The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority published today (May 15) the credit card lending survey results for the first quarter of 2019. &… read more
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (May 15) the May 2019 issue of the “Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics” (HKMDS).
Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains two feature articles entitled “The Four Key Industries and Other Selected Industries in the Hong Kong Economy” and “The Profile of the Unemployed Population in Hong Kong in 2018”.
“The Four Key Industries and Other Selected Industries in the Hong Kong Economy”
The Government has been actively pursuing economic development in order to keep up the competitive advantage of Hong Kong. The traditional Four Key Industries in Hong Kong, including financial services, tourism, trading and logistics, and professional and producer services, have been the driving force of Hong Kong’s economic growth, providing impetus to growth of other sectors and creating employment. Besides, selected emerging industries, including cultural and creative industries, medical services, education services, innovation and technology, testing and certification services, and environmental industries, have also been identified as enjoying advantages for further development.
This feature article analyses the economic contribution and employment situation in respect of the Four Key Industries and selected emerging industries in 2017.
For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the National Income Branch, C&SD (Tel: 3903 7002; email: gdp-p@censtatd.gov.hk).
“The Profile of the Unemployed Population in Hong Kong in 2018”
The labour market of Hong Kong continued in the state of full employment in 2018. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained steady between 2.8% and 2.9% during the first quarter to the fourth quarter of 2018 while the number of unemployed persons (not seasonally adjusted) fell from 112 100 in the first quarter to 105 400 in the fourth quarter of 2018. This feature article provides an analysis of the unemployed population in 2018 from various perspectives. It aims to give readers a better understanding of the unemployed population in Hong Kong.
For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Household Statistics Analysis Section, C&SD (Tel: 2887 5208; email: ghs@censtatd.gov.hk).
Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 140 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available. Users can download the Digest free of charge at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp460.jsp?productCode=B1010002).
Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Dissemination Section of C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk). read more
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, visited the Companies Registry today (May 15) to meet with its management and staff of various grades to learn more about their work and matters of concern.
Mr Law met with the Registrar of Companies, Ms Ada Chung, and the directorate staff to get an update on the department’s work including the registration of companies and statutory returns as well as the provision of company search services for the public.
Mr Law later toured the Document Management Section of the Public Search Division, which is responsible for receiving and dispatching documents, creating records for documents received in hard copy form and converting paper documents into digitised images for further processing. He then proceeded to the New Companies Section of the Company Formation and Deregistration Division to learn about how colleagues process applications for incorporation of local companies and the registration of non-Hong Kong companies. At the Data Centre of the Development Division, he was briefed on the centre’s 24-hour system support services.
Mr Law said he was pleased to learn that with the continuous efforts of the department to enhance its electronic services, members of the public can now incorporate companies, apply for business registration and submit all specified forms and related documents round the clock through the e-Registry portal or the CR eFiling mobile application.
Before concluding his visit, Mr Law met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on matters that concern them. He expressed his appreciation for colleagues’ efforts and encouraged them to continue to provide efficient and quality services to the community. read more
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 15) announced that the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus for April rose to 5.4 per cent from 1.1 per cent in March, indicating that although the infestation of Aedes albopictus in the areas surveyed was not extensive, there was an upward trend. The FEHD reminded the public to carry out effective prevention and control measures against mosquitoes as the summer weather will help mosquitoes breed quickly.
A spokesman for the FEHD said, “Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit dengue fever (DF) and Zika virus. In view of the 29 local DF cases recorded in Hong Kong last year and the high prevalence of DF in neighbouring areas, and that Hong Kong’s hot and rainy summer is conducive to large-scale mosquito breeding within a short period of time, the community must stay vigilant and work with the Government to carry out effective mosquito control measures.”
Among the 57 areas surveyed last month, positive ovitrap indices were recorded in 54 areas, ranging from 0.9 per cent to 20.6 per cent, with the index of Tseung Kwan O North ranked the highest, exceeding the alert level of 20 per cent. As for the port areas, the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus for April also rose to 0.8 per cent from 0.01 per cent in March.
The spokesman said, “The FEHD has conducted anti-mosquito operations at locations where a positive index was recorded. Additionally, an inter-departmental anti-mosquito response mechanism has been activated in the area with the Area Ovitrap Index (AOI) reaching the alert level for co-ordinating relevant departments and stakeholders to carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures. Relevant departments have also individually notified the groups that had voluntarily subscribed to the ovitrap rapid alert system. Subscribers have been invited to post specially designed alert notices in the common parts of their premises to urge occupants and staff to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures promptly.”
To eliminate early the potential breeding places for mosquitoes ahead of the rainy season, the FEHD and relevant government departments have already launched All-out Anti-mosquito Operations last month. The major measures include carrying out fogging in scrubby areas within a 100-metre radius around residences weekly to kill adult mosquitoes; carrying out inspection, removing stagnant water, applying insecticide and disposing of abandoned water containers weekly to prevent mosquito breeding; and trimming of grass to discourage resting of adult mosquitoes on the site. The FEHD and relevant government departments will continue the above mosquito prevention and control work in areas under their purview, particularly in the area with AOI reaching the alert level, and strengthen publicity and education campaigns in the coming months.
In addition, the FEHD started the second phase of its Anti-mosquito Campaign last month which lasts until June 14. The district offices of the FEHD have targeted areas which have drawn particular concern, such as public markets, cooked food centres and hawker bazaars, single-block buildings, streets and back lanes, common parts of buildings, village houses, construction sites, vacant sites and road works sites, and stepped up publicity at those places as well as mosquito prevention and control work at relevant public places. The FEHD will, after the second phase of the campaign, conduct territory-wide thematic mosquito prevention and control special operations to enhance the effectiveness of the campaign.
The FEHD has also handled mosquito complaints promptly and taken out prosecutions under the relevant ordinance against mosquito breeding. The Pest Control Inspection Teams have stepped up inspection of construction sites and enforcement action against mosquito breeding. This year (as at May 10), the FEHD instituted 41 prosecutions for mosquito breeding found in relevant premises under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), comprising 39 cases involving construction sites and two cases involving other premises. 　　
In order to keep the public abreast of the latest situation of mosquito infestation and assist them to take timely mosquito prevention and control measures, the FEHD is releasing two additional phased AOI for Aedes albopictus before the announcement of the monthly AOI and the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus. The FEHD will follow the established practice of notifying relevant government departments of the aforementioned indices so that they can carry out targeted mosquito prevention and control work promptly to strengthen the anti-mosquito efforts.　　
The spokesman added that as Aedes albopictus breeds in small water bodies, members of the public should carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing all the water in vases and scrubbing the inner surface as well as removing the water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes, and drilling large holes in unused tyres. He also advised the public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.　　
In addition, rural areas and the vicinity of shrubby areas are the natural habitats for mosquitoes, other insects and animals. Members of the public living in rural areas may install mosquito screens on windows and doors if necessary. Those staying in the natural environment should follow appropriate personal protective measures against mosquitoes, such as avoiding staying in the vicinity of shrubby areas for a long time, wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and applying DEET-containing insect repellent. Members of the public are reminded to make reports to the government departments via 1823 if mosquito problems are detected.　　
The spokesman reiterated that effective mosquito control requires the sustained effort of all parties concerned. The community must work together with the Government to carry out effective mosquito control measures.　　
The ovitrap indices for Aedes albopictus in different areas and information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department website at www.fehd.gov.hk. read more
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 is 105 (same as yesterday’s index). read more