The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (January 16) announced that samples taken from a licensed pig farm in Yuen Long had tested positive for the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus. … read more
Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for November 2024 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (January 16) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
In November 2024, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods decreased by 0.6%, while the volume of imports of goods increased by 3.1% over November 2023.
Comparing the first eleven months of 2024 with the same period in 2023, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 5.1% and 3.3% respectively.
Comparing the three-month period ending November 2024 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 4.6% and 1.6% respectively.
Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
Comparing November 2024 with November 2023, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 2.7% and 2.5% respectively.
As regards price changes in the first eleven months of 2024 over the same period in 2023, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 3.7% and 3.3% respectively.
Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.
The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2023, the index increased by 0.2% in November 2024 and 0.4% in the first eleven months of 2024.
Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
Comparing November 2024 with November 2023, declines were recorded for the total export volume to India (-27.8%), the USA (-5.8%) and Taiwan (-2.6%). On the other hand, the total export volume to the mainland of China (the Mainland) (1.0%) and Vietnam (38.5%) increased.
Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to the USA (4.3%), Taiwan (4.3%), the Mainland (3.0%) and Vietnam (2.6%) increased. On the other hand, the total export prices to India decreased by 3.6%.
Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
Comparing November 2024 with November 2023, increases were recorded for the import volume from Taiwan (31.9%), Singapore (26.3%), Korea (7.2%) and Japan (2.7%). On the other hand, the import volume from the Mainland decreased by 0.8%.
Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Korea (7.7%), Singapore (4.1%), Taiwan (3.4%), Japan (1.8%) and the Mainland (1.3%).
Further information
Details of the above statistics are published in the November 2024 issue of “Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers”. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230).
Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918). read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced t… read more
The Education Bureau (EDB) has set up two booths at the Education & Careers Expo 2025 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from today (January 16) for four consecutive days to introduce different professional grades of the EDB and promote Applied Learning (ApL). The booths aim at enhancing the public’s understanding, especially young people, on the career opportunities of the EDB and ApL.
The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Michelle Li, visited the EDB’s booths today. Dr Choi encouraged all those wishing to develop their career in the education sector to join the EDB in pushing forward with quality school education for students. As for further studies, she said that ApL is a valued senior secondary elective subject. The courses put dual emphasis on theory and practice, and are linked to different vocational and professional fields. These could enhance students’ understanding of vocational and professional education and training to get well prepared for further studies and work in the future.
Featuring interactive games, display panels, themed videos and career talks, the booth on recruitment introduces different professional grades of the EDB, including Education Officer (Secondary School Teacher), Primary School Master/Mistress, Inspector (Graduate), Education Officer (Administration), Specialist (Education Services) and speech therapists in government schools. The EDB welcomes job seekers to visit the booth.
Another booth promoting ApL is also set up at which student ambassadors will introduce ApL to visitors and share their personal stories on how ApL has helped them explore their career aspirations and the path of lifelong learning.
The EDB will hold a Careers Forum themed “Cultivating Values, Nurturing People in Partnership, Advancing Education Leadership for a Better Tomorrow” at Hall 1D from 1pm to 1.30pm tomorrow (January 17) to introduce the scope of work and prospects of the education grades. Officers of the professional grades and heads of government schools will share their specialised and all-round roles in pursuing the mission and vision of the EDB.
The Education & Careers Expo 2025 is held at Hall 1D and 1E of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Admission is free. The EDB’s booths, namely EDB recruitment (Booth 1E-A10) and Applied Learning (Booth 1E-B14), are both located at Hall 1E. Opening hours are from 10am to 7pm from today to January 18, and from 10am to 6pm on January 19. Souvenirs are distributed at the booths while stocks last.
For recruitment information of the EDB, please visit its website: www.edb.gov.hk/en/about-edb/info/recruitment/index.html. For details of ApL, please visit www.edb.gov.hk/apl/en.
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, met with Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province Mr Liu Hongbing in Guangzhou today (January 16). During the meeting, she briefed him on Hong Kong’s recently released Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development (Blueprint) and the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 (Blueprint 2.0). She also talked about the mission and strategies of Hong Kong’s development in arts, culture, creative industries and tourism. The Blueprint consolidates Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges, while the Blueprint 2.0 focuses on enhancing travel experiences and promoting the concept of “+tourism”, in a bid to strengthen the integration of culture, ecology, sports and tourism, develop diversified tourism products and initiatives with local and international characteristics, advocate the concept of “Everyone is a Tourism Ambassador”, as well as to welcome visitors to Hong Kong with a radiant smile.
Both parties exchanged views on cultural and tourism collaborations between Guangdong and Hong Kong in the future, explored ways to share arts and cultural resources and develop cross-boundary signature itineraries. Miss Law said that, by having close connections in culture and history, Hong Kong and Guangdong will explore more diverse cultural tourism initiatives through stronger collaborations in the future, with a view to attracting more international tourists, deepening people’s understanding of the profound traditional cultural characteristics of the Lingnan legacy, and facilitating mutual cultural exchanges and economic development.
Discussions on the preparatory works for the 15th National Games (NG) and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) were held between both sides, with the aim to promote the development of the sports industry in both Guangdong Province and Hong Kong.
After that, Miss Law and the delegation visited the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center to learn more about the work preparations, as the facility is one of the competition venues of the 15th NG and the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG. Knowing that the venue preparation is in good progress, Miss Law is looking forward to cohosting a simple, safe and wonderful Games with Guangdong.
Miss Law began her itinerary in Guangzhou upon arrival yesterday afternoon (January 15). She cochaired the 12th Guangdong-Hong Kong Liaison Meeting on the 15th NG and the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG with the Head of the Sports Bureau of Guangdong Province, Mr Cui Jian. The Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong), Mr Yeung Tak-keung, also attended the meeting.
In order to further advance the preparatory work for the 15th NG and the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, Guangdong and Hong Kong established a regular liaison mechanism to hold Guangdong-Hong Kong Liaison Meetings in Guangzhou and Hong Kong regularly. Miss Law said, “This is the first time I have cochaired the meeting with Mr Cui in the capacity of the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism. We had in-depth communications and exchanged views on various preparatory works to improve all suggestions and co-operation plans.” In the meeting, the discussion was focused on the overall framework of competition events and the overall market development plan for Hong Kong, laying a solid foundation for a smooth operation.
Miss Law watched the 43rd Guangdong – Hong Kong Cup (Round 1) last night with football fans in the Guangzhou Yuexiushan Stadium to personally show her support for mutual sports exchanges.
She departed for Hong Kong at noon today.
