The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (June 17) the June 2019 issue of the "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" (HKMDS). Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this… read more
A contractor who illegally used powered mechanical equipment to carry out construction works at night at a construction site for the Housing Department’s subsidised sale flats on Ying Hei Road, Tung Chung was convicted and fined $50,000 at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (June 17) for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO).
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received complaints from members of the public and a property management company in June last year that construction works were being carried out at a construction site on Ying Hei Road, Tung Chung at night, generating noise and causing nuisance to residents nearby. After investigation, the EPD confirmed that the contractor of the construction site was using powered mechanical equipment, including concrete lorry mixers and a mobile crane, to carry out construction works without a valid construction noise permit during the period from 7pm to midnight. The EPD prosecuted the contractor of the construction site under the NCO after investigation and gathering evidence.
The NCO aims to protect the public from disturbance of rest. An EPD spokesman emphasised that contractors must properly arrange for works to be carried out during the daytime on weekdays with a view to avoiding causing noise pollution and nuisance to residents nearby. According to the NCO, unless the contractor has obtained a valid construction noise permit, no powered mechanical equipment for any construction works shall be used between 7pm and 7am on the following day, or at any time on a general holiday (including Sundays). Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 on first conviction, and $200,000 on second or subsequent conviction. A daily fine of $20,000 can also be imposed for a continuous offence. read more
Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for April 2019 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 17) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
In April 2019, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods decreased by 4.2% over April 2018. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 7.2%.
Comparing the first four months of 2019 with the same period in 2018, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods decreased by 4.2%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 5.6%.
Comparing the three-month period ending April 2019 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 1.8%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 0.9%.
Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
Comparing April 2019 with April 2018, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 2.0%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods also increased by 2.0%.
As regards price changes in the first four months of 2019 over the same period in 2018, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 2.1%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods also increased by 2.1%.
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 2018, the index remained virtually unchanged in both April 2019 and the first four months of 2019.
Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
Comparing April 2019 with April 2018, double-digit declines were recorded for the total export volume to the USA (-18.2%), India (-15.5%) and Japan (-14.0%). Concurrently, the total export volume to the mainland of China (the Mainland) decreased by 4.0%. On the other hand, a double-digit growth of 38.8% was recorded for the total export volume to Singapore.
Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to the Mainland, Japan, the USA and India increased by 2.9%, 2.6%, 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. On the other hand, the total export prices to Singapore decreased by 3.4%.
Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
Comparing April 2019 with April 2018, a double-digit decline of 11.5% was recorded for the import volume from Taiwan. Concurrently, the import volume from the USA, Singapore, Japan and the Mainland decreased by 7.4%, 5.5%, 4.3% and 3.8% respectively.
Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Singapore (+4.5%), the Mainland (+2.6%), Japan (+2.1%), the USA (+1.6%) and Taiwan (+1.5%).
Further information
Details of the above statistics are published in the April 2019 issue of “Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers”. Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp230.jsp?productCode=B1020006).
Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918). read more
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 17) the preliminary statistics on Hong Kong’s Gross National Income (GNI) and related figures for the first quarter of 2019.
Hong Kong’s GNI, which denotes the total income earned by Hong Kong residents from engaging in various economic activities, increased by 3.7% in the first quarter of 2019 over a year earlier to $737.0 billion at current market prices. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), estimated at $714.0 billion at current market prices in the same quarter, recorded a 4.0% increase over the same period. The value of GNI was larger than GDP by $23.0 billion in the first quarter of 2019, which was equivalent to 3.2% of GDP in that quarter, mainly attributable to a net inflow of investment income.
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, Hong Kong’s GNI increased by 1.2% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 over a year earlier. The corresponding GDP in the same quarter increased by 0.6% in real terms.
Hong Kong’s total inflow of primary income, which mainly comprises investment income, estimated at $369.2 billion in the first quarter of 2019 and equivalent to 51.7% of GDP in that quarter, recorded an increase of 5.6% over a year earlier. Meanwhile, total primary income outflow, estimated at $346.2 billion in the first quarter of 2019 and equivalent to 48.5% of GDP in that quarter, also increased by 6.4% over a year earlier.
As for the major components of investment income inflow, direct investment income (DII) increased by 2.1% over a year earlier, mainly due to the increase in earnings of some prominent local enterprises from their direct investment abroad. Portfolio investment income (PII) recorded an increase of 1.3% over a year earlier, mainly attributable to the increase in interest income received by resident investors from their holdings of non-resident short-term debt securities, partly offset by the decrease in dividend income received by resident investors from their holdings of non-resident equity securities.
Regarding the major components of investment income outflow, DII increased by 3.0% over a year earlier, mainly due to the increase in earnings of some prominent multinational enterprises from their direct investment in Hong Kong. PII increased significantly by 20.3%, mainly attributable to the increase in interest payout to non-resident investors from their holdings of resident long-term debt securities and the increase in dividend payout to non-resident investors from their holdings of resident equity securities.
Analysed by country/territory, the mainland of China continued to be the largest source of Hong Kong’s total primary income inflow in the first quarter of 2019, accounting for 36.1%. This was followed by the British Virgin Islands (BVI), with a share of 22.8%. Regarding total primary income outflow, the BVI and the mainland of China remained the most important destinations in the first quarter of 2019, accounting for 26.2% and 26.0% respectively.
Further Information
GDP and GNI are closely related indicators for measuring economic performance. GDP is a measure of the total value of production of all resident producing units of an economy. GNI denotes the total income earned by residents of an economy from engaging in various economic activities, irrespective of whether the economic activities are carried out within the economic territory of the economy or outside.
Figures of primary income inflow and outflow presented above are compiled based on data obtained from the Survey of External Claims, Liabilities and Income conducted quarterly by the C&SD, supplemented by data from other sources.
Figures of GNI and primary income flows analysed by income component from the second quarter of 2017 to the first quarter of 2019 are presented in Table A, while selected major country/territory breakdowns of primary income inflow and outflow for the same quarters are presented in Tables B(1) and B(2) respectively.
Statistics on GDP and GNI from 2017 onwards and primary income flows from 2018 onwards are subject to revision when more data become available.
Enquiries about GNI and related statistics may be directed to the Balance of Payments Branch (2) of the C&SD at 3903 7054. read more
The investigation team of the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) today (June 17) published the final report (1/2019) on the investigation into an aircraft accident that occurred at Shek Kong Airfield on October 23, 2016, involving a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter (registration mark B-HJU) operated by a flying instructor of the Hong Kong Aviation Club.
The accident occurred when the instructor, based on traffic considerations, landed the helicopter on a grass strip which runs parallel to the runway. When the traffic was clear, the instructor attempted to lift off again to continue to hover-taxi but the fronts of both skids were entangled with the grass. The helicopter subsequently rolled over forward and rested on its left side. The engine stopped on impact. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The instructor suffered some minor injuries while a student pilot onboard was not injured. The occurrence was classified as an accident according to the criteria of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“The investigation report was published by the AAIA with the objective of identifying the circumstances and causes of the accident with a view to preventing recurrence,” an AAIA spokesperson said.
The investigation was conducted by a team of professional investigators in strict adherence to international standards established by the ICAO. The investigation identified that the probable cause of the accident was a dynamic rollover caused by an uncontrollable angular momentum that was created by the instructor’s attempt to lift off with the fronts of both the helicopter’s skids entangled with long grass. The investigation team made two safety recommendations, mainly suggesting enhanced pilot awareness on dynamic rollover and the management of the grass area at the Shek Kong Airfield, which is used for takeoff and landing by helicopters.
Throughout the investigation, all parties concerned were properly consulted on the report. The report is available for download at the AAIA webpage (www.thb.gov.hk/aaia/eng/investigation_reports/index.htm).
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