Hong Kong’s census chief will lead a probe into allegations of frontline census officers falsifying data, vowing to step up inspections and spot checks. Commissioner for Census and Statistics Lily Ou-yang Fong, made her comments on Tuesday, a day after the Ming Pao newspaper accused frontline officers of providing fake answers on census forms over the past 10 years. “We will strengthen the review checks on our statistical data. If any suspected case of false information is found, it will be reported promptly to the assistant commissioner concerned for a follow-up and decision,” she said. “Our department adopts a zero-tolerance attitude towards forgery. Statistical workers must take pride in their professionalism and [providing] reliable data to uphold the public’s trust in the department and our reputation on the international front,” she said. The department had set up a task force chaired by her to look into the matter, she said. It also comprises an independent member of the Statistics Advisory Board, but she did not say how many members would sit on the task force. A report on the investigation would be sent to the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury but did not mention when.