence and be used solely for statistical purpose. Only aggregate information, which does not reveal details of individual establishments, will be released.
Survey questionnaires, together with a notification letter, are sent out by post and / or via e-mail to the establishments selected for participating in ASEA. The establishments can supply the required information through postal / e-mail returns, telephone interviews or personal visits by our census officers.
Our staff are always ready to explain to the selected establishments what information is required for the survey and how it should be entered into the survey questionnaires. Whilst on duty, our census officers will each carry a Government Identity Card or Enumerator Identity Card and a Certificate of Identity issued by this department for conducting the survey, which are available for inspection.
Please refer to the information in Enquiries to contact us for verification of census officer’s identity, making appointment for interview or obtaining statistical data.
An electronic template of the questionnaire of ASEA is made available upon request. The establishments participating in ASEA are encouraged to complete their questionnaires in electronic format and return them by electronic means. For better protection of confidentiality of the data supplied to this Department via email, the reporting establishments are advised to apply encryption with the use of e-certificate in submitting the completed templates. Please refer to Hongkong Post for information on the usage of e-certificate.
Please refer to the Frequently asked questions.
Verification of Census Officer’s identity
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Address:
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21/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan chai, Hong Kong |
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Telephone no.
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2582 4798 |
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Facsimile no.
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3101 0334 |
Survey Operation (including making appointment for interview)
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Address:
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11/F Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
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Telephone no.
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3903 7169 |
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Facsimile no.
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2805 6105 |
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E-mail address
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econq2@censtatd.gov.hk |
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Address:
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12/F Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
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Telephone no.
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3903 7095 |
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Facsimile no.
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2827 0551 |
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E-mail address
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econq1@censtatd.gov.hk |
Statistical data
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Address:
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9/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
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Telephone no.
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3903 6964 |
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Facsimile no.
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2805 6153 |
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E-mail address
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building@censtatd.gov.hk |
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Address:
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11/F Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
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Telephone no.
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3903 7246 |
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Facsimile no.
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2123 1048 |
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E-mail address
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manufacturing@censtatd.gov.hk |
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Address:
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11/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
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Telephone no.
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3903 7268 |
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Facsimile no.
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2123 1053 |
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E-mail address
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business-service@censtatd.gov.hk |
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Address:
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12/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
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Telephone no.
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3903 7399 |
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Facsimile no.
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2123 1036 |
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E-mail address
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asw@censtatd.gov.hk |
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Address:
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11/F Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
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Telephone no.
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3903 7255 |
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Facsimile no.
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2123 1048 |
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E-mail address
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transport@censtatd.gov.hk |