Census in Hong Kong

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 on a large scale and a wide range of data are collected. Statistics collected would be a reference for Hong Kong Government to make policy, or for private organisations for research.

Census and Statistics Ordinance

Census and Statistics Ordinance, which was first effective in 1978, is the main law governing the work of the Census and Statistics Department. The Ordinance provides for the taking of a census of population and the collection, compilation and publication of statistical information concerning Hong Kong and for matters connected therewith. It also provides strict safeguards on the confidentiality of data pertaining to individuals or undertakings. For example, CAP. 316 S Census and Statistics (2001 Population Census) Order and CAP. 316 U Census and Statistics (2006 Population Census) Order ordered the Commissioner shall take a census of population in specified period to obtain particulars of persons dwelling in Hong Kong. In particular, Section 4 stated that each person aged 15 or above occupying any premises subject to census shall give to the Commissioner particulars of the matters specified in the Ordinance.

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 resident. From 1981 onwards, although counting of all residents is still conducted together with collection of basic information such as age and gender using a short questionnaire, the detailed characteristics are collected interviewing a large fraction of households using a long questionnaire. In the 2001 census, 1 in 7 households completed the long questionnaire and in the 2011 census, it was 1 in 10.

The by-census is similar to the census except relying solely on a large sample of households to deduce the characteristics. 10% of households were sampled in the 2006 by-census.

When census was conducted by questionnaire, a questionnaire 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 often selected as the 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 the 2006 by-census, 5000 of enumerators were 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.

In theory, the census counts every household member, even including illegal immigrants. To encourage those interviewed to provide true answers, their information provided is strictly confidential and the forms 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 unauthorised 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 within one year. No information of individual persons or households can be deduced from the processed data.

Content

One of two forms are filled out by each household. 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:

For person:

Information filled by census officer, such as:

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:

Information on household members:

Demographic and social characteristics:

Educational characteristics:

Geographical and internal migration characteristics:

Economic characteristics:

Write In Campaign 'Canadian'

It has been suggested that question P8 (short form) regarding ethnicity be answered with more information, in particular for the 300,000+ Canadians in Hong Kong. A write-in campaign to fill in 'Canadian' was launched in June 2011. However, this campaign reflects confusion about the distinction between ethnicity and nationality.

Write-in campaign 'Hongkongers'

A proposal was floated in mid-2013 that in the 2016 by-census Hongkongers should report themselves as 'Others" or 'Other Asians' instead of 'Chinese', and write in as 'Hongkongers' or 'British Hongkongers', whichever more relevant to the respondents. The proposal also suggested that Taiwanese people based in the territory should avoid reporting themselves as 'Chinese'.