The Correctional Services Department gave the following response today (July 21) on a case involving a lawyer who visited persons in custody preliminarily testing positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID… read more
The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident in Kowloon City this afternoon (July 21) in which a man died. The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the acc… read more
The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (July 21) for people in need of the service.
The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
For further information, please call the department’s hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
The 19 night heat shelters are located at:
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Kowloon Districts:
——————
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
New Territories Districts:
————————–
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai read more
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 21) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for June 2020. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 0.7% in June 2020 over the same month a year earlier, smaller than the corresponding increase (1.5%) in May 2020. 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 June 2020 was 1.2%, smaller than that in May 2020 (1.9%). The smaller increase in June was mainly due to the substantial moderation of the year-on-year increase in prices of pork when compared with May. The prices of pork started to surge in end May last year, hence its year-on-year increase in June this year would become narrower due to a high base of comparison.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period ending June 2020 was 0.0%, the same as that for the 3-month period ending May 2020. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the corresponding rates of change were both 0.0%.
Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 0.6%, 0.8% and 0.7% respectively in June 2020, as compared to 1.7%, 1.5% and 1.2% respectively in May 2020. 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 1.4%, 1.2% and 1.0% respectively in June 2020, as compared to 2.5%, 1.9% and 1.4% respectively in May 2020.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the 3-month period ending June 2020, the average monthly rates of change in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 0.0%, 0.0% and -0.1% respectively. The corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period ending May 2020 were -0.1%, 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the average monthly rates of change in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) for the 3-month period ending June 2020 were 0.0%, 0.0% and -0.1% respectively, and the corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period ending May 2020 were -0.1%, 0.0% and 0.0% respectively.
Amongst the various components of the Composite CPI, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in June 2020 for food (excluding meals bought away from home) (4.9%), miscellaneous goods (2.7%), meals bought away from home (1.4%), housing (1.4%), miscellaneous services (0.8%) as well as alcoholic drinks and tobacco (0.1%).
On the other hand, year-on-year decreases in the components of the Composite CPI were recorded in June 2020 for electricity, gas and water (-18.6%); clothing and footwear (-5.3%) as well as durable goods (-3.5%).
As for transport, the Composite CPI remained unchanged over a year earlier.
For the first half of 2020 as a whole, the Composite CPI rose by 1.6% over a year earlier. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 1.3%, 1.9% and 1.8% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures were 2.4%, 2.9%, 2.3% and 1.9% respectively.
In the second quarter of 2020, the Composite CPI rose by 1.3% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 1.6%, 1.4% and 1.1% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures were 1.8%, 2.3%, 1.8% and 1.4% respectively.
For the 12 months ending June 2020, the Composite CPI was on average 2.4% higher than that in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.5%, 2.5% and 2.3% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures were 2.7%, 3.3%, 2.6% and 2.3% respectively.
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that the underlying consumer price inflation rate eased visibly to 1.2% in June, as prices of basic foodstuffs showed a much narrower year-on-year increase against a high base of comparison caused by the surge in pork prices which started in May last year. Meanwhile, price pressures on other major CPI components remained mild.
Looking ahead, overall inflationary pressures will likely recede further in the near term amid austere global and local economic conditions. 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 June 2020 are shown in Table 1. The time series on the year-on-year rates of change in the CPIs before and after netting out 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 3 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 June 2020 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). read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
This press release summarises the decisions of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 97th meeting held in July 2020:
Updated investment plan of PCCW Media Limited (PCCW Media)
———————————————————————–
Upon an application by PCCW Media, a domestic pay television programme service (pay TV) licensee, the CA approved PCCW Media’s updated six-year investment plan for 2015 to 2021. Under this updated investment plan, the total investment by PCCW Media for the period will be adjusted to $18,152 million, comprising $995 million for capital investment as well as $17,157 million for programme investment and other operating expenditures.
Pursuant to the relevant licence condition in the pay TV licence of PCCW Media, unless otherwise approved by the CA, PCCW Media is required to comply with the statements and representations in the Licensee’s Proposal, including a six-year investment plan for 2015 to 2021 amounting to $23,548 million, comprising $1,100 million of capital investment for the development, upgrading and maintenance of its infrastructure and transmission facilities as well as $22,448 million for programme investment and other operating expenditures.
In approving PCCW Media’s updated investment plan, the CA recognised the increasingly challenging business environment for broadcasters amidst recent economic downturns and substantial changes to the industry landscape since the investment plan was formulated back in 2013. Under its updated investment plan, PCCW Media will continue to upgrade its broadcasting facilities and invest in programming and production in the remaining two years covered by the updated plan.
Broadcast complaint
———————–
The CA considered a complaint case about the television programme “Hong Kong Our Home Concert” broadcast on September 14, 2019, on the Jade Channel of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). The CA decided that TVB should be advised to observe more closely the relevant provision of the Generic Code of Practice on Television Advertising Standards. Details of the case are at www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/en/content_713/appx_20200721.pdf.
Breach of licence condition by Health TV Company Limited (HTV)
————————————————————————
The CA decided that HTV, a non-domestic television programme service (non-domestic TV) licensee, had breached Condition 10.1 of its non-domestic TV licence by failing to provide a non-domestic TV service for a substantial period since November 30, 2018. Taking into account the circumstances of the case and HTV’s representations, the CA decided that HTV should be seriously warned to observe the relevant licence condition more closely. Pursuant to section 24(1) of the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562), the CA directed HTV to resume its service by August 31, 2020.
Renewal of “Other Licensable Television Programme Service” licences
—————————————————————————–
The CA approved the applications by Showers of Blessing Evangelistic Ministry (Hong Kong) Limited and Swire Properties Hotel Management Limited for renewal of their other licensable television programme service (other licensable TV) licences for the provision of television programme services to hotel rooms in Hong Kong for three years and 12 years respectively.
Following the renewal of the above licences, there will be 21 other licensable TV licensees providing television programme services to more than 60 hotels in Hong Kong. read more