The Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC), which extended its data collection period for the 2021 Population Census to 28 August, started off “smoothly” yesterday the six-day field visits by census officers to the households of 98,000 residential units that by yesterday had not responded to the census.
According to a DSEC statement, yesterday’s field visits ran smoothly, with a number of households activating access to the online questionnaire or scheduling a telephone interview with the assistance of census officers.
The bureau reaffirmed in the statement that the ongoing census covers all units for residential, industrial and commercial units in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) and collects demographic information about individuals in the units. The bureau strictly complies with the COVID-19 pandemic prevention guidelines, and the census officers are required to adhere to the prevention measures, the statement said.
In the six-day period until Saturday, 800 census officers will be conducting household visits in different districts to assist households in completing the questionnaire with the aim of ensuring full census coverage.
Census officers, wearing a DSEC census uniform and carrying a census ID badge and a grey shoulder bag, work in pairs to visit the households who have not responded to the census, and conduct an interview with the households using mobile tablets, or assist them in activating access to the online questionnaire or scheduling a telephone interview appointment, the statement pointed out.
“The field operation on the first day ran smoothly,” the statement said, adding that most of the households were co-operative and have activated their access to the online questionnaire or scheduled a telephone interview with the assistance of census officers. Some households directly provided information or returned the completed paper questionnaire to the visiting census officers.
Apart from visiting residential units, census officers will also visit industrial and commercial units that have not responded to the census to collect information on the use and status of occupancy of the units.
In the statement the bureau urged the persons in charge of the industrial and commercial units who have not completed the census questionnaire to provide information about the units by calling the Census Hotline at 8809 8809.
The statement noted that households may respond to the census via online or telephone means by Saturday. Households who answer the short-form questionnaire may complete the paper form that was enclosed with the notification letter and return it to the visiting census officers or to one of the six Census work stations. Alternatively, households who answer the long form or the short form may call the Census Hotline to activate access to the online questionnaire or to schedule an appointment with the census officers.
The statement underlined that census officers will not visit the households who have responded to the census.
Households may call the Census Hotline and calls will be answered from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day until September 19.
In appreciation for their support and cooperation, households who have completed and submitted the census questionnaire will automatically be entered into Cooperating Households Lucky Draw on 30 September.
The statement stressed that the census results reflect the changes in the structure and the socio-economic characteristics of the population, and also serve as an important reference source for government policy formulation.
The bureau urged the public to participate in the census and provide accurate information. More information is on the webpage of the 2021 Population Census: https://www.dsec.gov.mo/Censos2021.
This undated photo provided by the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) yesterday shows two 2021 Population Census officers attempting to contact a local household.
