Environmental Report of the Census and Statistics Department 2023

Introduction

  1. The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) was set up in December 1967.  Together with the statistical units established in various government bureaux and departments, it forms the Government Statistical Service.
  2. The work of C&SD can be classified into three main categories:
    1. Conducting statistical surveys and operating statistical systems for the compilation of social and economic statistics, including data series on such areas as population, trade, industry, employment, prices, national income and balance of payments;
    2. Performing statistical analysis and disseminating statistical data and analytical results; and
    3. Providing statistical consultancy and support services to various government bureaux/departments.
  3. The Commissioner for Census and Statistics is the head of C&SD.  He is assisted by a Deputy Commissioner and five Assistant Commissioners, each of whom being in charge of one division.  As at 1 January 2023, the establishment of C&SD was 1 303.
  4. Being the leading department in the provision of official statistical services, the work of C&SD interacts with the environment mainly in the aspects of paper and material usage, waste management and energy consumption.  An effective reporting system has been in force and various initiatives have been implemented in the department to enable the monitoring and improvement of its performance in these significant environmental aspects.
  5. Enhancement of C&SD’s environmental performance can be achieved only through the dedication and support of its stakeholders, including its staff, its material/service suppliers and contractors, users of official statistical services, and other relevant government bureaux/departments.  It is hoped that, with reference to this environmental report, these stakeholders can better understand C&SD’s environmental concerns and will join the department in environmental protection.
  6. Unless otherwise stated, figures quoted in this report refer to the calendar year 2023.

Environmental policy

  1. C&SD makes good effort to ensure that all statistical activities it undertakes are conducted in an environmentally responsible manner, and meet the commitments of the Clean Air Charter signed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in November 2006.  To this end, C&SD has adopted the following arrangements in pursuance of its environmental concerns:
    1. Consumption minimisation
      C&SD adheres to the principle of “Avoid, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” in the consumption of paper, materials and energy.  The usage of information technology is actively pursued in enhancing the performance in this aspect wherever applicable.
    2. Staff training and education
      C&SD ensures, through appropriate measures such as provision of training and guidelines, that all its staff are aware of various environmental issues.
    3. Procurement management
      C&SD demands its suppliers and contractors to provide, wherever possible, products and services that can meet high environmental standards.
    4. Communication
      C&SD makes its environmental policy known to its stakeholders and the community at large through the Internet.

Environmental objectives

  1. The environmental objectives of C&SD are:
    1. To reduce consumption of paper and materials that are hazardous to the environment;
    2. To reduce electricity consumption; and
    3. To increase the environmental awareness of staff and instill amongst them a sense of responsibility for the environment.
  2. The green measures and environmental performance achieved by C&SD to meet the above objectives and fulfill the commitments of the Clean Air Charter are highlighted in the following sections.

Environmental management

  1. C&SD is committed to promoting green management.  It has set up an Environmental Management Committee (EMC) in 1995, which is chaired by an Assistant Commissioner.  Members of EMC include the Departmental Secretary, a Senior Statistician from each of the five divisions, a Statistician and a Senior Clerical Officer.
  2. Since its establishment, EMC has explored a variety of green initiatives, introduced a series of green office guidelines and set the directions in implementing various environmental programmes in the department.
  3. To implement environmental programmes effectively, EMC has established a network of Green Ambassadors in the department since 1999.  Under the programme of Green Ambassadors, an officer on each floor of C&SD’s offices is appointed as a Green Ambassador who is responsible for promulgating various measures of environmental protection to colleagues working on the same floor.  Specifically, the Green Ambassadors have the following roles:
    1. Facilitating prompt actions on environmental measures formulated by EMC in different offices of C&SD;
    2. Assuming a monitoring role when green measures are implemented;
    3. Enhancing communication between EMC and staff in different offices of C&SD on environmental issues; and
    4. Serving as site facilitators in the conduct of environmental audits in selected offices where applicable.
    As at 1 April 2023, there were a total of 16 Green Ambassadors in C&SD.
  4. C&SD has put in force an environmental audit programme since December 1999.  The aims of the audit programme are to verify if the day-to-day office operations and activities comply with the department’s environmental policy and objectives and to explore new green initiatives through on-site visits for continual improvement in environmental performance.  The focus of the programme is on energy conservation, consumption minimisation, waste recovery as well as enhancing green awareness of staff and quality of environmental management.  Ad hoc audit teams are formed each year to conduct environmental audits in selected offices and the Green Ambassadors of the audited offices will take follow-up actions if required in accordance with the recommendations stated in the environmental audit reports.  In 2023, two environmental audits were conducted in selected offices of C&SD.  With effect from August 2015, self-inspections regarding green office practices are arranged by Green Ambassadors twice a year to ensure that good housekeeping practices have been implemented effectively on each office floor.
  5. Given that smoking is a principal source of indoor air pollution, a smoke-free workplace policy has been implemented in C&SD since 1 April 2005.  Smoking is prohibited in the workplace of C&SD so as to maintain a healthy workplace for its staff.  Starting from 1 January 2007, it is a requirement by law that smoking in all government buildings is prohibited.

Environmental performance

Reduction of paper consumption

  1. Information technology has been widely used in achieving paper saving.  A number of office automation applications (e.g. Online Inventory System for Computer Asset Management, and Electronic Leave and Application Processing System) have been adopted.  Other applications include the use of Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing technique for conducting survey interviews, the deployment of the Geographic Information System to support fieldwork, and the use of the Internet for data collection and provision of various electronic statistical services.  C&SD has also deployed mobile technology in data collection since 2016, including the use of mobile devices in conducting face-to-face interviews in Population Census/By-census and in collecting price data for the compilation of Consumer Price Indices.  Besides, most of the departmental information is internally accessible and maintained via the Knowledge Management Support System, which is organised systematically into such topics as statistical management, administrative and general matters, and IT user resources in order that colleagues can easily retrieve information and work, share and learn on a collaborative platform.
  2. In line with the e-government policy, e-options have been provided for major services of C&SD.  For example, e-questionnaire templates are available for all surveys amenable to e-submission; e-forms are also available at the C&SD Website to facilitate users’ application for various statistical services.
  3. As for statistical publications compiled by C&SD, data users can browse and download all such publications at the C&SD Website.  Other than the latest issues, back issues of publications are also available at the C&SD Website.
  4. Following the implementation of the free download policy in June 2006, C&SD has reviewed the printing arrangement for its publications and reduced the number of print versions by phase.  Production of the print versions of all publications of C&SD has been ceased since 2018.  This arrangement has resulted in a substantial decrease in the number of printed copies for statistical publications, which is in line with the green policy of the Government and saves the printing cost.
  5. On dissemination of statistical information, various types of statistical products, publicity and educational leaflets/pamphlets of C&SD are available for access at the C&SD Website.  In line with its environmental policy, C&SD will continue its current practice of producing print versions of leaflets and pamphlets only when there is a genuine need to do so.
  6. On the same basis of comparison by not including the paper consumption relating to ad hoc statistical projects and processing of import/export declaration, the amount of A4 paper consumed by C&SD in photocopying/office printing in 2023 was 8 871 reams, 5.6% less than the consumption in 2022 (9 395 reams).
  7. In support of the Government’s call for reduction in paper consumption, C&SD will continue to contain the consumption of paper in photocopying/office printing in 2024.

Waste recovery for recycling/re-use

  1. C&SD continues its efforts in recycling the waste paper which it has generated.  Each section of C&SD is provided with waste paper recycling bags for collecting waste paper.  In 2023, 32 tonnes of waste paper were collected for recycling.
  2. C&SD’s effort on waste separation and recycling also covers aluminum cans and plastic bottles.  Recycling bins for collecting aluminum cans and plastic bottles separately have been set up by the Building Management Offices (BMO) of the premises where C&SD headquarters and other C&SD offices are located.  C&SD’s staff are encouraged to put those recycling facilities to good use in daily work.
  3. Regarding recycling of used printer cartridges, 330 printer cartridges were collected by C&SD for recycling in 2023.

Reduction of plastic bag consumption

  1. C&SD keeps on reminding its staff to be economical in paper consumption with a view to reducing the rubbish generated and minimising the usage of plastic garbage bags.  To further promote the use of “degradable” plastic bags, C&SD has included a provision in the new cleansing services contract for its offices requesting the cleansing contractors to use “degradable” plastic bags or bags made of “recycled plastics” for storing rubbish.
  2. Starting from May 2008, C&SD has stopped distributing single-use shopping bags to members of the public in various events or when they purchase statistical products in C&SD’s offices, so as to help reduce the consumption of plastic bags and paper bags.

Energy conservation

  1. C&SD recognises the importance of energy conservation and efficiency.  It has carried out a good amount of energy saving retrofit works, including installation of energy-saving fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lamps, and replacing magnetic ballasts with electronic ballasts.
  2. Apart from the modification of engineering installations, C&SD emphasises good housekeeping practices in achieving energy conservation.  Green energy management practices are widely adopted in the offices.  Such practices include switching off lights, air-conditioners and electric equipment when not in use, lowering venetian blinds when sunlight is strong, and setting air-conditioning at appropriate room temperature.
  3. The Government has set a new “Green Energy Target” for 6% energy saving from 2020-21 to 2024-25 under comparable operating conditions in 2018-19 as the baseline.  Under comparable operating conditions in 2018-19, i.e. not including electricity consumptions in newly set up offices, the two C&SD office locations(1) consumed 293 280 kWh of electricity in 2022-23, lower than the amount of electricity consumed in 2018-19 (301 789 kWh), achieving an overall 2.8% energy saving.  The emission of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and respirable suspended particulates (RSP) corresponding to the electricity consumption in these offices amounted to 602 kg, 366 kg and 19 kg respectively.
  4. There are three departmental vehicles in C&SD.  The total mileage in 2023 was 50 474 km, and the fuel consumption was 5 904 litres.  The corresponding emissions of NOx and RSP were about 54 kg and 4 kg respectively.

Carbon audit

  1. In 2023, C&SD continued to provide information to the respective BMO of its office premises so as to facilitate the latter to collect carbon emission data in respect of activities conducted by various bureaux/departments (including C&SD) in such government office buildings.

Indoor air quality

  1. Indoor air quality certificates of “good class” or above had been issued to both Wanchai Tower (where C&SD headquarters is located) and Trade and Industry Tower (where a main office of C&SD is located), with valid periods up to 2024 and 2025 respectively.

Building an environmental culture

  1. To keep staff informed of C&SD’s latest measures on environmental protection and to foster their awareness of green office practices, a regular column entitled “Environmental Protection and You” is set up in the Departmental Newsletter for internal circulation among C&SD’s staff.  Articles on environmental issues contributed by EMC members and Green Ambassadors, covering such topics as waste reduction/recovery, energy conservation, green pledge and green procurement, are regularly published in that column.

The way ahead

  1. C&SD will continue to work along its environmental policy and improve its environmental performance.  Specific targets that C&SD aims to achieve in the coming year are set out below:
    1. To sustain efforts in consumption minimisation, waste recovery and energy conservation;
    2. To continue organising training sessions and green activities to raise staff’s awareness of and participation in environmental protection; and
    3. To explore more green initiatives which can be implemented in office operations and activities of C&SD.
(1) Separately metered electricity consumption figures comparable on the same basis over 2018-19 and 2022-23 for quantitative assessment of performance in electricity consumption saving were available only for two office locations of C&SD.