The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has launched a series of activities under the theme "School of Life" to encourage the public to embrace green burials and plan their end-of-life arrangements ahead of time. The campaign features a range of creative activities, including the "Life and Death Expo," which introduces support resources for old age and after-death arrangements; the Community Tour for Life Education, which encourages participants to reflect on life and death through learning about special attractions in the community; and the Guided Life and Death Exploration Tours for Youth, which deepens life education through hands-on experiences. The FEHD will also launch short videos on an online platform to elaborate on the green burial process and address common misconceptions, thereby helping the public better grasp the relevant information.

     In addition, the department has been making continuous efforts to enhance its burial services by upgrading both hardware and software to provide more humane and thoughtful support. The smoke-free Shek Mun Columbarium and Gardens of Remembrance (GoR) is expected to be completed and come into operation within the year, and the outlook design providing free services for scattering ashes at sea by ferry will be enhanced. As green burials gain popularity, the Government will continue to expand related facilities and promote public education on life planning through free talks, guided GoR tours, and immersive community experiences (see appendix for details). These efforts aim to raise public awareness and drive green burials as a mainstream option. Members of the public are encouraged to stay updated on "School of Life" activities by visiting the FEHD's dedicated webpage.
      
     As the first key activity to kick off this year's promotion, the FEHD will organise the interactive exhibition "Green Burial, Love Living On" over two consecutive days starting from March 15 at Citywalk 2 in Tsuen Wan, New Territories, with an opening ceremony on March 16. The exhibition features thematic talks, workshops, and family-friendly activities designed to guide the public to explore the meaning of life and understand the value of green burials. There will be a story zone for children on-site, with lively illustrations on the concept of the life cycle. Also, performances by an elderly theatre club will encourage intergenerational participation to face life's topics together through advance care planning. Visitors can also enjoy a complimentary family photo service, which can open conversations about life and death across all ages. Moreover, the FEHD has invited experts in life and death education, and funeral directors to host a series of talks on topics such as well-being planning and personalised eco-friendly funerals. Information booths will be set up to provide details about green burial options and the Green Burial Central Register. Nearby, a "Life Recipe" will be displayed and distributed at the Yeung Uk Road Market near the exhibition venue, connecting food culture with the "Five Ways of Life" to complement the main event. The public is invited to join. For more details, please visit the thematic webpage: www.greenburial.gov.hk/en/intro/school-of-life.html.

     The Hong Kong Flower Show 2025 (HKFS) will be held at Victoria Park from tomorrow (March 14) until March 23, running from 9am to 9pm daily. This year's flower show features cosmos as the theme flower and "Ablaze with Glory" as the main theme.
 
     The vigorous cosmos comes in an array of vibrant colours symbolising tenacity and bliss. This year's theme flower wall features six bouquets of cosmos models, each ranging in diameter from 1.4 to 2.1 metres. Embedded with colourful orchids and carnations, the flower wall brings exuberance and vitality to the show. The layered design of the theme flower wall, set against the vibrant colours of around 10 000 tulips in front, creates a feast for the eyes.
 
     There will also be meticulously designed landscaped displays along the showground axis with a world tour theme. The Grand Journey across Europe landscape features an English garden, a Dutch windmill, a Greek-style hut, and a French lavender field, while the Wonders of Africa, a parterre of the Jockey Club Mosaiculture Display by Students, features adorable installations made of cut flowers showcasing animals such as a gorilla, a hippopotamus, a camel, and a giraffe. Members of the public can enjoy the beauty of the Himalayas, Mount Kinabalu of Malaysia, Mount Fuji of Japan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and the Supertree Grove in Singapore in the "Travelling around Asia" landscape. Afterwards, visitors can embark on "An Adventure to the Americas" to experience the culture and heritage through installations such as a Maya pyramid, Easter Island statues, and Western cowboys.
 
     To celebrate the upcoming 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, the flower show has specially designed a garden plot entitled "Joyful Vibrancy Around Town". Featuring five crescent-shaped art installations inspired by sports, the plot is adorned with cosmos of different species and colours, creating a delightful atmosphere. Members of the public can also take photos with the event mascots "Xi Yang Yang" and "Le Rong Rong" in front of a wall banner for the National Games.
 
     Another floral display, "A Gifts of Nature", resembles a giant gift box filled with mesmerising flowers. As night falls, the gift box is illuminated with soft lights, creating a romantic ambiance. Another highlight is the special plant exhibits displaying rare flowering plants such as purple bells, gold finger plant, blue potato vine, and sandpaper vine (white flower), in addition to a selection of foliage plants from the Marantaceae family.
 
     An exhibition booth displaying artworks by the nonagenarian local artist Fapopo (Flower Granny) is set up in the showground. Fapopo uses everyday household items such as Chinese woks, folding chairs, and plastic basins as her canvas, and her creations are vibrant and colourful with childlike energy. Other attractions include the intriguing "The Giant Teapot in Miniature World" display inside the floral marquee, panda-themed photo-taking spots, and a giant bouncy slide (opening hours: 10am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays) at the Central Lawn.
 
     The show also showcases a rich profusion of potted plants, floral arrangements, and landscape displays by local, Mainland China, and overseas organisations. Commercial stalls will be set up to sell snacks, beverages, flowers, and horticultural products. A vast range of educational and recreational fringe activities, such as floral arrangement demonstrations, gardening lectures, music, and cultural performances, will be offered for visitors of all ages. This year, busking street performances and floral art demonstrations for home are added to the activities lineup.
 
     A total of 238 organisations, including 81 exhibitors from 11 countries, namely Mainland China, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Poland, Malaysia and the United States, will be taking part in the show.
 
     For more details of the flower show and its admission fee arrangements, please visit the event webpage: www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2025/index.html or call the enquiry hotline at 2601 8260.
 
     The HKFS is organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has supported the Flower Show since 2013 and has been its major sponsor since 2014.

                  

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Mong Kok today (March 13) in which a man died.

     At about 2.10pm, a light goods vehicle (LGV) driven by the 44-year-old man was travelling along the West Kowloon Highway towards the New Territories. The LGV reportedly went out of control and crashed into a government vehicle that was parked in the same lane attending to a traffic accident.
     
     The LGV driver was trapped inside the compartment and was rescued by firemen. Sustaining serious injuries, he was rushed to Kwong Wah Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 3.20pm.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon West is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 9188.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council Secretariat (the Secretariat) today (March 13) released a Research Brief on "The 2025-2026 Budget".
 
     The Financial Secretary (FS) presented the third Budget of the current-term Government on February 26, 2025. Even though the revenue from profits tax and salaries tax has increased, the continued plunge in land-related revenue amidst ongoing property market corrections, along with further growth in public expenditure on infrastructural investment and health services, as well as other factors, led to another fiscal deficit of HK$87.2 billion for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The fiscal reserves have declined to HK$647.3 billion, representing a cumulative reduction of 45 per cent in six years.
 
     To tackle the fiscal deficit, FS unveiled the "reinforced" fiscal consolidation programme, aiming to trim down the deficit by 23 per cent to HK$67 billion or 2 per cent of GDP in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The programme covers a number of revenue-generating initiatives worth of some HK$20.2 billion per annum and cost-saving initiatives worth of some HK$113.4 billion across the next few years (see Annex 1). FS expected that the overall fiscal balance will revert to surplus three years later in the 2028-2029 fiscal year.
 
     The Research Brief highlighted several key consolidation initiatives in the Budget. Amongst the initiatives, FS planned to freeze the pay of civil service. Assuming a 3 per cent increase in market wages, the potential savings are about HK$8.7 billion. The Budget also proposed to cut the civil service establishment by about 10 000 posts in two years. However, the downsizing seems to have limited manpower savings since the current civil service establishment exceeds the actual number of civil servants by 18 900 and therefore, most of the 10 000 posts would not have been filled regardless of the post deletion policy.
 
     In addition, there are public calls to review the efficiency of civil service. The Research Brief compared the size of the civil service in advanced economies in the Asia-Pacific region and found that Hong Kong's civil service accounted for 4.7 per cent of the total workforce in 2023, higher than that of South Korea, Singapore and others (see Annex 2). Based on recent experiences in several Asian economies, artificial intelligence holds significant potential to enhance civil service efficiency.
 
     Another cost-cutting measure of this year's Budget was the proposed fine-tuning of the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities ($2 Scheme). The fine-tuning included putting a cap on the number of subsidized trips to optimize the use of government subsidy. However, the cost savings of HK$680 million per annum seems to be insignificant. The Research Brief examined similar fare concession schemes in 12 selected cities across the world, noting that the fine-tuned $2 Scheme fares well in terms of generosity, particularly so for persons aged 60 to 64 as only four of the cities offer concessionary fares to them. The rest do not offer any fare concessions to this aged group, conceivably because a majority of them are still capable of working (see Annex 3).
 
     On the revenue side, FS unveiled the plan to issue more bonds with annual value from HK$150 billion to HK$195 billion in the next five fiscal years, with the tenure stretching from 3 to 5 years to longer duration to commensurate with long-term infrastructure projects such as the Northern Metropolis and for repaying short-term debts. Despite concerns over Hong Kong becoming a debt-laden economy, the city's ratio of gross government debt to GDP was just 9 per cent in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, far lower than the average figure of 109 per cent of 37 advanced economies (see Annex 4). The Research Brief noted that economists and market analysts affirm debt financing is normal and positive for the economy if the proceeds are used for long-term investment.
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will resume the Second Reading debate on the Appropriation Bill 2025 at its meeting of April 16 and Members will speak on the Bill.
  
     The Research Brief is prepared by the Secretariat's Research Office of the Research and Information Division with a view to enhancing information support for Members. It is a concise summary aiming at explaining a subject matter which may be of interests to Members and the general public. The Research Brief is now available on LegCo website (app7.legco.gov.hk/rpdb/en/uploads/2025/RB/RB01_2025_20250313_en.pdf).

     According to the provisional results of a survey released today (March 13) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the index of industrial production for manufacturing industries as a whole increased by 1.0% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023, as against a year-on-year decrease of 0.1% in the third quarter of 2024. The corresponding producer price index increased by 4.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023, following a year-on-year increase of 3.2% in the third quarter of 2024.
 
     The index of industrial production for sewerage, waste management and remediation activities decreased by 0.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023, as against a year-on-year increase of 0.7% in the third quarter of 2024. The corresponding producer price index increased by 3.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023, following a year-on-year increase of 1.3% in the third quarter of 2024.
 
     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 fourth quarter of 2024 with the same quarter of 2023, increases in output volume were recorded mainly in the metal, computer, electronic and optical products, machinery and equipment industry (+3.2%). On the other hand, decreases in output volume were recorded in the paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media industry (-2.8%), the textiles and wearing apparel industry (-0.8%), and the food, beverages and tobacco industry (-0.3%).
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the index of industrial production for manufacturing industries as a whole increased by 1.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the third quarter of 2024.
 
     For 2024 as a whole, the indices of industrial production for manufacturing industries as well as sewerage, waste management and remediation activities increased by 0.8% and 0.2% respectively compared with 2023.
 
     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 fourth quarter of 2024 with the same quarter of 2023, increases in producer prices were recorded mainly in the metal, computer, electronic and optical products, machinery and equipment industry (+7.7%), the paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media industry (+4.8%), and the food, beverages and tobacco industry (+1.0%). On the other hand, a decrease in producer price was recorded in the textiles and wearing apparel industry (-1.2%).
 
     For 2024 as a whole, the producer price indices for manufacturing industries as well as sewerage, waste management and remediation activities increased by 2.9% and 1.5% respectively compared with 2023.
 
     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 fourth quarter of 2024 and the whole year of 2024 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 April 17, 2025.
 
     Users can browse and download the reports "Quarterly Index of Industrial Production, 4th Quarter 2024" (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1070002&scode=310) and "Quarterly Producer Price Index for Industrial Sector, 4th Quarter 2024" (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).