CAP. 316 AA Census and Statistics (2026 Population Census) Order

CENSUS AND STATISTICS (2026 POPULATION CENSUS) ORDER
( CAP. 316 sub. leg. AA )

 

CONTENTS

Version Date
 
  Empowering Section 17/04/2025
Section 1 Commencement 17/04/2025
Section 2 Interpretation 17/04/2025
Section 3 Census to be taken 17/04/2025
Section 4 Purpose of census 17/04/2025
Section 5 Sampling methods may be used 17/04/2025
Section 6 Specified persons to give particulars of matters specified in Schedule 17/04/2025
Section 7 Deadline for destroying completed schedules 17/04/2025
Schedule   17/04/2025

Empowering section (17/04/2025)

(Cap 316 section 9)

[17 April 2025]

(Originally L.N. 12 of 2025)

Section 1 Commencement (17/04/2025)

This Order comes into operation on 17 April 2025.

Section 2 Interpretation (17/04/2025)

In this Order—

  1. 2026 census (2026年普查) means a census of population referred to in section 3(1);
  2. premises (處所) includes a staircase, a corridor and an unsheltered place;
  3. vessel (船隻)—
    1. means any description of vessel, whether or not it is used in navigation or constructed or adapted for use in navigation; and
    2. includes a ship and a boat.

Section 3 Census to be taken (17/04/2025)

  1. The Commissioner must take a census of population from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 (both dates inclusive) to obtain particulars of—
    1. persons dwelling in Hong Kong—
      1. including persons dwelling on board a vessel in Hong Kong other than an excluded vessel; but
      2. excluding any naval, military or air force personnel;
    2. premises, other than a vessel, in Hong Kong that are occupied by any person referred to in paragraph (a) for dwelling purposes, and households in those premises; and
    3. vessels on board of which persons referred to in paragraph (a)(i) dwell, and households on board those vessels.
  2. In this section—
    excluded vessel (豁除船隻) means—
    1. a vessel used by—
      1. the Central People’s Government;
      2. the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; or
      3. the government of a foreign state,
      4. at the time when a census officer seeks access to the vessel; or
    2. a warship.


 

Section 4 Purpose of census (17/04/2025)

The purpose of the 2026 census is to obtain information on the demographic, social and economic characteristics of the population of Hong Kong at the time of the taking of the census.

Section 5 Sampling methods may be used (17/04/2025)

The Commissioner may use sampling methods for the collection of information relating to the 2026 census.

Section 6 Specified persons to give particulars of matters specified in Schedule (17/04/2025)

  1. A specified person occupying any premises subject to census under section 3(1)(b) or dwelling on board any vessel subject to census under section 3(1)(c) must, for the purpose of the 2026 census, give to the Commissioner particulars of the matters specified in the Schedule in respect of—
    1. the specified person, the premises or the vessel, and the household in those premises or on board that vessel; and
    2. any other person—
      1. who occupies the premises or dwells on board the vessel; and
      2. who is—
        1. aged below 15 and under the specified person’s guardianship; or
        2. unable to give those particulars by reason of sickness, disablement, absence or other sufficient cause.
  2. In this section—
    specified person (指明人士)—
    1. means a person who has reached 15 years of age on 30 June 2026; but
    2. excludes any naval, military or air force personnel.

Section 7 Deadline for destroying completed schedules (17/04/2025)

The Commissioner must destroy all completed schedules collected or received by census officers for the 2026 census, and all copies of the schedules, not later than 31 December 2027.

Schedule (17/04/2025)

[section 6]
Specified Matters
  1. For persons
    1. Whether a member of the household
    2. Relationship to other members of the household
    3. Sex
    4. Year and month of birth
    5. Marital status
    6. Usual accommodation in Hong Kong
    7. Place of birth
    8. Ethnicity
    9. For a person of Chinese ethnicity—place of origin
    10. Nationality
    11. Duration of residence in Hong Kong
    12. Whether a Hong Kong permanent resident, Hong Kong non-permanent resident, visitor holding Two-way Permit from the Mainland or visitor holding other travel document
    13. For a person who is a Hong Kong non-permanent resident—type of visa or entry permit that the person relies on to stay in Hong Kong, or type of admission scheme under which the person is permitted to stay in Hong Kong
    14. Number, or expected number, of months of stay in Hong Kong during the period between January 2026 and June 2026
    15. Number, or expected number, of months of stay in Hong Kong during the period between July 2026 and December 2026
    16. If staying, or expecting to stay, outside Hong Kong during any period in 2026—main reason for that
    17. Whereabouts, or expected whereabouts, on 30 June 2026
    18. Place of residence 5 years ago
    19. Type of housing 5 years ago
    20. Usual language
    21. Ability to speak other languages or dialects
    22. Ability to read languages
    23. Ability to write languages
    24. For a person who has reached 15 years of age on 30 June 2026—whether the person requires care
    25. For a person requiring care who has reached 15 years of age on 30 June 2026—the person’s primary carer
    26. School attendance
    27. Educational attainment—
      (a) highest level attended
      (b) highest level completed
    28. Type of school attended
    29. Field of study
    30. Place of study
    31. Economic activity status
    32. Industry
    33. Occupation
    34. Place of work
    35. Hours of work in main employment
    36. Earnings from main employment
    37. Whether having other employment
    38. Hours of work in all other employment
    39. Earnings from all other employment
    40. Other cash incomes

  2. For households
    1. Type of household
    2. Household size
    3. Household composition
    4. Household income

  3. For premises other than vessels
    1. Type of premises
    2. Type of accommodation
    3. Whether usual or occasional residence
    4. Number of households in premises
    5. Number of persons in premises
    6. Whether subdivided units
    7. Number of living or dining rooms
    8. Number of kitchens
    9. Number of bathrooms or toilets
    10. Number of bedrooms
    11. Number of other rooms
    12. Number of cocklofts
    13. Number of bedspaces
    14. Saleable area of accommodation
    15. Tenure of accommodation
    16. Mortgage payment
    17. Outstanding mortgage period or loan period
    18. Rent
    19. Management fee

  4. For Vessels
    1. Type of vessel
    2. Whether usual or occasional residence
    3. Number of households on board vessel
    4. Number of persons on board vessel