Census and Statistics (2026 Population Census) Order
(Made by the Chief Executive in Council under section 9 of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Cap. 316))
[17 April 2025]
This Order comes into operation on 17 April 2025.
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.The Commissioner must take a census of population from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 (both dates inclusive) to obtain particulars of—
persons dwelling in Hong Kong—
including persons dwelling on board a vessel in Hong Kong other than an excluded vessel; but
excluding any naval, military or air force personnel;
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
vessels on board of which persons referred to in paragraph (a)(i) dwell, and households on board those vessels.
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.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.
The Commissioner may use sampling methods for the collection of information relating to the 2026 census.
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—
the specified person, the premises or the vessel, and the household in those premises or on board that vessel; and
any other person—
who occupies the premises or dwells on board the vessel; and
who is—
aged below 15 and under the specified person’s guardianship; or
unable to give those particulars by reason of sickness, disablement, absence or other sufficient cause.
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.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.
Whether a member of the household
Relationship to other members of the household
Sex
Year and month of birth
Marital status
Usual accommodation in Hong Kong
Place of birth
Ethnicity
For a person of Chinese ethnicity—place of origin
Nationality
Duration of residence in Hong Kong
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
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
Number, or expected number, of months of stay in Hong Kong during the period between January 2026 and June 2026
Number, or expected number, of months of stay in Hong Kong during the period between July 2026 and December 2026
If staying, or expecting to stay, outside Hong Kong during any period in 2026—main reason for that
Whereabouts, or expected whereabouts, on 30 June 2026
Place of residence 5 years ago
Type of housing 5 years ago
Usual language
Ability to speak other languages or dialects
Ability to read languages
Ability to write languages
For a person who has reached 15 years of age on 30 June 2026—whether the person requires care
For a person requiring care who has reached 15 years of age on 30 June 2026—the person’s primary carer
School attendance
Educational attainment—
highest level attended
highest level completed
Type of school attended
Field of study
Place of study
Economic activity status
Industry
Occupation
Place of work
Hours of work in main employment
Earnings from main employment
Whether having other employment
Hours of work in all other employment
Earnings from all other employment
Other cash incomes
Type of household
Household size
Household composition
Household income
Type of premises
Type of accommodation
Whether usual or occasional residence
Number of households in premises
Number of persons in premises
Whether subdivided units
Number of living or dining rooms
Number of kitchens
Number of bathrooms or toilets
Number of bedrooms
Number of other rooms
Number of cocklofts
Number of bedspaces
Saleable area of accommodation
Tenure of accommodation
Mortgage payment
Outstanding mortgage period or loan period
Rent
Management fee
Type of vessel
Whether usual or occasional residence
Number of households on board vessel
Number of persons on board vessel