According to the figures released today (June 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 1.5% or 39 300 persons in March 2023 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 77 750, representing an increase of 45% or 24 050 over the preceding year.
 
Employment statistics

     In March 2023, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 719 800 persons. The import and export trade engaged 378 100 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 306 100 persons, retail trade 248 500 persons, financing and insurance 233 000 persons, and food and beverage services 223 900 persons.
 
     Movements in the employment in different surveyed industries varied when compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (10.3% or 10 100 persons), food and beverage services (9.4% or 19 200 persons), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (7.1% or 7 900 persons), and education (3.8% or 7 700 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of cleaning and similar services (-2.0% or -1 700 persons), and import and export trade (-1.9% or -7 500 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
 
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 77 750 private sector vacancies in March 2023, 7 990 were from the industry of education; 7 440 from transportation, storage, postal and courier services; 6 800 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); 6 610 from human health services; and 6 410 from retail trade.
 
     Vacancies increased in all the selected industries in March 2023 over a year earlier. Increases were more notable in the industries of transportation, storage, postal and courier services (3 890 or 110%), food and beverage services (3 400 or 141%), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (2 710 or 99%), retail trade (2 700 or 73%), and education (2 010 or 34%). Job vacancies figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 2.
 
     Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly in the categories of service and sales workers (29 500 vacancies), professionals (13 320 vacancies), and associate professionals (12 590 vacancies). Job vacancies figures by major occupation category are shown in Table 3.
 
Seasonally adjusted statistics

     For discerning the latest trend in employment and vacancies in the private sector, it is useful to look at changes over a three-month period in the respective seasonally adjusted figures. Compared with December 2022, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 1.0% and 7.6% respectively in March 2023. The changes over three-month periods in the seasonally adjusted series of employment and vacancies are shown in Table 4.
 
Other information

     The above employment and vacancies statistics were obtained from the Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies and the Quarterly Employment Survey of Construction Sites conducted by the C&SD. In the former survey, some economic activities (e.g. those dominated by self-employment, including taxi operators and hawkers) are not covered. Therefore, the respective employment and vacancies figures relate only to those selected industries included in the survey. In the latter survey on construction sites, employment and vacancies figures relate to manual workers only.
 
     A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the following reports:
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies Statistics, March 2023"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 2023"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050004&scode=452)
 
     Users can browse and download these publications at the website of the C&SD.
 
     Enquiries on more detailed employment and vacancies statistics can be directed to the Employment Statistics and Central Register of Establishments Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076 or email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk). 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 is 104.0 (up 0.2 against yesterday's index).

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     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 20) that the Environmental Protection Department has classified the water quality at Anglers' Beach, Lido Beach and Casam Beach in Tsuen Wan District as Grade 4, which means the beach is not suitable for swimming. Red flags have been hoisted. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches until further notice.

     A spokesman for the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) today (June 20) announced that the HKPF, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) are taking a significant step forward in the fight against financial crime, with the recent launch of the Financial Intelligence Evaluation Sharing Tool (FINEST), a financial intelligence sharing platform. 

     Administered and developed by the HKPF in partnership with the HKMA and the HKAB, FINEST is a platform which provides a secure and efficient means for sharing corporate data related to suspected financial crimes among the banking institutions.

     FINEST will enable better co-ordination among law enforcement agencies and banks in fighting financial crime, resulting in higher success rates in identifying and combating criminal activities. In addition, FINEST will strengthen intelligence sharing, bolster due diligence measures and enhance industry-wide co-operation. Starting from late June, five banks (Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Hang Seng Bank Limited and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited) have joined FINEST first while other banks will join in phases with the ultimate goal to achieve the widest possible coverage of Hong Kong’s banking sector.

     The spokesman added that this joint collaboration underscores the importance of a united approach to fight financial crime and shows the HKPF, the HKMA and the banking industry are stepping up their efforts in partnership to combat criminal threats and enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as an international financial center.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (June 20):
 
Reporter: Good morning, Mr Chief Executive, some English questions. The first question we'd like to ask about, how would you personally respond to allegations by lawmaker Cheung Yu-yan that it was you who gave the idea to move a private member bill to overhaul the governing structure of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and authorities would perhaps waive a part of the cost? Would the Government consider waiving the cost for Cheung now to move the private member bill? We'd also like to ask you a little bit about the meeting of United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and also Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. How would you interpret this in terms of Hong Kong? Would you see this perhaps as the easing of Sino-US relations, and potentially a chance for you to be invited to personally attend APEC in November? Thank you.
 
Chief Executive: A private member's bill and its procedure is governed by the Basic Law and also LegCo (Legislative Council) regulations and rules. Any LegCo member who proposes a bill will have to act in accordance with all these procedures and rules. The Government has given its permission for the bill to proceed in accordance with the laid-down procedures. It will go into the LegCo debate process and should be dealt with in accordance with the procedures strictly. All these things are already laid down with very clear guidelines. And things should proceed in that way. And I should have no more comment other than wishing that LegCo will go ahead with dealing with the matter in accordance with such rules and procedures.
 
     As regards China-US relationship, this is a state matter and is being handled by state leaders. I have noted that in the statements made by our President Xi Jinping, mutual respect is emphasised and that a constructive China-US relationship is to the benefit of the world, to the benefit of both countries, and to the benefit of peoples of both countries. Hong Kong, as a Special Administrative Region, enjoys special status under the Basic Law. We are an international city. We are connected to the world and is the gateway to the Mainland cities. We will discharge that function no matter what, because that is what the Basic Law requires us to do. So I hope there will be a positive development in the relationship between our country and the US. But in this process I will be, of course, ensuring that all the advantages and opportunities that Hong Kong faces and enjoys will be capitalised fully. And I wish every one of us in Hong Kong will do the same as when we go out to different parts of the world to tell good Hong Kong stories, to create extra opportunities for our economic development and growth, and bring all opportunities to reality. This is something I and my government team will work hard to do.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)