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OGCIO Survey on IT Usage and Penetration in Hong Kong

Apr 13, 2022

The objective of the benchmarking survey is to take stock of the comparative status of utilising IT in the business sector and the community. The result of the survey forms a base for future comparison and to identify focal areas to promote IT towards HKSAR Government's strategic goal.

Background

The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer commissioned the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) to conduct the “Survey on Information Technology Usage and Penetration in the Business Sector for 2021” during March to December 2021. The last round of the survey was conducted in 2019.

This report releases the main findings of the 2021 survey. Reports on previous rounds of the survey can be downloaded from the website of C&SD. For details, please refer to the full report here.

Sample design

The sampling frame for the survey was stratified by industry group, and within each industry group, by employment size. A total of 5 523 establishments were selected for enumeration in the 2021 survey. The total number of establishments falling within the scope of the survey was estimated to be around 340 000 based on the results of the survey.

Measurement of ICT development

Findings of the "Household Survey on Information Technology Usage and Penetration" and the "Survey on Information Technology Usage and Penetration in the Business Sector"

The Census and Statistics Department conducts two surveys to gauge the penetration and usage of IT in the community. The Household Survey focuses on IT penetration amongst households and IT usage amongst household members, and the Establishment Survey focuses on the patterns of IT usage and penetration amongst business establishments.

Types of information collected in the two surveys include penetration of personal computer (PC) and Internet, the utilization of PC, Internet service, electronic business services, electronic Government services and information on IT security. Other types of information covered include usage of digital certificate, webpage/website and e-commerce as well as budget for IT among businesses.

Business use of computers and the Internet and web presence of business

Based on data collected through the 2021 survey, it was estimated that a total of around 340,000 establishments fell within the scope of the survey.

In 2021, 96% of the establishments in the business sector used computers and/or smartphones for business purposes. Analysed by industry grouping, the proportion

of establishments using computers and/or smartphones for business purposes was higher in the information and communications sector (100%), and financing and insurance, real estate, professional and business services sector (98%). (Table 1.1 and Chart 2.1)

Penetration rate of the Internet by industry grouping

by employment size of establishments, the proportion of establishments used computers and/or smartphones for business purposes were higher for large and medium establishments (100% respectively) than small establishments (96%). (Table 1.1) 2.4

The Internet is widely used in the business sector of Hong Kong. Around 96% of all establishments used the Internet. Analysed by industry grouping, the proportion of establishments using the Internet was the highest in the information and communications sector (100%) and lowest in the manufacturing, electricity, gas and waste management sector (93%). (Table 1.1 and Chart 2.2)