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Statistics

2021 Health Manpower Survey
Summary of the Characteristics of Radiographers
I. Radiographers Covered

The radiographers covered in the 2021 Health Manpower Survey on Radiographers (HMS-RG) were radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Chapter 359) as at the survey reference date of 31 July 2021, and who had provided written consent on receiving information related to HMS-RG by post or email. The following two types of radiographers were included in HMS-RG:

1.1 Diagnostic Radiographers

1.1.1 Diagnostic radiographers refer to radiographers registered as radiographers (Category D) with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Chapter 359) as at the survey reference date of 31 July 2021.

1.1.2 Among the 2 649 radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong as at the survey reference date of 31 July 2021, 491 had consented to receive information related to HMS-RG by post or email. The number of diagnostic radiographers covered was 403.

1.1.3 Of the 403 diagnostic radiographers covered, 112 responded to the HMS-RG, giving a response rate of 27.8%. Among the 112 responding diagnostic radiographers, 100 (89.3%) were economically active *† (active) and 12 (10.7%) were economically inactive*‡ (inactive) in the local diagnostic radiography profession as at 31 July 2021 (Chart A).

* In the survey, the criteria used in defining economically active / inactive followed those recommended by the International Labour Organization, which are also being used by the Census and Statistics Department in Hong Kong.
† Economically active (“active”) diagnostic radiographers comprised all “employed” and “unemployed” diagnostic radiographers. “Employed” diagnostic radiographers referred to those diagnostic radiographers practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, and “unemployed” diagnostic radiographers who (i) were not practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession during the survey period; (ii) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey AND (iii) had sought work in the local diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey. The respondent would be classified as “unemployed” if he / she had sought work in the local diagnostic radiography profession but had not been available for work because of temporary sickness. The respondent would also be classified as “unemployed” if he / she fulfilled conditions (i) and (ii) but had not sought work during the 30 days before enumeration because he / she believed that work was not available; or had made arrangements to take up a new job; or was starting business on a subsequent date; or was expecting to return to the original job in the local diagnostic radiography profession.
‡ Economically inactive (“inactive”) diagnostic radiographers referred to the responding diagnostic radiographers who were not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, excluding those who were on leave during the survey period and who were “economically active” but “unemployed”.
Chart A: Activity Status of Diagnostic Radiographers Covered

Text Version

Note : * Figure refers to the number of diagnostic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Chapter 359) on or before 31.7.2021, and who had provided written consent to receive information related to HMS-RG by post or email.
† Figure refers to the number of responding diagnostic radiographers who (a) were not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; AND (c) had not sought work during the 30 days before enumeration because he/ she was expecting to return to the original job in the local diagnostic radiography profession.
‡ Figure refers to the number of responding diagnostic radiographers who reported as wanting to rest/ no motive to work/ no financial need or undertaking studies.
Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

1.1.4 Of the 100 active diagnostic radiographers, 98 (98.0%) were practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession, one (1.0%) reported that he/ she had not been available for work because of temporary sickness, the remaining one (1.0%) reported that he/ she was available for work but had not sought work during the 30 days before enumeration as he/ she was expecting to return to his/ her original job in the local diagnostic radiography profession. The survey results presented in paragraph 1.1.6 to 1.1.15 were based on the 98 responding diagnostic radiographers who were practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession as at 31 July 2021. The percentages presented below may not add up to 100% due to missing responses or rounding.

1.1.5 Of the 12 inactive diagnostic radiographers enumerated, six (50.0%) reported not seeking jobs in the local diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before enumeration, four (33.3%) reported practising overseas and two (16.7%) reported practising in the Mainland. Among the six inactive diagnostic radiographers who reported not seeking jobs in the local radiography profession, the main reasons included: two (33.3%) were retired, one (16.7%) was working in other profession, one (16.7%) was engaged in household duties, one (16.7%) reported as wanting to take rest / had no motive to work / had no financial need and one (16.7%) reported undertaking study (Chart A).

1.1.6 Among the 98 active diagnostic radiographers practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession enumerated, 54 (55.1%) were male and 43 (43.9%) were female, the remaining one did not indicate the gender, and the overall sex ratio (males per 100 females) was 126. Excluding two respondents who did not indicate their ages, the median age of the remaining 96 active diagnostic radiographers practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession enumerated was 54.0 years (median age of female was 54.0 years and median age of male was 48.0 years).

1.1.7 The responding active diagnostic radiographers practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession were requested to indicate the characteristics of their main jobs*. Of the 98 respondents, 57 (58.2%) reported as working in private sector, 39 (39.8%) were working in the Hospital Authority and two (2.0%) were working in the Government, academic and subvented sectors.

1.1.8 For the active diagnostic radiographers practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession enumerated, the median age for those working in private sector was 57.0 years, whereas the median age for those working in the Hospital Authority was 45.0 years.

1.1.9 Among the 98 respondents, 78 (79.6%) spent most of their working time on diagnostic stream, while 18 (18.4%) reported spending most of their working time on administration / management and one (1.0%) reported teaching as the main area of work.

1.1.10 Excluding one active respondent who did not indicate his / her hours of work per week (excluding meal breaks), the median number of hours of work per week (excluding meal breaks) of the remaining 97 active diagnostic radiographers practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession enumerated was 40.0 hours. Among them, 22 (22.4%) were required to undertake on-call duty (excluding normal duty), with a median of 9.0 hours of on-call duty (excluding normal duty) per week.

1.1.11 Among the 98 respondents, 40.8% held Bachelor’s Degree, 27.6% held Professional Diploma and 14.3% held Higher Certificate as their earliest basic qualification

1.1.12 Of the 98 respondents, 59 (60.2%) had received/ were receiving additional training after obtaining the earliest basic qualification, amongst which 27 (45.8%) held Master’s Degree, ten (16.9%) held Bachelor’s degree and ten (16.9%) held Certificate/ Post-experience Certificate/ Post-registration Certificate as the highest qualification and three (5.1%) had not yet completed the additional training.

1.1.13 Of the 59 respondents who had received/ were receiving additional training after obtaining their earliest basic qualification, 30 (50.8%) had received/ were receiving training in one field only, which included training in diagnostic radiography (50.0%), healthcare (medical imaging & radiation technology) (23.3%), ultrasonography/ medical ultrasonography (20.0%), and health care management/ health services management (3.3%).

1.1.14 Of the 59 active diagnostic radiographers practising in the local radiography profession who had received / were receiving additional training after obtaining their earliest basic qualification, 28 (47.5%) indicated that they had received/ were receiving more than one field of additional training. The most commonly reported field included: training in diagnostic radiography which was reported by 18 (64.3%) of the 28 respondents, magnetic resonance imaging which was reported by 15 (53.6%) of the respondents, ultrasonography/ medical ultrasonography which was reported by 12 (42.9%) of the respondents, healthcare (medical imaging and radiation technology) which was reported by 11 (39.3%) of the respondents.

* Main jobs referred to the jobs in which the diagnostic radiographers had spent most of their working time.

1.1.15 Among the 98 active diagnostic radiographers practising in the local radiography profession, 51 (52.0%) reported that they had participated in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities in 2021, 43 (43.9%) reported no participation in any CPD activities, and four (4.1%) did not report whether they had participated in CPD activities or not. Among the 51 respondents who had participated in CPD activities, the distribution of CPD credits attained in the past 12 months was: 1 to 10 credits (52.9%), 11 to 20 credits (31.4%), 21 to 30 credits (2.0%) and more than 40 credits (13.7%).

1.2 Therapeutic Radiographers

1.2.1 Therapeutic radiographers refer to radiographers registered as radiographers (Category T) with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Chapter 359) as at the survey reference date of 31 July 2021.

1.2.2 Among the 2 649 radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong as at the survey reference date of 31 July 2021, 491 had consented to receive information related to HMS-RG by post or email. The number of therapeutic radiographers covered was 88.

1.2.3 Of the 88 therapeutic radiographers covered, 21 responded to the HMS-RG, giving a response rate of 23.9%. Among the 21 responding therapeutic radiographers, 19 (90.5%) were economically active *† (active) and two (9.5%) were economically inactive*‡ (inactive) in the local therapeutic radiography profession as at 31 July 2021(Chart B)

1.2.4 Of the 19 active therapeutic radiographers, all of them were practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession. The survey results presented in paragraph 1.2.6 to 1.2.15 were based on the 19 responding registered therapeutic radiographers who were practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession as at 31 July 2021. The percentages presented below may not add up to 100% due to missing responses or rounding.

1.2.5 Both of the two inactive therapeutic radiographers reported not seeking jobs in the local therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before enumeration. The main reasons included: one (50.0%) was working in other profession and one (50.0%) reported as undertaking study (Chart B).

* In the survey, the criteria used in defining economically active / inactive followed those recommended by the International Labour Organization, which are also being used by the Census and Statistics Department in Hong Kong.
† Economically active (“active”) therapeutic radiographers comprised all “employed” and “unemployed” therapeutic radiographers. “Employed” therapeutic radiographers referred to those therapeutic radiographers practising in the therapeutic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, and “unemployed” therapeutic radiographers who (i) were not practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession during the survey period; (ii) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey AND (iii) had sought work in the local therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey. The respondent would be classified as “unemployed” if he / she had sought work in the local therapeutic radiography profession but had not been available for work because of temporary sickness. The respondent would also be classified as “unemployed” if he / she fulfilled conditions (i) and (ii) but had not sought work during the 30 days before enumeration because he / she believed that work was not available; or had made arrangements to take up a new job; or was starting business on a subsequent date; or was expecting to return to the original job in the local therapeutic radiography profession.
‡ Economically inactive (“inactive”) therapeutic radiographers referred to the responding therapeutic radiographers who were not practising in the therapeutic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, excluding those who were on leave during the survey period and who were “economically active” but “unemployed”.
Chart B : Activity Status of Therapeutic Radiographers Covered

Text Version

Note : * Figure refers to the number of therapeutic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Chapter 359) on or before 31.7.2021, and who had provided written consent to receive information related to HMS-RG by post or email.
† Figure refers to the number of responding therapeutic radiographers who reported as working in other profession or undertaking studies.
Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

1.2.6 Among the 19 active therapeutic radiographers who were practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession enumerated, there were nine (47.4%) male and ten (52.6%) female, giving an overall sex ratio (males per 100 females) of 90. The median age of the 19 active therapeutic radiographers was 39.0 years (median age of female was 32.5 years and median age of male was 47.0 years).

1.2.7 The responding active therapeutic radiographers practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession were requested to indicate the characteristics of their main jobs*. Of the 19 respondents, 14 (73.7%) reported as working in academic and private sectors and five (26.3%) were working in the Hospital Authority.

1.2.8 For the active therapeutic radiographers practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession enumerated, the median age for those working in academic and private sectors was 39.0 years, whereas the median age for those working in the Hospital Authority was 28.0 years.

1.2.9 Among the 19 respondents, 15 (78.9%) spent most of their working time on therapeutic stream, while three (15.8%) reported spending most of their working time on administration / management and one (5.3%) reported teaching as the main area of work.

* Main jobs referred to the jobs in which the therapeutic radiographers had spent most of their working time.

1.2.10 Among the 19 respondents, the median number of hours of work per week (excluding meal breaks) was 39.0 hours, and none of them was required to undertake on-call duty (excluding normal duty).

1.2.11 Among the 19 respondents, 89.5% held Bachelor’s Degree and 10.5% held Diploma as their earliest basic qualification.

1.2.12 Of the 19 respondents, 12 (63.2%) had received/ were receiving additional training after obtaining the earliest basic qualification, amongst which ten (83.3%) held Master’s Degree and one (8.3%) held Bachelor’s Degree as the highest qualification.

1.2.13 Of the 12 respondents who had received/ were receiving additional training after obtaining their earliest basic qualification, ten (83.3%) had received/ were receiving training in one field only, which the most commonly reported is training in healthcare (medical imaging & radiation technology) (70.0%).

1.2.14 Of the 12 active therapeutic radiographers practising in the local radiography profession who had received/ were receiving additional training after obtaining their earliest basic qualification, two (10.6%) indicated they had received/ were receiving more than one field of additional training. The reported fields included: magnetic resonance imaging (one (50.0%)), radiation protection (one (50.0%)), healthcare (medical imaging and radiation technology) (one (50.0%)), healthcare management / health services management (one (50.0%)) and others (radiotherapy) (one (50.0%)).

1.2.15 Among the 19 active therapeutic radiographers who were practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession, 12 (63.2%) reported that they had participated in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities in 2021, 7 (36.8%) reported no participation in any CPD activities. Among the 12 respondents who had participated in CPD activities, the distribution of CPD credits attained in the past 12 months was: 1 to 10 credits (75.0%), 31 to 40 credits (8.3%) and more than 40 credits (16.7%).

II. Trend Analysis

As there have been changes to the survey method, reference date and coverage for 2021 HMS-RG, findings of the survey cannot be directly comparable to previous surveys. The radiographers covered in 2021 HMS-RG were those registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Chapter 359) as at the survey reference date of 31 July 2021 and who had provided written consent on receiving information related to HMS-RG by post or email. The scope covered in 2021 is different from the previous surveys and constituted approximately 18.5% of the radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Chapter 359) as at the survey reference date.

With the enactment of the Radiographers (Registration and Disciplinary Procedure) Regulation (Chapter 359H), registration of the profession of radiographers commenced on 1 July 1995 while disciplinary control of the profession became effective on 1 November 1996, it is mandatory for a person practising diagnostic radiography / therapeutic radiography in Hong Kong to hold a valid practising certificate. The method adopted in counting radiographers was changed to include radiographers who had valid practising certificates in diagnostic radiography/ therapeutic radiography as at the survey reference date. Survey coverage between 2000 and 2017 is summarised as follows:

2.1 Diagnostic Radiographers

2.1.1 Given the changing survey methodologies, the number of diagnostic radiographers covered ranged between 403 to 1 817 during the survey years between 2000 and 2021 (Chart C).

Chart C: Number of Registered Diagnostic Radiographers Covered by Year (2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2021)

Text Version

Note : † Figure of 2021 refers to the number of diagnostic radiographers who had registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong (Category D) as at 31 July 2021 and who had provided written consent to receive information related to HMS-RG by post or email.
Figures of the year 2000 and before refer to the number of diagnostic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong (Category D) as at the 1 July of the respective years, whereas the figures of 2004 to 2017 refer to that as at the 31 March of the respective years excluding those who were later found to have passed away on or before the survey reference date.

2.1.2 Selected characteristics of active optometrists practising in the local optometry profession enumerated during the survey years between 1992 and 2021 were tabulated in Table A for reference.

Table A: Selected Characteristics of Active Diagnostic Radiographers Practising in the Local Diagnostic Radiography Profession Enumerated (1982, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2021)

Text Version

Note : * Figures of the year 2000 refer to the number of diagnostic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong as at the 1 July, whereas the figures of 2004 to 2017 refer to that as at the 31 March of the respective years.
Figure of 2021 refers to the number of diagnostic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong as at 31 July 2021 and who had provided written consent on receiving information related to HMS-RG by post or email.
† In 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2021 the sector refers to the sector for the main job.
‡ Subvented sector was included in the 1982, 1984, 1987, 1990, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2021 HMS and military was also included in the 1987 HMS.
‡ There may be slight discrepancy between the sum of individual items and the total due to rounding.
N.A. Not applicable
‘-’ Not available
2.2 Therapeutic Radiographers

2.2.1 The number of therapeutic radiographers covered varied from 88 to 363 during the survey years between 2000 and 2021 (Chart D).

Chart D: Number of Registered Therapeutic Radiographers Covered by Year (2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2021)

Text Version

Note : † Figure of 2021 refers to the number of therapeutic radiographers who had registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong (Category T) as at 31 July 2021 and who had provided written consent to receive information related to HMS-RG by post or email.
Figures of the year 2000 and before refer to the number of therapeutic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong (Category T) as at the 1 July of the respective years, whereas the figures of 2004 to 2017 refer to that as at the 31 March of the respective years excluding those who were later found to have passed away on or before the survey reference date.

2.2.2 Selected characteristics of active optometrists practising in the local optometry profession enumerated during the survey years between 1992 and 2021 were tabulated in Table B for reference.

Table B: Selected Characteristics of Active Therapeutic Radiographers Practising in the Local Therapeutic Radiography Profession Enumerated (1982, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2021)

Text Version

Note : * Figure of 2000 refers to the number of therapeutic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong as at the 1 July 2000, whereas the figures of 2004 to 2017 refer to that as at the 31 March of the respective years.
Figure of 2021 refers to the number of therapeutic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong as at 31 July 2021 and who had provided written consent on receiving information related to HMS-RG by post or email.
† In 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2021, the sector refers to the sector for the main job.
There may be slight discrepancy between the sum of individual items and the total due to rounding.
N.A. Not applicable
‘-’ Not available

Last Revision Date : 25 Jan 2024