The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, chaired the fifth meeting of the Anti-epidemic Fund Steering Committee today (May 6) to examine the implementation progress of the host of measures launched under the two rounds of Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF).
 
     The Steering Committee noted that, since the Legislative Council Finance Committee approved the $120.5 billion injection to the AEF on April 18, the details of over 20 second-round relief measures have already been announced and/or opened for application. Other measures will be launched as soon as possible with a view to providing timely relief to the affected sectors and individuals. 
 
     The Steering Committee also noted that, to date, the AEF has paid out over $13 billion, and many businesses and members of the public have gradually received subsidies.
 
     Mr Cheung said that, with a wide coverage, the measures of the two rounds of the AEF aim to preserve employment and assist the self-employed irrespective of the sectors to which they belong, provide additional relief to those sectors hard hit by the pandemic and pave the way for the post-pandemic economic recovery. 
 
     "We will continue to process applications and disburse subsidies as soon as possible to help businesses and members of the public tackle the challenges caused by the pandemic and to support enterprises, safeguard jobs and relieve people’s burden," he stressed. 
 
     The Retail Sector Subsidy Scheme under the first-round AEF provides a one-off subsidy of $80,000 to eligible retailers hard hit by the pandemic. About 93 000 applications were received within the application period. The Steering Committee is pleased to note that the scheme has been disbursing subsidies progressively and over $2.7 billion in subsidies have been approved so far, involving about 33 000 applications.
 
     The Steering Committee is chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration to monitor the implementation of the measures and the use of AEF, and to examine the progress reports from relevant bureaux and departments on a regular basis.

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest provisional figures on restaurant receipts and purchases today (May 6).
 
     The value of total receipts of the restaurants sector in the first quarter of 2020, provisionally estimated at $21.7 billion, decreased by 31.2% over a year earlier. Over the same period, the provisional estimate of the value of total purchases by restaurants decreased by 29.1% to $7.0 billion.
 
     After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total restaurant receipts decreased by 32.3% in the first quarter of 2020 compared with a year earlier.
 
     Analysed by type of restaurant and comparing the first quarter of 2020 with the first quarter of 2019, total receipts of Chinese restaurants decreased by 39.6% in value and 40.9% in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants decreased by 29.0% in value and 29.9% in volume. Total receipts of fast food shops decreased by 17.1% in value and 18.2% in volume. Total receipts of bars decreased by 37.5% in value and 40.8% in volume. As for miscellaneous eating and drinking places, total receipts decreased by 25.9% in value and 27.5% in volume.
 
     Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of total restaurant receipts decreased by 18.4% in value and 18.8% in volume in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the preceding quarter.

     To facilitate further understanding of the short-term business performance of the restaurants sector, statistics in respect of the restaurant receipts and purchases in individual months of the reference quarter are also compiled.
 
     Analysed by month, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total receipts of the restaurants sector decreased by 10.8%, 42.1% and 41.7% respectively in January, February and March 2020, compared with the corresponding months a year earlier.
 
     After discounting the effect of price changes, it was provisionally estimated that the volume of total restaurant receipts decreased by 12.6%, 43.0% and 42.6% respectively in January, February and March 2020, compared with the corresponding months a year earlier.

Commentary
 
     A Government spokesman noted that the year-on-year decline in the value of total restaurant receipts enlarged sharply to 31.2% in the first quarter of 2020, the largest on record, as the threat of COVID-19 and the resulting need for travel restrictions and social distancing significantly weighed on business.
 
     The spokesman further pointed out that while there has been some signs of relative improvement lately from the very austere situation earlier, the business environment of the food and beverage sector will remain difficult in the near term amid the economic recession. To preserve the vitality of the economy, the Government has rolled out relief measures of unprecedented scale. Some of these measures, such as the specific support measures for the food and beverage sector and the enhancements to the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme, should help the sector endure the current hardship. The Government will continue to monitor the developments closely.
 
Further information
 
     Table 1 presents the revised figures of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant and total purchases by the restaurants sector for the fourth quarter of 2019 as well as the provisional figures for the first quarter of 2020.
 
     Table 2 and Table 3 present the revised value and volume indices respectively of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant for the fourth quarter of 2019 and the provisional indices for the first quarter of 2020.
 
     Table 4 presents the year-on-year rate of change in total restaurant receipts in value and volume terms based on the original quarterly series, as well as the quarter-to-quarter rate of change based on the seasonally adjusted series.
 
     The revised figures on restaurant receipts and purchases for the first quarter of 2020 (with breakdown by month) will be released through the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/bbs.jsp) and relevant publications of the Department from June 19, 2020.
 
     The classification of restaurants follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.
 
     More detailed statistics are given in the "Report on Quarterly Survey of Restaurant Receipts and Purchases". Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp320.jsp?productCode=B1080002).
 
     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7401; email: qsr@censtatd.gov.hk).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at noon today (May 6), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health the admission of 11 patients (five male and six female, aged 5 to 80) in the past 24 hours who met the reporting criteria of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Appropriate tests have been arranged for the patients.

     There are 127 patients under isolation currently. So far, 932 patients who had COVID-19 confirmed or probable infections have been discharged upon recovery.

     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has announced that as of 4pm today (May 6), no new local confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had been recorded, and that the number of cases in Hong Kong remained at 1 041 so far (comprising 1 040 confirmed cases and one probable case).
 
     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."
 
     The CHP has set up hotlines (2125 1111 and 2125 1122), which operate from 8am to midnight daily, for public enquiries. As at 3pm today, a total of 105 591 calls had been received.
 
     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.
 
     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.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 is 108.6 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).