CentreO Blog

Previously, we introduced the purpose of the Survey of Employment and Vacancies and how to submit it. In this blog, we will explain how properly fill it out, as you may find difficulties. Below are a few frequently asked questions.

In section A, provide basic information about the company.

1. Trading name — Some establishments may use a trading name that is different from the legal name they registered. If you have a trading name, please enter it in the box provided. Otherwise, please leave the box blank.

2. Ownership type — The type of ownership reported should be in line with the registered business.

In section B, you are required to provide the operating status of the company. If the company has started operations, you need to put in the date of commencement. If the company is dormant, it is not in operation. State the precise status in the bottom half of the section.

In section C, clearly state the number of persons employed and the job vacancies in your company.

3. Working proprietors, active business partners, and unpaid family workers — Provide the number of male and female workers that do not have regular pay.

4. Paid employees and working directors – Provide the number of male and female workers who are full time or part time paid employees (both permanent and temporary).

5. Job vacancies – Provide the number of job vacancies. Also the title, job description as well as the educational qualification required for the job vacancies.

In section D, describe the major type of your activities and tick the activity group that your company belongs to.
If none of the activity group applies, you are required to fill in section E to let the Labor Department knows who is the reporting person. The reporting person can whoever filled out the form or any other contact person from the company.

Centre O specialises in providing professional business advice in Hong Kong, including assistance in filling out your Survey of Employment and Vacancies. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at sales@centreo.hk.

You will receive a letter every quarter from the Census and Statistics Department containing a survey requesting basic information about your company. This information includes incorporation date, business nature, number of employees, etc. You may be confused with the purpose of this form and how it should be filled. Below is some basic clarifying information to ensure you fill out the survey in a compulsory manner.

What is it?
The survey is called the “Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies”, and it is used to update information on persons employed and jobs available in your company.

How is the data used?
The data is used to inform the labor department on how many employees there are in your company. Directors and stakeholders of the company are automatically considered as employees, even if they are not paid a salary. The Labor Department checks whether it matches with the records of the tax department. In addition, it is useful to economists to keep track of the status of the labor market.

Is it compulsory?
It is compulsory to fill in a survey per year or anytime there has been an update regarding employees within your company. Any employee company can fill it out using the best of his/her knowledge and belief about the company.

When should I submit the form?
Companies must return the completed questionnaire to the department within 14 days by post/courier. You can also request an electronic form online and submit it by email. If there is any change in your company, you are encouraged to fill out the form again and submit another.

If for any reason you are unable to fill it out or have more questions, Centre O is available to help. The filling of the Census and Statistics Department Survey is part of our ad hoc services, so please contact us at sales@centreo.hk for further information.

Training visas might be an option for you to consider if you wish to employ a foreign national for an internship in your Hong Kong company.

Anyone who wishes to enter Hong Kong for training to acquire skills and knowledge needs a 12-month training visa, and acquiring such a visa is a joint process.

To qualify for application, you and your intern must meet the following requirements:

• No security objection and no known record of serious crime with respect to the applicant;
• The “bona fides” of the applicant and the sponsoring company are satisfied;
• You, the sponsoring company, are a well-established company capable of providing the proposed training;
• There is a contract signed by both you and the applicant for the visa, your intern;
• You, the sponsoring company, guarantee in writing the maintenance and repatriation of the applicant, and that the applicant will receive training in the sponsor’s premises until the end of the agreed-upon period, after which the applicant will return to his/her place of residence; and
• The proposed duration and content of the training programme can be justified.

If you have any questions or are seeking professional business advice, on training visas and many other topics, please contact Centre O at sales@centreo.hk. We are always here to provide you with various business support services.