Frequently Asked Questions

Internet Browsers

1. Internet Explorer 11 or later versions
2. Firefox 47.0 or later versions
3. Google Chrome 51.0 or later versions
4. Safari 9.1 (Mac) or later versions
5. Microsoft Edge 20.1 or later versions

Mobile Device Operating Systems
 

1. iOS 9 or later versions
2. Android 4.4.3 or later versions

You are advised to use the latest versions of browsers and operating systems for better effects.
 

Data confidentiality is a major concern of the Census and Statistics Department in conducting statistical surveys. According to the provisions of the Census and Statistics Ordinance, it is an offence to disclose information pertaining to individual person or household to unauthorised persons. The following specific measures are adopted for OQS to safeguard the confidentiality of information:

1. This website uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol to encrypt data during transmission over the Internet to protect the information provided by individual respondents. The encryption algorithm used in OQS conforms to the related guidelines of the Government, and is one of the stringent industrial standards in use.
2. All data are encrypted and stored in the servers of OQS. No data will be stored locally on your device.
3. A respondent has to use the OQS Account Name and Password set up by him/her for identity authentication every time he/she logs in his/her OQS Account. Respondents of the General Household Survey and 2024/25 Household Expenditure Survey can also choose to log in via "iAM Smart". An OQS Account will be suspended upon multiple consecutive unsuccessful login attempts.
4. If the OQS website on a respondent’s computer remains idle for a period of time after login, the OQS Account will automatically log out to prevent any unauthorised access.
5. C&SD's web servers are protected by "firewalls" and our systems are monitored to prevent any unauthorised access.
6. Stringent administrative control is put in place to monitor all access to the system and ensure that all transactions are properly authorised.

C&SD recommends that you adopt the following practices :
 

1. Do not leave the browser opened and unattended after logging in the OQS. Remember to log out properly by clicking the "Log Out" button on the screen and close your browser when you leave your device or have finished using OQS services.
2. Do not use easy-to-guess characters (such as your birthday, phone number or Hong Kong Identity Card Number) as your password.
3. Change your password on a regular basis.
4. Access OQS only by typing the URL provided on the notification letter issued by this Department in the address bar of the browser or scan the QR code on the notification letter (if provided).
5. Avoid accessing OQS from public computers or free public Wi-Fi.
6. Install proper firewalls, anti-virus software and anti-spyware software in your computer, and update them on a regular basis.
7. Do not disclose your OQS Password to anyone, including any person who claims to be a staff member of C&SD.
8. If you suspect any information security incident or unusual activity, please contact C&SD immediately.
    

The OQS uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol to encrypt data during network transmission to protect your data. Information submitted to the OQS will be stored in encrypted format. All data you provided via the OQS are secured, and access to them is restricted to authorised personnel only. For useful tips on information security, please visit the following pages on the InfoSec website:

1. Points to note when handling your personal information
2. Points to note when handling your accounts and passwords
3. Points to note when surfing the web
4. Making enquiries and reports to Government and related organisations about information security and computer crimes
    

Although the Online Questionnaire System (OQS) is secure and data are encrypted during transmission over the internet, it is difficult to ensure that the same level of security is enforced in all public computer facilities. For security reasons, the use of public computer facilities for completing OQ is therefore not recommended.

C&SD will contact OQS users via email or SMS in the following situations:

1. For users who have an online questionnaire (OQ) activated but not yet submitted, C&SD may send email or SMS in due course to remind them to submit the OQ.
2. When users click "Forgot Password" on the login page for "Continue SAVED Questionnaire", the OQS will send a "one-time passcode" SMS to the user's registered contact phone number, or the password hint message (specified by the user during the account registration stage) to the user's registered email address.
3. When users' questionnaire has been reactivated, a new activation key will be sent to users by email or SMS.
4. Separate account activation details will be sent to separate account applicants by email or SMS.

 

Notes:
C&SD will NOT ask you to submit password in any telephone call, email or SMS. Also, we will not embed hyperlinks in unsolicited email or SMS. If there is such a case, please report to us immediately for follow-up.

This Department has participated in the "SMS Sender Registration Scheme" of the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) and will use the Sender ID "#C&SD" to send SMS. Please visit the webpage of OFCA for information of the scheme.

Please directly type in the URL as printed on the notification letter in the address bar of the web browser, and enter the Online Questionnaire System (OQS) through the website. Please do not use the hyperlinks provided by suspicious emails or websites. Also, please perform security scan on your personal computers regularly to prevent data leakage due to viruses or malicious codes.

The OQ No. and Activation Key are used to identify different survey respondents and thus the information cannot be changed. After questionnaire activation, the Activation Key is no longer valid and you have to enter the account name and password, which are created by you during account registration stage, to log in your account. You can change your password any time.

You can recover your password by clicking "Forgot Password" on the page for "Continue SAVED Questionnaire" on OQS website. There are two different ways to recover the forgotten password, depending on the contact information provided by you during the account registration stage:

SMS users
You need to follow the instructions to input your Account Name, registered phone number and the answer for a preset security question (all of which are specified by you during the account registration stage). The OQS will send a "one-time passcode" to your registered phone number via SMS. After inputting the passcode following the instructions, you can reset the account password to log in the OQS and complete your online questionnaire.

Email users
You need to input your Account Name and registered email address (both specified by you during the account registration stage). The OQS will send the password hint message (also specified by you during the account registration stage) to your registered email address to help you recall your original password. Please note that the password hint message is not the account login password. You still have to use the original password to log in the OQS.

Note:
This Department has participated in the "SMS Sender Registration Scheme" of the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) and will use the Sender ID "#C&SD" to send SMS. Please visit the webpage of OFCA for information of the scheme.

To prevent the OQS from machine-generated logins, users are required to enter a verification code in the questionnaire activation page. If you are unable to clearly identify the characters shown on the verification code label, you may either click on the refresh button for another group of characters or click the speaker button to listen to the characters spelt out by the system.

If you have neither made any system action nor entered data after a period of time, your OQS Account will automatically log out for security reasons. You need to log in the system again.

When an OQ has been successfully submitted, an acknowledgement message will be displayed on the screen. You may print or save the acknowledgement message for reference. The Census and Statistics Department will not send other confirmation notices to you separately.

If you are not sure whether you have received the acknowledgement message, you may contact us.

Under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486), you have a right to request access to and correction of the information about you held by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD). You may seek access to or correction of the information by addressing your request to the Data Protection Officer. Please refer to the Privacy Policy at the C&SD website for further details.

Upon multiple consecutive unsuccessful login attempts, the OQS Account will be suspended. If you follow the instructions to re-activate your OQ, the system will send you an OQ No. and an Activation Key for questionnaire re-activation through SMS or email, according to the contact method specified by you during account registration. In order to protect your data, all OQ data completed previously under the same account will be erased automatically after a questionnaire has been reactivated.

Note:
This Department has participated in the "SMS Sender Registration Scheme" of the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) and will use the Sender ID "#C&SD" to send SMS. Please visit the webpage of OFCA for information of the scheme.

You can complete and submit the online questionnaire immediately after activating your questionnaire. The system will save all the data you have provided when you click the "Save and Continue" button on each page. In addition, you can log out the system at any time and log in your account subsequently by clicking "Continue SAVED Questionnaire" to complete and submit OQ.