Hong Kong’s 2026 Population Census will adopt a new survey format, with the data collection process extended from the traditional one-and-a-half months to a full year and only about one-tenth of households required to complete a detailed long form questionnaire.

Previously, the department surveyed a majority of the population using a short form questionnaire, while the remaining population was surveyed by a long form questionnaire.

The Census & Statistics Department said the re-engineered design would streamline operations, reduce costs and ease the reporting burden on residents by relying more heavily on government administrative data instead of requiring most households to fill in a short form questionnaire.

Commissioner for Census and Statistics Leo Yu said the population study would also make wider use of existing government administrative records to supplement survey returns, with the aim of simplifying questions and reducing the reporting burden on the public.

Under the revamped approach, the census will run from January 1 to December 31, 2026, with the total population count derived largely from existing administrative records while some 300,000 randomly selected households would provide in-depth demographic and socio-economic information.

The department will attempt to identify talented and imported labour admitted through various schemes, collect “places of origin” data for ethnic Chinese and delete data topics on “Mode of transport for work and study” as well.

Sampled households will receive notification letters in purple envelopes and may choose to submit information via an online questionnaire on the census website or by telephone interview through the Census Hotline, with grey vest uniformed census officers following up in person with those who do not respond.

Yu called on households to beware of fraudulent messages as the department will not ask for sensitive and private information.

He added Wang Fuk Court residents would be excluded from this survey.

All data collected will be kept strictly confidential, used only for compiling aggregate statistics and destroyed on or before December 31, 2027, in accordance with the Census and Statistics Ordinance.