The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published today (June 21) statistics of payment cards issued in Hong Kong for the first quarter of 2019.
 
     The payment card statistics (see Annex) include quarterly data on credit and debit cards issued in Hong Kong under the credit and/or debit card schemes of the eight payment card scheme operators (Note 1). The HKMA began to publish the payment card statistics on a quarterly basis in June 2010 to enhance transparency of the payment card industry in Hong Kong, in line with international practice.
 
     According to the quarterly statistics, the total number of credit cards in circulation (Note 2) was 19.49 million by the end of Q1/2019. The figure represents a 0.2 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a 2.6 per cent increase from the previous year. The number and value of credit card transactions (including retail sales and cash advances) (Note 3) are susceptible to seasonal factors and the general economic environment, making the trends more prone to fluctuation. The total number of credit card transactions was 191.62 million for Q1/2019, representing a 2.5 per cent decrease from the previous quarter and a 15.4 per cent increase from the same period in 2018. The total value of credit card transactions was HK$193.2 billion for Q1/2019, representing a 1.9 per cent decrease from the previous quarter and a 5.6 per cent increase from the same period in 2018. Of the total transaction value, HK$152.2 billion (78.8 per cent) was related to retail spending in Hong Kong, HK$28.8 billion (14.9 per cent) in retail spending overseas and HK$12.2 billion (6.3 per cent) in cash advances.
 
     The total number of debit cards in circulation is not available due to overlapping of debit card brands in a single card. Like the number and value of credit card transactions, the number and value of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales and bills payments (Note 4) are also affected by seasonal factors. On a quarterly basis, the total number of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales and bills payments decreased 0.7 per cent to 35.57 million while the total value increased by 4.6 per cent to HK$90.2 billion in Q1/2019. When compared to the same period in 2018, the total number increased by 2.6 per cent and the total value rose by 2.7 per cent in Q1/2019.
 
Notes:
 
Note 1. The payment card statistics are compiled from data on credit and debit cards issued in Hong Kong by both authorized institutions (AIs) and non-authorized institutions (non-AIs) under the credit and/or debit card schemes of the eight payment card scheme operators (the card operators). The card operators, in alphabetical order, are American Express International, Inc., Discover Financial Services (Hong Kong) Limited, EPS Company (Hong Kong) Limited (EPSCO), JCB International (Asia) Ltd, Joint Electronic Teller Services Ltd. (JETCO), MasterCard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd., UnionPay International Co. Ltd and Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited.
 
Note 2. A credit card issued in Hong Kong only carries one credit card brand. The total number of credit cards in circulation refers to the total number of credit cards (i.e. cards with a credit function) issued in Hong Kong under the credit card schemes of card operators (but excluding EPSCO and JETCO, which do not operate a credit card scheme). Some of these credit cards carry debit card functions, i.e. the credit card can be used for making purchases/payments or cash withdrawal at ATMs through directly debiting cardholders' bank accounts.
 
Note 3. The total number/value of credit card transactions refer to the total number/value of transactions made via credit card accounts of credit cards issued in Hong Kong under the credit card schemes of card operators (excluding EPSCO and JETCO). Starting from March 2015, a Hong Kong/overseas spending breakdown of credit card retail sales transactions is provided.
 
Note 4. The total number/value of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales/bill payments refers to the total number/value of those transactions made via debiting cardholders' bank accounts. Some of the eight card operators do not operate a debit card scheme. Care should be exercised in combining the credit card retail sales figures and the debit card retail sales/bills payment figures because of the possibility of double counting. 

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 21) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for May 2019. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 2.8% in May 2019 over the same month a year earlier, slightly smaller than the corresponding increase (2.9%) in April 2019. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI (i.e. the underlying inflation rate) in May 2019 was also 2.8%, slightly smaller than that in April 2019 (2.9%), mainly due to the smaller increases in the charges for package tours and the decreases in local transport fares in May 2019.
  
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of increase in the Composite CPI for the three-month period ending May 2019 was 0.3%, and that for the three-month period ending April 2019 was 0.4%. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the corresponding rates of increase were 0.2% and 0.3%.
 
     Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 3.1%, 2.6% and 2.7% respectively in May 2019, as compared to 3.0%, 2.8% and 3.0% respectively in April 2019. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 3.2%, 2.5% and 2.6% respectively in May 2019, as compared to 3.1%, 2.7% and 2.9% respectively in April 2019.
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the three-month period ending May 2019, the average monthly rates of increase in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were all 0.3%. The corresponding rates of increase for the three-month period ending April 2019 were all 0.4%. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the corresponding average monthly rates of increase in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) for the three-month period ending May 2019 were all 0.2%, and the corresponding rates of increase for the three-month period ending April 2019 were all 0.3%.  

     Amongst the various components of the Composite CPI, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in May 2019 for food (excluding meals bought away from home) (6.5%), housing (4.2%), alcoholic drinks and tobacco (3.2%), meals bought away from home (2.1%), miscellaneous goods (2.1%), miscellaneous services (2.1%) and transport (1.5%).
  
     On the other hand, year-on-year decreases in the components of the Composite CPI were recorded in May 2019 for electricity, gas and water (-4.9%); durable goods (-2.0%) as well as clothing and footwear (-1.2%). 
 
     Taking the first five months of 2019 together, the Composite CPI rose by 2.5% over a year earlier. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.8%, 2.3% and 2.3% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 2.7%, 3.2%, 2.6% and 2.5% respectively.
  
     For the three months ending May 2019, the Composite CPI rose by 2.6% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 2.9%, 2.4% and 2.5% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 2.7%, 3.1%, 2.5% and 2.5% respectively.  

     For the 12 months ending May 2019, the Composite CPI was on average 2.5% higher than that in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.8%, 2.3% and 2.3% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 2.8%, 3.2%, 2.7% and 2.5% respectively.
  
Commentary

     A Government spokesman said that the underlying consumer price inflation rate edged down to 2.8% in May. Price pressures on most major CPI components were largely contained, though price of basic foodstuffs showed a visibly larger year-on-year increase amid the supply disruption to fresh pork.

     Looking ahead, inflation will likely remain moderate in the near term, in tandem with the easing in fresh-letting residential rentals earlier on and in external price pressures. The Government will continue to monitor the inflation situation closely, particularly the impact on the lower-income people.

Further information

     The CPIs and year-on-year rates of change at section level for May 2019 are shown in Table 1. The time series on the year-on-year rates of change in the CPIs before and after removing the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures are shown in Table 2. For discerning the latest trend in consumer prices, it is also useful to look at the changes in the seasonally adjusted CPIs. The corresponding time series on the average monthly rates of change during the latest three months for the seasonally adjusted CPIs are shown in Table 3. The rates of change in the original and the seasonally adjusted Composite CPI and the underlying inflation rate are presented graphically in Chart 1.

     More detailed CPI data (including year-on-year comparison, month-to-month comparison, seasonally adjusted data series and the CPIs by the Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP)) are available in the monthly reports. Users can download the May 2019 issue of the "Monthly Report on the Consumer Price Index" (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp270.jsp?productCode=B1060001), the time series of CPIs at detailed level (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp270.jsp?productCode=D5600001), the time series of CPIs at COICOP division level (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp270.jsp?productCode=D5600002) and the time series of CPIs after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp270.jsp?productCode=D5600003) free of charge at the website of the C&SD.

     For enquiries about the CPIs, please contact the Consumer Price Index Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7374 or email: cpi@censtatd.gov.hk). 

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 21) the preliminary Balance of Payments (BoP) and International Investment Position (IIP) statistics of Hong Kong for the first quarter of 2019. This release also included the preliminary External Debt (ED) statistics of Hong Kong for the same period.

I. Balance of Payments 

     Hong Kong recorded a BoP surplus of $33.0 billion (as a ratio of 4.6% to GDP) in the first quarter of 2019, compared with a surplus of $24.0 billion (as a ratio of 3.2% to GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2018. Reserve assets correspondingly increased by the same amount ($33.0 billion) in the first quarter of 2019.

Current account

     The current account recorded a surplus of $36.6 billion (as a ratio of 5.1% to GDP) in the first quarter of 2019. This implies that Hong Kong continues to save more than invest, enabling Hong Kong to accumulate external financial assets (such as equity securities or debt securities) as a buffer against global financial volatilities. Compared with the current account surplus of $18.4 billion (as a ratio of 2.7% to GDP) in the first quarter of 2018, the increase in surplus was mainly due to a decrease in the goods deficit and an increase in the services surplus, partly offset by a decrease in the net inflow of primary income. 

     The goods deficit decreased to $65.1 billion in the first quarter of 2019, compared with the $74.9 billion in the same quarter of 2018.  Over the same period, the services surplus increased to $83.8 billion in the first quarter of 2019, compared with the $74.7 billion in the same quarter of 2018. The primary income inflow and outflow amounted to $369.2 billion and $346.2 billion respectively, thus yielding a net inflow of $23.0 billion in the first quarter of 2019, compared with a net inflow of $24.2 billion in the same quarter of 2018.

Financial account

     An overall net inflow of financial non-reserve assets amounting to $28.2 billion (as a ratio of 3.9% to GDP) was recorded in the first quarter of 2019, as against an overall net outflow of $41.6 billion (as a ratio of 5.5% to GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2018. The overall net inflow recorded in the first quarter of 2019 was the result of a net inflow of other investment and a net inflow due to the cash settlement of financial derivatives, partly offset by a net outflow of portfolio investment and a net outflow of direct investment.

     In the first quarter of 2019, reserve assets increased by $33.0 billion, compared with an increase of $24.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018. 

II. International Investment Position
 
     At the end of the first quarter of 2019, both Hong Kong's external financial assets and liabilities stood at a very high level, amounting to $44,178.3 billion (equivalent to 15.4 times of GDP) and $33,345.8 billion (equivalent to 11.6 times of GDP) respectively, a typical feature of a prominent international financial centre.  

     After netting out the external financial liabilities from the external financial assets, Hong Kong's net external financial assets amounted to $10,832.4 billion (equivalent to 3.8 times of GDP) at the end of the first quarter of 2019, compared with $10,139.9 billion (equivalent to 3.6 times of GDP) at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018. Hong Kong's net external financial assets to GDP ratio is one of the largest in the world, which provides the economy with a strong cushion against sudden external shocks.
 
III. External Debt 

     At the end of the first quarter of 2019, Hong Kong's gross ED amounted to $12,695.3 billion (equivalent to 4.4 times of GDP).  Compared with $13,257.6 billion (equivalent to 4.7 times of GDP) at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018, gross ED decreased by $562.3 billion. This was mainly attributable to the decreases in ED of the banking sector, debt liabilities in direct investment (intercompany lending) and ED of other sectors.

     As one of the world's major financial centres, Hong Kong has a significant amount of ED held against the local banking sector arising through normal banking businesses. At the end of the first quarter of 2019, 62.0% of Hong Kong's ED was attributable to the banking sector. Other ED mainly consisted of ED of other sectors (22.4%) and debt liabilities in direct investment (intercompany lending) (15.4%).

Further information

     BoP is a statistical statement that systematically summarises, for a specific time period (typically a year or a quarter), the economic transactions of an economy with the rest of the world (i.e. between residents and non-residents). 

     IIP is a balance sheet showing the stock of external financial assets and liabilities of an economy at a particular time point. The difference between the external financial assets and liabilities is the net IIP of the economy, which represents either its net claim on or net liability to the rest of the world.

    Gross ED, at a particular time point, is the outstanding amount of those actual current, and not contingent, liabilities that are owed to non-residents by residents of an economy and that require payment of principals and/or interests by the debtors at some time points in the future.

     BoP and IIP statistics of Hong Kong are compiled in accordance with international standards as stipulated in the Sixth Edition of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2009. ED statistics of Hong Kong are compiled according to the 2013 External Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users published by the Inter-agency Task Force on Finance Statistics chaired by the IMF. Concepts inherent in these two international guidelines are harmonised with each other.

     Table 1 presents Hong Kong's BoP by standard component. Table 2 presents the detailed current account analysed by sub-account component, while Table 3 presents the detailed capital and financial account analysed by sub-account component.　Table 4 shows Hong Kong's IIP by broad component, and Table 5 shows Hong Kong's ED by standard component.

     Statistics on BoP, IIP and ED for the first quarter of 2019 are only preliminary figures and are subject to revision upon the availability of more data.

     More details of the statistics of BoP (including seasonally adjusted current account), IIP and ED, together with the conceptual and methodological details, are presented in the publication Balance of Payments, International Investment Position and External Debt Statistics of Hong Kong, First Quarter 2019 published by the C&SD. Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp260.jsp?productCode=B1040001).

     For enquiries about the BoP, IIP and ED statistics, please contact the Balance of Payments Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 6979; fax: 2116 0278; email: bop@censtatd.gov.hk).

     According to the figures released today (June 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 0.2% or 6 900 persons in March 2019 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 79 580, representing an increase of 4% or 2 700 over the preceding year.
 
Employment statistics

     In March 2019, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 874 300 persons. The import and export trade engaged 460 100 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 307 100 persons, the retail trade 272 600 persons, and the food and beverage services 251 800 persons.
 
     Employment increased in many surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (6.6% or 2 600 persons), human health services (4.3% or 5 600 persons), information and communications (3.4% or 3 700 persons), and financing and insurance (3.2% or 7 200 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (-11.0% or -13 300 persons), and import and export trade (-3.7% or -17 900 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
 
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 79 580 private sector vacancies, 12 280 were from the industry of food and beverage services, 8 350 from retail trade, 8 160 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 6 470 from financing and insurance, and 5 570 from import and export trade.
 
     Vacancies increased in many selected industries in March 2019 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of transportation, storage, postal and courier services (740 or 18%); education (710 or 17%); residential care and social work services (630 or 17%); and professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (490 or 6%). On the other hand, vacancies decreased mainly in the industries of import and export trade (-720 or -11%), real estate (-190 or -5%), and information and communications (-170 or -5%). Job vacancies figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 2.
 
     Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly in the categories of service and sales workers (24 530 vacancies), associate professionals (15 180 vacancies), elementary occupations (14 930 vacancies), and clerical support workers (9 490 vacancies). Job vacancies figures by major occupation category are shown in Table 3.
 
Seasonally adjusted statistics

     For discerning the latest trend in employment and vacancies in the private sector, it is useful to look at changes over a three-month period in the respective seasonally adjusted figures. Compared with December 2018, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries decreased by 0.1% and 0.8% respectively in March 2019. The changes over three-month periods in the seasonally adjusted series of employment and vacancies are shown in Table 4.
 
Other information

     The above employment and vacancies statistics were obtained from the Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies and the Quarterly Employment Survey of Construction Sites conducted by the C&SD. In the former survey, some economic activities (e.g. those dominated by self-employment, including taxi operators and hawkers) are not covered. Therefore, the respective employment and vacancies figures relate only to those selected industries included in the survey. In the latter survey on construction sites, employment and vacancies figures relate to manual workers only.
 
     A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the following reports:

"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies Statistics, March 2019"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 2019"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050004)
 
     Users can download these publications free of charge at the website of the C&SD.
 
     Enquiries on more detailed employment and vacancies statistics can be directed to the Employment Statistics and Central Register of Establishments Section, C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076; fax: 2827 2296; email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).

     The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 66 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 21).

     This publication contains key findings of the Thematic Household Survey conducted during March to June 2018. The survey collected information on Hong Kong residents having studied outside Hong Kong, training needs, desire to take up jobs, keeping of dogs and cats, and use of language.

Hong Kong residents having studied outside Hong Kong

     The survey results showed that 54 800 persons (1.3%) aged below 50 had studied outside Hong Kong during the five years before enumeration. The rate of persons who had studied outside Hong Kong during the five years before enumeration was the highest for those aged 18 – 24, at 3.8%.

Training needs of economically active persons

     752 800 (20.4%) economically active persons had attended job-related training/retraining courses during the 12 months before enumeration. 240 400 (6.5%) economically active persons had plans at the time of enumeration to attend job-related training / retraining courses in the future. Most commonly cited courses planned to be attended in future were those related to job-specific skills, followed by management skills and language skills.

Desire of economically inactive persons to take up jobs

     99 100 (5.7%) economically inactive persons aged 15 – 69 at the time of enumeration, within which 66 600 were female homemakers aged 30 – 59 and early retirees aged 50 – 64, would be willing to take up jobs if being offered suitable employment. Their main considerations were "flexible/convenient working hours", "high/reasonable salary" and "work place near home", etc.

Keeping of dogs and cats

     There were some 241 900 households keeping dogs or cats at the time of enumeration, representing 9.4% of all households in Hong Kong, down from 10.6% in 2010. The percentage of households keeping dogs dropped from 7.1% in 2010 to 5.7% in 2018, whereas the percentage of households keeping cats remained more or less the same in 2010 and 2018, at 4.1% and 4.0% respectively.

Use of language

     Among persons aged 6 – 65, 87.7% perceived their language competence in using Cantonese as very good or good, similar to the corresponding percentage in 2015 (86.5%). 29.0% perceived their language competence in using spoken English as very good or good, while 28.0% perceived their language competence in using Putonghua as very good or good. These percentages were higher than the corresponding percentages in 2015 (23.1% and 24.7% respectively).

     On written language, the survey results showed that there was an increase in the percentage of persons aged 6 – 65 who perceived their language competence in written Chinese as very good or good, from 73.1% in 2015 to 78.2% in 2018. As for written English, the percentage of persons aged 6 – 65 who perceived their language competence as very good or good also rose from 23.3% in 2015 to 28.6% in 2018.

Other information

     The survey successfully enumerated target respondents in some 10 000 households in accordance with a scientific sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong.

     Detailed findings of the survey, together with the population coverage and concepts/definitions of key terms, are presented in the publication. Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp140.jsp?productCode=B1130201).

     Enquiries about the contents of the publication can be directed to the Social Surveys Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5103 or email: thematic@censtatd.gov.hk).