Cap. 316 sub. leg. AA

Census and Statistics (2026 Population Census) Order (Cap. 316, section 9)(Enacting provision omitted—E.R. 1 of 2026) [17 April 2025] 1. (Omitted as spent—E.R. 1 of 2026) 2. Interpretation In this Order—2026 census (2026年普查) means a census of population referred to in section 3(1);premises (處所) includes a staircase, a corridor and an unsheltered place; vessel (船隻)— (a) means any description of vessel, whether or not it is used in navigation or constructed or adapted for use in navigation; and (b) includes a ship and a boat. 3. Census to be taken (1) The Commissioner must take a census of population from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 (both dates inclusive) to obtain particulars of—(a) persons dwelling in Hong Kong—(i) including persons dwelling on board a vessel in Hong Kong other than an excluded vessel; but(ii) excluding any naval, military or air force personnel;(b) 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(c) 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— (a) a vessel used by—(i) the Central People’s Government;(ii) the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; or(iii) the government of a foreign state,at the time when a census officer seeks access to the vessel; or (b) a warship. 4. Purpose of census 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. 5. Sampling methods may be used The Commissioner may use sampling methods for the collection of information relating to the 2026 census. 6. Specified persons to give particulars of matters specified in Schedule (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—(a) the specified person, the premises or the vessel, and the household in those premises or on board that vessel; and(b) any other person—(i) who occupies the premises or dwells on board the vessel; and(ii) who is—(A) aged below 15 and under the specified person’s guardianship; or(B) 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)— (a) means a person who has reached 15 years of age on 30 June 2026; but (b) excludes any naval, military or air force personnel. 7. Deadline for destroying completed schedules 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 [s. 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