A special questionnaire has been designed for China's 6th national population census starting Nov 1, which for the first time will count the number of residents from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and foreigners who are living and working in China.

International migration will become a new feature of the national population census in November, said Feng Nailin, head of the National Bureau of Statistics' population and employment statistics department.

He made the remarks at a forum held by the United Nations Population Fund at Expo 2010 Shanghai's UN Pavilion on Sunday, the 21st World Population Day.

"In general, they will be included during the next population census through the same method of counting used for mainland residents, namely household visits," Feng said.

The census group can use alternative methods of counting rather than household visits, if respondents prefer.

"The questionnaire for foreigners is much easier and shorter compared to that for mainland residents. They have only eight items to fill out on the questionnaire."

The census questionnaire for foreigners will include name, age, gender, nationality, reasons for coming to China, levels of education, length of stay and relationship to household.

More than 6.5 million census counters will be recruited for the sixth national population census, most of whom are local residents, or staff from neighborhood or village committees.

Feng said each counter will have to work 40 to 60 days and is responsible for collecting 250 to 300 people's data.