According to the results of the 2018 Annual Survey of Economic Activities – Transportation, Storage and Courier Services Sector released today (November 28) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total receipts (comprising business receipts and other income) of the transportation, storage and courier services sector amounted to $550.7 billion in 2018, representing an increase of 6.3% compared with 2017; on a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 4.7% compared with 2017 to $21.5 million in 2018.

     Operating expenses and compensation of employees of this sector altogether amounted to $480.0 billion in 2018, representing an increase of 5.8% compared with 2017; on a per establishment basis, they increased by 4.2% compared with 2017 to $18.7 million in 2018.

     Gross surplus of the sector, which is equal to total receipts less operating expenses and compensation of employees, increased by 9.8% compared with 2017 to $70.8 billion in 2018; on a per establishment basis, gross surplus increased from $2.6 million in 2017 to $2.8 million in 2018. Gross surplus accounted for 12.8% of total receipts of this sector in 2018, up slightly by 0.4 percentage points compared with 2017.

     Value added of the sector, which is a measure of its contribution to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product, increased by 3.5% compared with 2017 to $153.6 billion in 2018; on a per establishment basis, value added was $6.0 million in 2018, which increased by 1.9% compared with 2017.

     According to the survey results, it was estimated that the sector comprised some 25 600 establishments and engaged about 228 200 persons, or an average of 8.9 persons per establishment, in 2018.

     Within the transportation, storage and courier services sector, the five largest industry groupings in terms of value added in 2018 were (1) air transport and service activities incidental to air transportation; (2) land passenger transport; (3) other transportation support activities; (4) land freight transport; and (5) service activities incidental to water transportation. They together accounted for 84.4% of the value added of the sector.

     In the air transport and service activities incidental to air transportation industry, total receipts amounted to $170.8 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $139.4 billion in 2018. Gross surplus increased from $30.5 billion in 2017 to $31.5 billion in 2018, accounting for 18.4% of total receipts in 2018. Value added increased by 2.8% compared with 2017 to $63.1 billion.

     In the land passenger transport industry, total receipts amounted to $57.7 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $41.5 billion in 2018. Gross surplus increased from $15.6 billion in 2017 to $16.3 billion in 2018, accounting for 28.2% of total receipts in 2018. Value added increased by 4.0% compared with 2017 to $32.8 billion.

     In the other transportation support activities industry which comprised mainly cargo forwarders and shipbrokers, total receipts amounted to $128.8 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $122.9 billion in 2018. Gross surplus increased from $5.6 billion in 2017 to $5.9 billion in 2018, accounting for 4.5% of total receipts in 2018. Value added increased by 1.6% compared with 2017 to $15.4 billion.

     In the land freight transport industry, total receipts amounted to $23.0 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $20.4 billion in 2018. Gross surplus decreased from $2.8 billion in 2017 to $2.6 billion in 2018, accounting for 11.4% of total receipts in 2018. Value added increased by 3.5% compared with 2017 to $10.6 billion.

     In the service activities incidental to water transportation industry, total receipts amounted to $14.4 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $9.9 billion in 2018. Gross surplus increased from $4.3 billion in 2017 to $4.5 billion in 2018, accounting for 31.2% of total receipts in 2018. Value added increased by 0.3% compared with 2017 to $7.7 billion.

     Selected statistics for the transportation, storage and courier services sector are shown in the attached table.

     More detailed survey results on the transportation, storage and courier services sector will be given in the report "Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Transportation, Storage and Courier Services Sector in 2018". Users can download this report (in PDF format) free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp340.jsp?productCode=B1080010) as from end-December 2019.

     For enquiries about the key statistics on business performance and operating characteristics of the transportation, storage and courier services sector, please contact the Logistics and Producer Prices Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7256; email: transport@censtatd.gov.hk).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, November 28, 2019 is 106.3 (same as yesterday's index).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, November 28, 2019 is 106.3 (same as yesterday's index).

     The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu, signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Chairman of the British Museum, Sir Richard Lambert and the Director of Gallerie degli Uffizi, Professor Eike Schmidt respectively today (November 28), further strengthening the cultural exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and the two world-renowned museums.
 
     Under the MOUs, the LCSD and the British Museum will foster their co-operation on exhibitions and strengthen professional exchanges between the two sides.
 
     The Gallerie degli Uffizi will offer different thematic exhibitions for display at the LCSD's museums under their five-year plan. The two sides will also develop professional exchange programmes for their museum personnel and facilitate visits by Hong Kong youth ambassadors to Uffizi.
 
     It is the very first time the Gallerie degli Uffizi, the largest and most visited museum in Italy, has entered into a strategic, long-term partnership with a foreign institution. It is also the first time the LCSD has entered into an MOU with an Italian museum. The first exhibition from Uffizi is planned for September 2020 to celebrate the Italy-China Year of Culture and Tourism.
 
     The British Museum has long held a close relationship with the LCSD. They jointly organised the well-received "Eternal Life – Exploring Ancient Egypt" exhibition in 2017 and "A History of the World in 100 Objects from the British Museum" exhibition in 2019. They also partnered to stage the 2nd Museum Summit this year.
 
     Upon signing the MOUs, the LCSD will work closely with the British Museum and the Gallerie degli Uffizi to promote the development of mutually beneficial relations in the field of art and culture.

    

     The opening hours of the URBTIX outlets at Tom Lee Tsim Sha Tsui Branch (1-9 Cameron Lane, Tsim Sha Tsui) and Tom Lee Wan Chai Branch (1/F, City Centre Building, 144-149 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai) will be revised from December 2 (Monday) onwards, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 28). The new opening hours are as follows:

Monday to Friday: 11am to 7.30pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 7.30pm

     For details of the locations and opening hours of other URBTIX outlets, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ticket/counter.html. Tickets can also be purchased via the website (www.urbtix.hk) and the mobile ticketing app "My URBTIX" (Android and iPhone versions) throughout the day, and through the credit card telephone booking hotline 2111 5999 from 10am to 8pm daily.