The Statistical Business Register of Macao SAR

Government of Macao SAR

Statistics and Census Service

Purpose of Statistical Business Register

Provides a comprehensive framework to support data collection and processing operations;

Provides a good quality frame from which samples can be selected and population estimates can be produced.

Coverage of Statistical Business Register

Business entities: Enterprise and establishment are two basic types of business entities;

Non-profit organizations: An individual data file consists a full listing of non-profit organizations based on the records from Identification Bureau;

Government agencies: Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau is the main data source for updating information on government agencies.

Methods of Registration

All business entities in Macao SAR are required to register at the Finance Services Bureau (DSF) prior to their operations;

The tax register of DSF is considered to be the most comprehensive coverage of all economic activities operating in Macao SAR and serves as the foundation for Statistical Business Register;

For statistical purposes, a quarterly field check is essential to confirm the new records from DSF, e.g. principal economic activities, employment size, location of establishments, etc.

Classification Used

Classification of Economic Activities of Macao (CAM)

CAM is the standard industrial classification used in Macao SAR, with reference to the International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities, 3rd Revision (ISIC, Rev.3).

All the business entities are classified with a five-digit coding of CAM according to their economic activities.

Data Sources (Business sector)

Main Data Source:Tax register from the Finance Services Bureau

Supplementary Data Sources (licensing agencies): Macao Government Tourist Office - Hotels, restaurants, bars, travel agencies, etc.Macao Monetary Authority - Financial institutionsMacao Economic Services - Manufacturing unitsCivic and Municipal Affairs Bureau - Beauty salons, cinemas, eating places, etc.

Maintenance of Statistical Business Register

3 main processes for updating:

Insertion - Addition of new business units;

Alteration/Deletion - Updating the current status and data of a business unit according to latest information available, e.g. administrative records, field check or feedback from surveys;

Correction - Rectifying errors occurred during the insertion or alteration process, e.g. typing mistakes.

Mailing Lists

Control of Access SamplingMaintenance

Statistical Tables

Selected Units

Stratification Variables

Feedback from Surveys

Updating Procedures

Interview / data collection

Users

Control of Data Quality

UpdatedInformation

DataSources

Distribution of Information

STATISTICAL BUSINESS REGISTER

Legal Issues

Statistical Law 62/96/M regulates:

The legal obligation of individuals, businesses and organizations to provide data to Statistics and Census Service (DSEC);

The legal obligation of DSEC to safeguard the confidentiality of individual data collected.

Technical Issues

Automatic updating system:The unique Identification number of each business unit is the common key used for automatic updating;

Data fields to be updated – Identification variables (Name, address, etc.)

Stratification variables (Economic activity, size of employment, sales turnover, etc.)

“Demographic” variables (Opening, closing)

Technical Issues

Geographic system A nine-digit “geocode” indicates the location

of a business unit at the building level;

A list of different establishments registered under the same “geocode” can be detected for re-verification.

Costs of Statistical Business Register

Costs for maintenance of Statistical Business Register

Fieldwork confirmation; Investment of Information Technology to improve the

quality of the register system.

Plans to minimize the costs Application of CATI system to replace field checking; Introduction of postal code to replace “Geocode”.