1 Programme of Annual Economic Surveys (PAES) in Hong Kong 2nd International Workshop on Economic Census 6-9 July 2009, Seoul Presented by Lilian Fung Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) Hong Kong, China

2 Introduction Economic Census Economic Census vs A well-developed Programme of Annual Economic Surveys (PAES) A well-developed Programme of Annual Economic Surveys (PAES)

3 PAES in Hong Kong Survey system covering six mandatory annual surveys : Survey system covering six mandatory annual surveys : Annual Survey of Industrial Production (ASIP) Annual Survey of Building, Construction and Real Estate Sectors (ASBCRE) Annual Survey of Wholesale, Retail and Import and Export Trades, Restaurants and Hotels (ASW) Annual Survey of Transport and Related Services (AST) Annual Survey of Storage, Communication, Financing, Insurance and Business Services (ASS) Annual Survey of Banks, Deposit-taking Companies, Restricted Licence Banks and Representative Offices of Foreign Banks (ASB) Basically cover all non-government economic sectors Basically cover all non-government economic sectors [ supplemented by a voluntary annual survey on personal services activities ]

4 Roles of PAES PAES PAES Represents the core data feeding system for business operating statistics Constitutes a major source of input data for GDP compilation Generates economic indicators for measuring cost structure and performance of different industries

5 Sub-annual surveys Monthly and quarterly surveys to provide up-to-date information to gauge short-term economic performance Monthly and quarterly surveys to provide up-to-date information to gauge short-term economic performance Quarterly Survey of Industrial Production Quarterly Survey of Construction Output Quarterly Survey of Restaurant Receipts and Purchases Quarterly Survey of Service Industries Monthly Survey of Retail Sales

6 Legal provisions Each PAES survey governed by its respective Census and Statistics order Each PAES survey governed by its respective Census and Statistics order Clear and explicit details on survey coverage and items of enquiry Provision for protection of confidentiality of individual information

7 Design and administration PAES surveys PAES surveys Separate surveys with in-built programme concept to achieve : Harmonisation in conceptual framework Standardisation of statistical methods and survey design Administratively under one umbrella as a key statistical survey activity of C&SD

8 Planning & Organisation Preparation meetings among subject PAES survey professionals to agree on time schedule and data requirements Preparation meetings among subject PAES survey professionals to agree on time schedule and data requirements Issue of press release upon commencement of each round of PAES Issue of press release upon commencement of each round of PAES

9 Sampling frame PAES surveys adopt a common sampling frame : PAES surveys adopt a common sampling frame : Based on Central Register of Establishments (CRE) Type of business classified according to Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) HSIC modeled on UN s International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) with local adaptation HSIC Version 2.0 released in late 2008 to comply with ISIC Revision 4 and adopted from 2009 round of PAES

10 Sample design Sampling frame stratified by industry group and then employment size Sampling frame stratified by industry group and then employment size Full coverage of establishments with employment size above thresholds Full coverage of establishments with employment size above thresholds Sample allocation to remaining cases with due consideration of desired level of precision in terms of value added Sample allocation to remaining cases with due consideration of desired level of precision in terms of value added

11 Frame and sample size of 2007 PAES SurveyFrame sizeSample sizeSampling rate ASIP % ASBCRE % ASW % AST % ASS % Note : ASB is a full census covering about 300 cases.

12 Fieldwork arrangements Fieldwork centralised since late 1990s Fieldwork centralised since late 1990s More timely production of statistics More timely production of statistics : Enhancement of fieldwork efficiency Enhancement of fieldwork efficiency Introduction of streamlining measures Introduction of streamlining measures Customer Relations Programme : Customer Relations Programme : Courtesy Visit Programme Meet-the-Client Sessions Customer Window Scheme

13 Data items (1) Basic data Basic data Type of ownership Origin of investment Floor area Employment Compensation of employees Operating expenses Business receipts Capital expenditure

14 Data items (2) Specific subjects (examples) Specific subjects (examples) Resources on computer products and services Research and development activities Trade in services

15 Data collection Data refer to calendar year Data refer to calendar year Questionnaires mailed to target respondents Questionnaires mailed to target respondents Electronic questionnaire available Postal return or collection in person Postal return or collection in person Assistance offered to respondents with difficulties in completion of questionnaires Assistance offered to respondents with difficulties in completion of questionnaires Telephone interview as main follow-up method, supplemented by personal interview Telephone interview as main follow-up method, supplemented by personal interview

16 Quality assurance Standard procedures include : Standard procedures include : Field and indoor checking/verifications Computer validation Professional review Quality assurance review programme : Quality assurance review programme : Subject professionals to conduct self-assessment on quality of statistical systems Dedicated quality assurance team at departmental level Focuses on six dimensions in defining quality, viz. relevance, accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, comparability and coherence

17 Dissemination of results PAES results available within 12 months after reference year PAES results available within 12 months after reference year Dissemination in form of : Dissemination in form of : Press release Reports [ free download from C&SD Website ] Direct enquiry Further promotion via talks to media, publication of feature articles in statistical digests, etc. Further promotion via talks to media, publication of feature articles in statistical digests, etc.

18 PAES survey reports Key statistics released : Key statistics released : Operating account Principal statistics No. of persons engaged Compensation of employees Operating statistics Business receipts and other income Relative standard errors and confidence intervals of selected principal statistics

19 Major developments Starting from 2009 round Starting from 2009 round Implementation of HSIC Version 2.0 Planned legislative change to introduce a new integrated survey order Pave way for further integration of separate annual economic surveys into a unified survey system Expand coverage to include data collection of personal services activities

20 Thank you !