The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in June showed a drop of 562 cases, representing a decrease of 0.3 per cent compared with that of May, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (July 24).
      
     The total CSSA caseload at the end of June stood at 223 006 (see attached table), with a total of 317 547 recipients.
      
     Analysed by case nature, low-earnings cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 1.8 per cent to 3 286 cases. Old age cases dropped by 0.4 per cent to 139 618 cases. Both single parent cases and unemployment cases slightly dipped by 0.1 per cent to 24 303 cases and 11 710 cases respectively.
      
     Ill-health cases edged up by 0.4 per cent to 23 269 cases while permanent disability cases slightly increased by 0.1 per cent to 16 659 cases.
 

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, will depart for Guangzhou tomorrow morning (July 25). She will visit the High People's Court and the Department of Justice of Guangdong Province to explore opportunities for further collaboration.

     Ms Cheng will return to Hong Kong in the evening on the same day.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
  
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited on phishing email, which has been reported to the HKMA.  Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the email concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the email should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Planning Department today (July 24) published a report entitled "Projections of Population Distribution 2019-2028", which presents the latest population distribution projections for 2019-2028.
 
     The population distribution projections have been compiled based on the latest projected total population for Hong Kong released by the Census and Statistics Department in September 2017 and the latest planning information.
 
     The report projects that the populations of the New Territories and Kowloon will increase by 430 200 and 109 600 between 2018 and 2028, reaching 4.36 million and 2.37 million respectively by 2028, while that of Hong Kong Island is expected to decrease gradually from 1.25 million to 1.16 million during the same period.
 
     In terms of share of the total population, the New Territories will rise from 53 per cent to 55 per cent between 2018 and 2028, while that for Kowloon will remain at 30 per cent. The population share of Hong Kong Island will decrease from 17 per cent to 15 per cent during the same period.
 
     The report also presents the projected population of the District Council districts. Kwun Tong District, Yuen Long District and Sha Tin District are projected to be the three most populous districts in 2028, with populations reaching 730 400, 718 000 and 704 700 respectively.
 
     Wong Tai Sin District is projected to be the district with the highest proportion of elderly population aged 65 or above, rising from 19 per cent in 2018 to 28 per cent in 2028.
 
     The report "Projections of Population Distribution 2019-2028", as well as statistical tables containing the detailed results of the projections of population distribution for 2019-2028, have been uploaded to the website of the Planning Department (www.pland.gov.hk). Members of the public can access the report and the tables directly at www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/info_serv/statistic/wgpd19.html.

     The Buildings Department approved 18 building plans in May, with three on Hong Kong Island, eight in Kowloon and seven in the New Territories.
 
     Of the approved plans, eight were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, three were for commercial developments, and seven were for community services developments.
 
     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on 13 building projects which, when completed, will provide 60 728 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 1 094 units, and 336 977 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for five building projects.
 
     The department also issued 20 occupation permits, with six on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and eleven in the New Territories.
 
     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 122 337 sq m involving 1 347 units, and 174 018 sq m was for non-domestic use.
 
     The declared cost of new buildings completed in May totalled about $8.7 billion.
 
     In addition, six demolition consents involving six building structures were issued.
 
     The department received 4 112 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in May and issued 1 311 removal orders on UBWs.
 
     The full version of the Monthly Digest for May can be viewed on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).