The Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources Ordinance (CAMLR Ordinance) (Cap 635) and its subsidiary legislation will come into effect on July 1 to conserve Antarctic marine living resources.  … read more
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 29) the external merchandise trade statistics for May 2020. In May 2020, the values of Hong Kong’s total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year decreases, at 7.4% and 12.3% respectively.
In May 2020, the value of total exports of goods decreased by 7.4% over a year earlier to $317.6 billion, after a year-on-year decrease of 3.7% in April 2020. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods decreased by 12.3% over a year earlier to $331.3 billion in May 2020, after a year-on-year decrease of 6.7% in April 2020. A visible trade deficit of $13.7 billion, equivalent to 4.1% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in May 2020.
For the first five months of 2020 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods decreased by 8.0% over the same period in 2019. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods decreased by 9.8%. A visible trade deficit of $141.7 billion, equivalent to 8.9% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first five months of 2020.
Comparing the three-month period ending May 2020 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 5.1%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 1.7%.
Analysis by country/territory
Comparing May 2020 with May 2019, total exports to Asia as a whole went down by 4.6%. In this region, decreases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular the Philippines (-45.5%), India (-37.9%), Singapore (-29.0%) and Korea (-18.4%). On the other hand, increases were recorded in the values of total exports to Taiwan (+16.6%) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) (+0.3%).
Apart from destinations in Asia, decreases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations in other regions, in particular the United Kingdom (‑27.3%), the USA (-14.4%) and Germany (-12.9%).
Over the same period of comparison, decreases were registered in the values of imports from some major suppliers, in particular the United Kingdom (-37.9%), the USA (‑30.4%), the Mainland (-13.9%), Japan (-12.5%) and Singapore (-6.4%). Concurrently, increases were recorded in the values of imports from Vietnam (+69.6%), Taiwan (+6.9%) and Korea (+5.0%).
For the first five months of 2020 as a whole, year-on-year decreases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular the USA (-24.2%), India (-23.1%), Germany (‑22.4%) and Singapore (-20.8%). However, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of total exports to Taiwan (+8.6%) and the Mainland (+1.0%).
Over the same period of comparison, year-on-year decreases were registered in the values of imports from some major suppliers, in particular the USA (-18.2%), the Mainland (‑15.1%), the United Kingdom (‑8.7%) and Japan (-4.4%). However, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of imports from Vietnam (+49.3%), Taiwan (+16.1%), Korea (+11.2%) and Singapore (+5.3%).
Analysis by major commodity
Comparing May 2020 with May 2019, decreases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $13.0 billion or -20.5%), “miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly jewellery, goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ wares)” (by $8.2 billion or -39.9%), “non-metallic mineral manufactures” (by $4.8 billion or ‑34.2%) and “photographic apparatus, equipment and supplies, optical goods, watches and clocks” (by $4.1 billion or -45.2%). However, increases were registered in the values of total exports of “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $6.8 billion or 5.2%) and “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $4.3 billion or 12.8%).
Over the same period of comparison, decreases were registered in the values of imports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $10.6 billion or -18.7%), “miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly jewellery, goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ wares)” (by $8.7 billion or -37.9%) and “photographic apparatus, equipment and supplies, optical goods, watches and clocks” (by $5.1 billion or -52.1%). However, an increase was registered in the value of imports of “essential oils and resinoids and perfume materials; toilet, polishing and cleansing preparations” (by $1.9 billion or 39.8%).
For the first five months of 2020 as a whole, year-on-year decreases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $59.9 billion or -20.3%), “non-metallic mineral manufactures” (by $28.9 billion or -41.2%) and “miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly jewellery, goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ wares)” (by $25.7 billion or -28.3%). However, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of total exports of “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $21.9 billion or 3.7%) and “power generating machinery and equipment” (by $9.6 billion or 35.1%).
Over the same period of comparison, year-on-year decreases were registered in the values of imports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $49.0 billion or -18.0%), “non-metallic mineral manufactures” (by $34.0 billion or -42.6%) and “miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly jewellery, goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ wares)” (by $23.9 billion or -22.0%). However, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of imports of “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $19.1 billion or 3.0%) and “power generating machinery and equipment” (by $11.1 billion or 31.3%).
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that the value of merchandise exports showed an enlarged year-on-year decrease of 7.4% in May, in tandem with subdued regional trade flows amid weak global demand. Exports to the Mainland recorded a sharply decelerated growth, while those to many other major markets continued to decline by varying degrees. Taking April and May together, the value of merchandise exports fell by 5.7% from a year earlier. This was narrower than the corresponding decline of 9.7% in the first quarter.
Looking ahead, Hong Kong’s export performance will remain under pressure in the near term. The continued spread of COVID-19 in various places of the world is still a key threat to the global economy. The development of US-Mainland political and economic relations also warrants concern. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Further information
Table 1 at the annex presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for May 2020. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2017 to May 2020, and Table 3 gives the seasonally adjusted series for the same period.
The values of total exports of goods to 10 main destinations for May 2020 are shown in Table 4, whereas the values of imports of goods from 10 main suppliers are given in Table 5.
Tables 6 and 7 show the values of total exports and imports of 10 principal commodity divisions for May 2020.
All the merchandise trade statistics described here are measured at current prices and no account has been taken of changes in prices between the periods of comparison. A separate analysis of the volume and price movements of external merchandise trade for May 2020 will be released in mid-July 2020.
The May 2020 issue of “Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade” contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong’s external merchandise trade in May 2020 and will be available in mid-July 2020. Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp230.jsp).
Enquiries on merchandise trade statistics may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5042). read more
Overall wage and payroll statistics According to the figures released today (June 29) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the average wage rate for all the selected industry sections surveyed, as measured by the w… read more
The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 71 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 29).
This publication contains key findings on Hong Kong population’s willingness to live in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) based on the Thematic Household Survey conducted during April to July 2019.
According to the survey results which represent the population of Hong Kong, it was estimated that the vast majority (93.8%) of persons aged 15 and over had heard of the GBA. The top three GBA Mainland cities that were most commonly aware of by those persons who had heard of the GBA were Shenzhen (47.0%), Guangzhou (42.9%) and Zhuhai (42.3%).
It was also estimated that at the time of enumeration, some 699 400 persons aged 15 and over had ever thought of staying (including living or retiring, working or operating business, studying or taking further studies) in places outside Hong Kong in the future, constituting 11.2% of all persons aged 15 and over. Among them, some 266 200 persons were interested in staying in the GBA Mainland cities in the future, constituting 38.1% of all persons aged 15 and over who had ever thought of staying in places outside Hong Kong in the future. While some 220 300 persons were interested in living or retiring in the GBA Mainland cities in the future, some 63 500 persons were interested in working or operating business in the GBA Mainland cities in the future, and some 7 200 persons were interested in studying or taking further studies in the GBA Mainland cities in the future.
On the other hand, among those persons aged 15 and over who had ever thought of staying in places outside Hong Kong in the future but were not interested in staying in the GBA Mainland cities in the future, and those who had never thought of staying in places outside Hong Kong, 14.4% indicated that their interest in staying in the GBA Mainland cities would raise if “provision of healthcare services similar to those in Hong Kong” were implemented. This was followed by “entitlement to Hong Kong healthcare and welfare services in the GBA Mainland cities” (14.1%) and “provision of transportation allowance for cross-boundary travel” (13.2%).
Other information
The survey successfully enumerated some 20 000 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). read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has announced that as of 4pm today (June 29), the CHP was investigating four additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 1 204 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 1 203 confirmed cases and one probable case).
The newly reported cases announced today involve a male and three females aged between 23 and 53. They had a travel history during the incubation period. The CHP’s epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex.
The CHP again urged members of the public to maintain an appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible in their daily lives to minimise the risk of infection. In particular, they should go out less and avoid social activities such as meal gatherings or other gatherings to reduce the chance of contacting infected persons who may not present any symptoms, and minimise the risk of outbreak clusters emerging in the community.
A spokesman for the CHP said, “Given that the situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and that there is a continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong.
“The CHP also strongly urges the public to maintain at all times strict personal and environmental hygiene, which is key to personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community. On a personal level, members of the public should wear a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, taking public transport or staying in crowded places. They should also perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
“As for household environmental hygiene, members of the public are advised to maintain drainage pipes properly, regularly pour water into drain outlets (U-traps) and cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use. After using the toilet, they should put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs.”
Moreover, the Government has launched the website “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for announcing the latest updates on various news on COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public understand the latest updates. Members of the public may also gain access to information via the COVID-19 WhatsApp Helpline launched by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Simply by saving 9617 1823 in their phone contacts or clicking the link wa.me/85296171823?text=hi, they will be able to obtain information on COVID-19 as well as the “StayHomeSafe” mobile app and wristband via WhatsApp.
To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infection, members of the public should always maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. They are advised to:
• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, after touching public installations such as handrails or doorknobs, or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
• Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a litre of water into each drain outlet (U-trap) to ensure environmental hygiene;
• Cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use;
• After using the toilet, put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly. read more