Whether the current sixth national census will gather a comparatively accurate figure of the country's population is undoubtedly of significance to the government's polices for future economic growth and social development.

A Beijing citizen wrote a letter to the head of the National Bureau of Statistics, proposing that more publicity needs to be done to bring to home the importance of this work. Thereafter more cooperation from citizens will render it easier for census enumerators to conduct door-to-door visits.

Despite huge investment from both central and local governments and the participation of millions of enumerators, the estimated 200 million plus floating population and the increasing number of families in urban areas, whose permanent living quarters are not that of their hukou (household registrations), make the task even more difficult.

So first of all, those involved in the census need special training, from the way they establish contact with people to how they encourage people to cooperate with them. They also need to be taught how to deal with those who want to deny them entry.

On the other hand, further publicity needs to be made to tell residents why an accurate census result will have a positive bearing on their daily lives. Residents need to be informed that many government policies will be based on the results of the census. For example, the number of doctors and nurses needed for urban communities and how many homes for the elderly will be constructed in a district will have a lot to do with the census results.

The authorities should also have plans to deal with those who refuse to tell the truth, or refuse to receive enumerators, for fear that their second or even third home be made known, or fines be imposed because of a second or third child in breach of the State family planning policy.

Being well prepared for unexpected difficulties is better than being caught unawares.