Operational statistics on census data collection
Dear Census and Statistics Department,
I am writing to request operational statistics regarding response and data collection channels for all Population Census and Population By-census. I would like to request these figures for all available years in departmental records (from the earliest date such administrative breakdowns were compiled up to the 2026 interim data).
For each census/by-census year available, I would appreciate your provision of the following–
1. The total number of households targeted or sampled for the data collection exercise (including Long Form and Short Form splits, where applicable)
2. The total number of households that self-responded, broken down by whatever historical channels were tracked during that specific cycle (e.g., postal paper returns, telephone interviews, online e-Forms, etc.)
3. The total number of households that required face-to-face enumeration by census field officers due to non-response.
I would really appreciate if the data was presented in any electronic (e.g. Excel/PDF) format rather than tabular format as I cannot read this. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.
Yours faithfully,
James A. Wilson
Dear James,
This is to acknowledge receipt of your email. We will get back to you
once your request has been processed.
Best regards,
Gigi CHAU
Research Manager
Census and Statistics Department
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Tel: (852) 3863 2529
Fax: (852) 2827 1708
E-mail: [1][Census and Statistics Department request email]
Dear James,
I refer to your email of 11 August 2026 regarding operational statistics
on census data collection.
The 2026 Population Census
To modernise the population censuses in Hong Kong and to reduce respondent
burden, operational risks and costs in the long run, a re-engineered
approach has been adopted starting from the 2026 Population Census (26C).
For 26C, a sample of about 10% of households in Hong Kong is selected
using random sampling procedures, and the data collection period runs
through one year from January to December 2026. Relevant enumeration
results of 26C will be released in end 2027.
The 2001, 2011 and 2021 Population Censuses; the 2006 and 2016 Population
By-censuses
Population censuses comprised a simple enumeration of the majority of
households (about 90% was selected since the 2011 Population Census and
six-seventh in the 2001 Population Census) using a short-form
questionnaire and a detailed enquiry of the remaining households using a
long-form questionnaire; while by-censuses only used a long-form
questionnaire for a fraction of households (about 10% was selected since
the 2006 Population By-census). For relevant enumeration results of
population censuses/by-censuses, please refer to the following census
products.
Publication “Hong Kong 2021 Population Census - Technical Report” (page
39, Enumeration results of the 2021 Population Census)
[1]https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/data/stat...
Publication “Hong Kong 2016 Population By-census - Technical Report” (page
37, Enumeration results of the 2016 Population By-census)
[2]https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/data/stat...
Publication “Hong Kong 2011 Population Census - Main Report : Volume II”
(page 35, Enumeration results of the 2011 Population Census)
[3]https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/data/stat...
Publication “Hong Kong 2006 Population By-census Main Report : Volume II”
(page 28, Enumeration results of the 2006 Population By-census)
[4]https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/data/stat...
Publication “Hong Kong 2001 Population Census - Main Report - Volume II”
(page 27, Enumeration results of the 2001 Population Census)
[5]https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/data/stat...
Best regards,
Gigi CHAU
Research Manager
Census and Statistics Department
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Tel: (852) 3863 2529
Fax: (852) 2827 1708
E-mail: [6][Census and Statistics Department request email]
From: ACCESS-TO-INFO/CENSTATD
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 6:25 PM
To: '[ATI #1618 email]'
<[ATI #1618 email]>
Subject: Re: Access to Information request - Operational statistics on
census data collection
Dear James,
This is to acknowledge receipt of your email. We will get back to you
once your request has been processed.
Best regards,
Gigi CHAU
Research Manager
Census and Statistics Department
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Tel: (852) 3863 2529
Fax: (852) 2827 1708
E-mail: [7][Census and Statistics Department request email]