Objectives
1.
Why does the Government need to conduct such a large-scale survey?
2.
Has the Government conducted similar survey before?
The Department of Health has been conducting a series of Health Manpower Surveys (HMS) on the healthcare personnel practising in Hong Kong since 1980. The Surveys aimed to collect up-to-date information on the size, characteristics and employment status of healthcare personnel practising in Hong Kong. This information will be essential for health manpower planning.
3.
Is this survey mandatory? What are the consequences if I do not provide the data required and return the completed questionnaire?
This survey is conducted on a voluntary basis. If you do not provide sufficient information, the survey results will be less representative, thus affecting its usefulness as the basis for statistical purposes. The information is useful for the Government for formulating health service or programs and apportioning for health manpower planning and training.
Coverage
4.
What is the coverage of this survey?
5.
Do I need to complete the whole questionnaire?
The personal data provided by means of this survey will be collected and used by the Department of Health to compile aggregate statistics related to health manpower in Hong Kong. If you do not provide sufficient information, the survey results will be less representative, thus affecting its usefulness in serving as the basis for statistical purposes. Your kind support to provide as much information in the questionnaire as possible is highly appreciated.
6.
How to fill in the questionnaires?
7.
The person to whom the letter addressed has migrated / retired / passed away. Should I return the blank questionnaire on behalf of him / her?
Please put a remark on the questionnaire and return it for record updating.
8.
I am no longer practising in the relevant healthcare profession. Do I need to fill in and return the questionnaire?
Although you have ceased practising in the relevant healthcare profession, the information you provided will be useful for compiling statistics on the turnover and activity status of the type of healthcare professional you belonged to previously. Thus, you are requested to complete the relevant parts of the questionnaire and return it to us.
9.
If I am currently working on a part-time basis, do I need to fill in and return the questionnaire?
Registered healthcare personnel working on a part-time basis are also welcome to fill in the questionnaire. If it is the only job you are currently working in your registered profession, please fill in the details concerned in the questionnaire.
10.
I have two basic qualifications, one for registered nurses and one for midwife. Which basic qualification should I indicate as my basic qualification should I indicate as my basic qualification in midwifery / nursing profession?
Basic qualification in nursing / midwifery profession refers to the minimum entry qualification to the profession. If you have more than one basic qualification, please indicate the earliest minimum entry qualification among these basic qualifications that you have obtained.
11.
I am working for the Hospital Authority (HA) in my profession. After office hours, I am a volunteer in my profession for a subvented institution. Should I include my volunteer job in the questionnaire?
It is not required to include your volunteer job in the questionnaire. For your job in the Hospital Authority, please tick the corresponding box in the questionnaire.
Submission of questionnaire
12.
How to submit the completed questionnaire?
13.
Can I submit the completed questionnaire through electronic means?
You are recommended to submit the completed questionnaire in hardcopy by mail. Alternatively, you can choose to submit the completed questionnaire through e-mail. In so doing, you are advised to make use of the e-Cert Certificate issued by the Hongkong Post and send the completed questionnaire in encrypted format to us at
hms@dh.gov.hk so as to protect the confidentiality of your personal data.
14.
Did the Department of Health provide any e-Cert for me to send back the completed questionnaire via an encrypted email?
You may click into the “
e-Cert (organizational) ” from Hongkong Post's online e-Cert repository at
http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/product/ecert/status/index.html, and enter
hms@dh.gov.hk in the “Email Address in Certificate” field to search for the e-Cert of the Health Manpower Section, Department of Health. Then you may use the e-Cert to return your completed questionnaire via an encrypted email.
15.
How do I download the e-Cert issued by the Hong Kong Post?
You may follow the steps below to download the e-Certificate.
Step 1: You may click into the “ e-Cert (organizational) ” from Hongkong Post’s online e-Cert repository at http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/product/ecert/status/index.html
Step 2 : Enter hms@dh.gov.hk in the “ Email address in certificate ” field, check the acknowledgement statement and click “ submit ” to search for the e-Cert.
Step 3: Click “ Download the Certificate ” and save the e-Cert in your PC.
16.
How do I import the e-Cert of HMS into an email client that supports email encryption?
(You are required to have your personal e-Cert installed into your email client first before carrying out the following steps to install the e-Cert of Health Manpower Section, Department of Health.) Below is an example on e-Cert importation using an applicable email client, Outlook 2016.
Step 1: In Outlook 2016, click “Home” > “New Items”> “Contact” on the toolbar to create HMS contact in the address book.
Step 2: In the “Contact properties” pop up screen, key in the “ Last ” name as “HMS” and “ E-mail address ” as hms@dh.gov.hk .
Step 3: Go to “Contact” > “Certificates” > click on “Import”
Step 4: In the “Locate Certificate” pop up dialog, select the e-Cert for HMS that you have previously downloaded and click “ Open ”.
Step 5: Click “ Save & Close ” button to save HMS contact details
17.
Why does a “ × ” appear on the e-Cert after I import the e-Cert?
You may follow the steps below to rectify the problem.
Step 1: In the “Contact Properties” dialog of HMS, go to the tab “ Contact ” and click the “ Properties ” button.
Step 2: In the “Certificate Properties” dialog, go to the tab “ Trust ” and select “ Explicitly Trust this Certificate ” under “Edit Trust”. Then click the “ OK ” button.
Step 3: Click “ Save & Close ” button to save HMS contact details.
Step 4: You will not find any “ × ” on the Certificate Information.
18.
How do I use the e-Cert to encrypt the email and send out the questionnaire?
Below is an example on email encryption using an applicable email client, Outlook 2016.
Step 1: Start Outlook 2016 and click on “New Email” button on the tool bar.
Step 2: Type in recipient email address hms@dh.gov.hk (To:), subject , message content and attach the completed questionnaire. Click the “ Encrypt ” button on the “Options” tool bar.
Step 3: Click the “Send” button to send the secure email.
19.
Can I use my e-Cert with Yahoo or other similar e-mail services ?
As web-based e-mail services such as Yahoo and Hotmail are not S/MIME compatible, it is not possible to use the e-Cert with Hotmail or other similar e-mail services. For details of S/MIME, please see the information provided by the Hongkong Post http://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/support/faq/index.html#B8
Personal Data
20.
What are the purposes of collecting my personal particulars? Will my personal data be released to the third party?
The personal data provided by means of this survey will be collected and used by the Department of Health to compile aggregate statistics related to health manpower in Hong Kong. The confidentiality of the information provided will be carefully protected.
The personal data provided by means of this survey are mainly for use as stated above. Only aggregate information and not details of individual personnel will be released to other government bureaux / departments, agencies or authorities for the purposes mentioned above. Apart from this, your personal information provided by means of this survey will only be disclosed to parties where you have given consent to such disclosure or where such disclosure is allowed under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.
21.
Can I amend my personal data or obtain a copy of the questionnaire I provided through this survey?
You have a right of access and correction with respect to personal data as provided for in Sections 18 and 22 and Principle 6 of Schedule 1 of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Your right of access includes the right to obtain a copy of your personal data provided in the questionnaire of this survey. A fee may be imposed for complying with a data access request. However, all completed questionnaires will be disposed upon completion of data analysis.
22.
What is the purpose of collecting the information on the name and telephone number of contact person?
The information is important for contact with the respondent for missing entry or clarification of information provided in order to ensure data quality. You can rest assured that the personal information provided will be kept in strict confidence and be used for the said purpose only. Respondents will only be contacted as and when required.
Information Dissemination Plan
23.
Will the survey findings be publicised?
The salient findings of the Health Manpower Survey will be uploaded onto this homepage upon completion of data analysis. Survey findings of the 1996, 2000 and 2003 to 2017 Health Manpower Survey are available at the homepage.
Enquiries
24.
Who should I contact for further enquiries regarding this survey?
