The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, today (July 16) visited the Lung Cheung Road Mechanical and Electrical Workshop of the Water Supplies Department (WSD) to learn more about the work of front-line colleagues and meet with its management and staff of various grades to exchange views on matters of concern.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Law met with the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Wong Chung-leung, and the directorate staff to receive an update on the Department's work in providing a reliable water supply and enhancing water safety and security, as well as the challenges confronting the WSD.
 
     Mr Law then visited the Meter Testing Laboratory, where he was briefed on the accredited water meter accuracy testing service, which allows customers to witness the testing of their water meters. Later at the Telemetry and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Office and Workshop, he was briefed on how the smooth operation of various waterworks installations are maintained through remote control by the SCADA system.
 
     Mr Law then visited the Electrical Workshop to understand colleagues' work in repairing and overhauling electrical equipment of pumping stations and water treatment works. He also watched a demonstration of a plumbing products surveillance test at the Material Testing Laboratory. Established in April last year, the laboratory enhances the surveillance of plumbing products quality with general acceptance by the WSD for use in plumbing works.
     
     Before concluding his visit, Mr Law met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on matters that concern them. He expressed his appreciation for colleagues' dedicated efforts and encouraged them to continue to provide quality water supply services to the public.

     Hong Kong Customs today (July 16) arrested a female director of an education centre suspected of applying a false trade description in the course of the sale of an education service, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that an education centre claimed that customers would receive a certificate issued by a designated authority upon completion of a lactation course organised by the education centre. However, customers were eventually given only a certificate issued by the education centre.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 38-year-old woman.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested woman was released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a customer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for May 2019 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 16) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

     In May 2019, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods decreased by 4.0% over May 2018. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 6.1%.

     Comparing the first five months of 2019 with the same period in 2018, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods decreased by 4.1%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 5.7%.

     Comparing the three-month period ending May 2019 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 5.9%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 5.8%.

     Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.

     Comparing May 2019 with May 2018, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 2.0%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 2.1%.

     As regards price changes in the first five 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 May 2019 and the first five months of 2019.
 
     Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.

     Comparing May 2019 with May 2018, a double-digit decline of 16.2% was recorded for the total export volume to the USA. Concurrently, the total export volume to the mainland of China (the Mainland) and Japan decreased by 6.9% and 0.4% respectively. On the other hand, the total export volume to Taiwan and India increased by 4.5% and 12.2% respectively.

     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to the Mainland, the USA and Japan increased by 3.1%, 2.6% and 2.4% respectively. On the other hand, the total export prices to India and Taiwan decreased by 0.2% and 0.8% respectively.

     Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.

     Comparing May 2019 with May 2018, double-digit declines were recorded for the import volume from Korea (-29.7%) and Japan (-11.9%). Concurrently, the import volume from the Mainland, Singapore and Taiwan decreased by 6.4%, 5.3% and 2.9% respectively.

     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: the Mainland (+2.9%), Singapore (+2.6%), Japan (+1.7%), Taiwan (+1.4%) and Korea (+0.5%).

Further information

     Details of the above statistics are published in the May 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).

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (July 16) announced that the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus for June rose to 16 per cent from 11 per cent in May, indicating that mosquito infestation was slightly more extensive in the areas surveyed. The FEHD reminded the public to stay vigilant and carry out effective measures against mosquitoes as the hot and rainy weather of summer is favourable for proliferation of mosquitoes.
      
     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit dengue fever (DF) and the Zika virus. In view of the 29 local DF cases recorded last year and the recent warning from the World Health Organization that the number of DF cases recorded in Asian countries was exceptionally high when compared with last year, and that Hong Kong recorded a local case of Japanese encephalitis last month and the rainy weather of summer is conducive to massive mosquito breeding, the community must work with the Government to continue to carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures. When travelling overseas, particularly to dengue endemic areas, measures should be taken to prevent mosquito bites.”
      
     Among the 57 areas surveyed last month, the Area Ovitrap Index (AOI) in 17 areas exceeded the alert level of 20 per cent. They were: Ma On Shan (42.2 per cent), Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay (30.4 per cent), Wong Tai Sin Central (30.4 per cent), Wo Che (30.3 per cent), Kowloon Bay (27.2 per cent), Ho Man Tin (25.9 per cent), North Point (25 per cent), Ngau Chi Wan (25 per cent), So Kwun Wat (24.5 per cent), Lai King (24.5%), Sheung Shui (24.3 per cent), Tai Po (23.1 per cent), Kowloon City North (22.9 per cent), Tsim Sha Tsui East (22.5 per cent), Happy Valley (21.6 per cent), Tseung Kwan O North (21.2 per cent) and Tai Wai (20.2 per cent). As for the port areas, the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus for June also rose to 2.6 per cent from 1.7 per cent in May. 
      
     The spokesman said, "The FEHD is very concerned about mosquito infestation, and an inter-departmental anti-mosquito response mechanism has been activated in the above-mentioned areas for co-ordinating relevant departments and stakeholders to carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures. Relevant departments have also individually notified the groups that had voluntarily subscribed to the ovitrap rapid alert system when the AOI reached the alert level of 20 per cent. Subscribers have been invited to post specially designed alert notices in the common parts of their premises to remind occupants and staff to carry out anti-mosquito measures promptly."
      
     The FEHD and relevant government departments have launched All-out Anti-mosquito Operations in April to implement anti-mosquito work throughout the territory. The major measures include carrying out fogging in scrubby areas within a 100-metre radius around residences weekly to kill adult mosquitoes; carrying out inspections, removing stagnant water, applying insecticide and disposing of abandoned water containers weekly to prevent mosquito breeding; and trimming of grass to discourage resting of adult mosquitoes on the site. The FEHD and relevant government departments will continue the above mosquito prevention and control work in areas under their purview, particularly in the areas with the AOI reaching alert levels, and strengthen publicity and education campaigns in the coming months.
      
     In addition, the FEHD will launch the third phase of the territory-wide Anti-mosquito Campaign on August 19, which will last for 12 weeks. During the period, the district offices of the FEHD will target areas that have drawn particular concerns, such as public markets, cooked food centres and hawker bazaars, single-block buildings, streets and back lanes, common parts of buildings, village houses, construction sites, vacant sites and road works sites, and step up publicity at those places as well as mosquito prevention and control work at relevant public locations.
      
     The FEHD has also handled mosquito complaints promptly and taken out prosecutions under the relevant ordinance against mosquito breeding. Pest Control Inspection Teams have stepped up inspections and enforcement actions at construction sites against mosquito breeding. This year (as at July 7), the FEHD instituted 88 prosecutions for mosquito breeding found in relevant premises under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), comprising 79 cases involving construction sites and nine cases involving other premises.
      
     In order to keep the public abreast of the latest situation of mosquito infestation and assist them to take timely mosquito prevention and control measures, the FEHD is releasing two additional phased AOIs for Aedes albopictus before the announcement of the monthly AOI and the Monthly Ovitrap Index for Aedes albopictus. The FEHD will follow the established practice of notifying relevant government departments of the aforementioned indices so that they can carry out targeted mosquito prevention and control work promptly.
      
     The spokesman added that as Aedes albopictus breeds in small water bodies, members of the public should carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing the water in vases and scrubbing the inner surface as well as removing the water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes, and drilling large holes in unused tyres. He also advised public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
      
     In addition, rural areas and the vicinity of shrubby areas are the natural habitats for mosquitoes, other insects and animals. Members of the public living in rural areas may install mosquito screens on windows and doors if necessary. Those staying in the natural environment should take appropriate personal protective measures against mosquitoes, such as avoiding staying in the vicinity of shrubby areas for a long time, wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers, and applying DEET-containing insect repellent. Members of the public are reminded to make reports to relevant government departments via 1823 if mosquito problems are detected.
      
     The spokesman reiterated that effective mosquito prevention and control requires the sustained effort of all parties concerned. The community must work together with the Government to carry out effective anti-mosquito measures.
      
     He also reminded travellers to take the following precautionary measures when visiting areas where mosquito-borne diseases are prevalent during the summer holidays:
      
     * Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved clothes and trousers;
     * Use insect repellent over exposed parts of the body when outdoors; and
     * Use mosquito screens or nets when a room is not air-conditioned.
      
     Travellers returning from areas where mosquito-borne diseases are prevalent should seek medical advice if they have symptoms such as fever, a severe headache or muscle and joint pain. They should also inform their doctor of their travel history.
      
     The ovitrap indices for Aedes albopictus in different areas and information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department website at www.fehd.gov.hk.

     The Government announced today (July 16) that Ms Marion Chan Shui-yu, Deputy Commissioner for Census and Statistics, will assume the post of Commissioner for Census and Statistics on July 26, 2019, when Mr Leslie Tang Wai-kong commences his pre-retirement leave.
 
     Commenting on the appointment of Ms Chan, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, said, "Ms Chan has profound professional knowledge and extensive experience in census and statistical work. She also possesses proven leadership and management skills. I am confident that she will be able to lead the Census and Statistics Department to meet the challenges ahead."
 
     On the retirement of Mr Tang, Mr Law said, "As Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Mr Tang has served with zeal and professionalism, and has made sustained efforts in enhancing the efficiency and service quality of the Department. I wish him a fulfilling and happy retirement."
 
     Brief biographical notes of the two officers are set out below:
 
Mr Leslie Tang Wai-kong
—————————
 
     Mr Tang joined the Government as Statistician in September 1981. He was promoted to Senior Statistician in December 1990, to Assistant Commissioner for Census and Statistics in March 2007 and to Deputy Commissioner for Census and Statistics in March 2012. He has been Commissioner for Census and Statistics since May 2014.
 
Ms Marion Chan Shui-yu
—————————
 
     Ms Chan joined the Government as Statistician in January 1986. She was promoted to Senior Statistician in June 1997 and to Assistant Commissioner for Census and Statistics in November 2014. She has been Deputy Commissioner for Census and Statistics since November 2016.