According to the provisional results of a survey released today (June 15) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the index of industrial production for manufacturing industries as a whole increased by 3.9% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with a year earlier, as against a year-on-year decrease of 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2022. The corresponding producer price index increased by 1.0% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with a year earlier, as against a year-on-year decrease of 0.3% in the fourth quarter of 2022.
 
     The index of industrial production for sewerage, waste management and remediation activities increased by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with a year earlier, as against a year-on-year decrease of 1.8% in the fourth quarter of 2022. The corresponding producer price index decreased by 1.1% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with a year earlier, following a year-on-year decrease of 1.8% in the fourth quarter of 2022.
 
     Indices of industrial production reflect changes in the volume of local industrial output after discounting the effect of price changes. The price changes are measured by the producer price indices compiled from data on producer prices of selected industrial goods/services collected in the same survey.
 
     Comparing the industrial production in respect of major manufacturing industries in the first quarter of 2023 with that a year earlier, increases in output volume were recorded for all major manufacturing industries. The food, beverages and tobacco industry had the largest increase in output volume (+5.4%), followed by the paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media industry (+2.4%), the textiles and wearing apparel industry (+2.0%), and the metal, computer, electronic and optical products, machinery and equipment industry (+0.6%).
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the index of industrial production for manufacturing industries as a whole increased by 2.7% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the fourth quarter of 2022.
 
     Producer price indices reflect changes in the prices of local output. They measure changes in the actual prices (net of any discounts or rebates allowed to buyers, plus any surcharges) received by producers for their output. Transportation and other incidental charges are not included.
 
     Comparing the first quarter of 2023 with a year earlier, increases in producer prices were recorded mainly in the paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media industry (+3.7%), the food, beverages and tobacco industry (+2.4%), and the metal, computer, electronic and optical products, machinery and equipment industry (+0.4%). On the other hand, a decrease in producer price was recorded in the textiles and wearing apparel industry (-0.1%).
 
     Table 1 shows the year-on-year percentage changes in the indices of industrial production by selected industry grouping. Table 2 shows the year-on-year percentage changes in the producer price indices for the industrial sector by selected industry grouping.
 
     The revised figures on indices of industrial production and producer price indices for the industrial sector for the first quarter of 2023 will be released at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/page_8000.html) and relevant publications of the Department starting from July 20, 2023.
 
     Users can browse and download the reports "Quarterly Index of Industrial Production, 1st Quarter 2023" (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1070002&scode=310) and "Quarterly Producer Price Index for Industrial Sector, 1st Quarter 2023" (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1070003&scode=280) at the website of the C&SD.
 
     For enquiries about indices of industrial production and producer price indices, please contact the Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7247; email: ind-production@censtatd.gov.hk).

     The Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) noted at its meeting today (June 15) the statistical figures of the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA) and other drug-related figures for the first quarter of 2023. While the total number of reported drug abusers in the first quarter of 2023 was higher than that for the same period in 2022, the ACAN noted that the outbreak of the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic during the first quarter of 2022 may probably have affected the relevant figures during that period. The ACAN will closely monitor the situation in the remaining quarters of 2023, and will at the same time continue to carry out its anti-drug work.
 
     Figures from the CRDA revealed that the total number of reported drug abusers in the first quarter of 2023 was 1 779, compared with 1 509 for the same period in 2022. In addition, the number of reported young drug abusers aged under 21 was 205. Regarding drug types, data showed that the most common type of drugs abused in the first quarter of 2023 was heroin, followed by cocaine and then methamphetamine (commonly known as "Ice"), while the most common type of drugs abused among young drug abusers aged under 21 was cocaine, followed by cannabis and then ketamine (commonly known as "K").
 
     The ACAN noticed that, in the first quarter of 2023, cocaine continued to overtake "Ice" and became the most common type of psychotropic substance abused, which is same as the full-year situation in 2022. Among the reported young drug abusers aged under 21, it is a concern that over half of them (51 per cent) abused cocaine. Furthermore, when categorising arrests for drug offences by drug types, the number of persons arrested for offences related to cocaine was the highest.
 
     The ACAN Chairman, Dr Donald Li, said, "Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant that easily causes addiction. It will severely suppress the breathing centres of the brain, causing delirium, irregular breathing, convulsions, unconsciousness and even death. Moreover, cocaine could cost its abusers their life savings and burden them with enormous debts, seriously affecting their lives and the ones of their friends and families. Some cocaine abusers may even take risks and get involved in drug trafficking activities as well as other crimes, ending up being brought to justice and ruining their prospects. Same as all other drugs, cocaine can cause profound harmful effects. No one should ever have a try."
 
     To combat drug problems, the Government will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach comprising preventive education and publicity, drug treatment and rehabilitation, legislation and law enforcement, external co-operation as well as research. The Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau, in collaboration with relevant government departments and non-governmental organisations, will step up promotion and education efforts to help members of the public understand clearly the harm of drugs, especially cocaine. As regards the challenges posed by emerging new drugs, the Government will continue to stay vigilant in closely monitoring drug trends in and outside Hong Kong, and will take appropriate follow-up actions to safeguard public health.
 
     On law enforcement, according to the figures from the law enforcement agencies (LEAs), 841 persons were arrested for drug offences in the first quarter of 2023. Among them, 91 were under the age of 21. Among all the drug offence cases concluded in courts in the same period, the conviction rate was high and close to 90 per cent, while the conviction rate was over 90 per cent among the young offenders aged under 21 who were prosecuted for drug trafficking. As for the young offenders aged under 21 who were sentenced to imprisonment for drug trafficking, half of them were sentenced to over five years in prison, while the longest period of imprisonment was nearly 25 years.
 
     The spokesperson for the ND said that LEAs will continue sparing no effort to combat drug crimes, and young people could also be sentenced to long-term imprisonment according to previous court cases. At the same time, LEAs will not tolerate offenders who involve youngsters in drug trafficking activities, and will continue to endeavor to tracking down drug syndicates exploiting youngsters, and invoke Section 56A of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance to seek enhanced sentencing on such syndicates. Members of the public are reminded not to carry unknown items for others, let alone to participate in drug trafficking (e.g. providing addresses for receiving "drug parcels") out of greed or gambling on luck. These actions will bring about lifelong regrets. Offenders upon conviction are liable to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
 
     As large-scale entertainment events and social gatherings are becoming more frequent, as well as summer holidays are approaching, the ND reminded members of the public to stay away from drugs at all times, be it during outbound travel or social gatherings. In addition, members of the public should pay close attention to product labels during online or in-store shopping, and should not buy products that may contain drugs, especially those with cannabis or cannabidiol (CBD) as an ingredient, to avoid breaching the law inadvertently. Examples of CBD products are already uploaded onto the website of the ND (nd.gov.hk/pdf/examples_CBD_products.pdf) for public reference.
 
     The website of the ND (nd.gov.hk) contains information about drugs, including cocaine and cannabis, as well as details about CBD on a dedicated webpage. To seek information or assistance from social workers, members of the public can make use of instant messaging applications WhatsApp and WeChat by sending messages to 98 186 186, or call the 24-hour hotline 186 186. The figures of the CRDA for the first quarter of 2023 are also available on the website of the ND (nd.gov.hk/en/crda_main_charts_and_tables.html).

     Co-organised by the Film Programmes Office (FPO) and the Hong Kong Space Museum of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the special programme of the International Children's and Youth Film Carnival (ICYFC) 2023, Dome Show and Stargazing Night, will have an additional session at 7pm on August 22 (Tuesday) at the Space Theatre of the museum in view of the overwhelming response. Tickets of the additional session will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from tomorrow (June 16) onwards.
 
     The programme includes the screening of "Hazelnuts – In Search of the Perfect Planet" (2022), which won the Best Children's Film at the Dome Under Festival 2023 in Australia. Audiences can embark on a journey through the universe with little squirrels Nino and Lilli. After the screening, audiences can stargaze at the rooftop and make star maps under the guidance of assistant curators of the museum to learn about constellations and the planets in the Solar System.
 
     "Hazelnuts – In Search of the Perfect Planet" with no subtitles is in Cantonese, while English and French are available for selection in the headphone system. The stargazing and star map-making activities will be conducted in Cantonese.
 
     Organised by the FPO of the LCSD, the ICFYC 2023 will present feature films, animations and short films from around the world to young audiences and their families in July and August. These films will be screened at the Hong Kong Film Archive, Hong Kong City Hall, the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the North District Town Hall and Emperor Cinemas at The LOHAS in Tseung Kwan O respectively.

     Tickets for screenings at LCSD venues priced at $70 are available at URBTIX. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For screenings at Emperor Cinemas at The LOHAS in Tseung Kwan O, tickets priced at $90 are available at Emperor Cinemas at The LOHAS in Tseung Kwan O and the Emperor Cinemas website (www.emperorcinemas.com). For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2734 2900 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en/listing.html?id=50.
 
     The ICYFC 2023 is one of the highlights of the International Arts Carnival (IAC). For details of other programmes of the IAC, please visit www.hkiac.gov.hk.

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     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 15) that due to inclement weather, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, June 15, 2023 is 103.9 (same as yesterday's index).