The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, today (June 2) expressed his heartfelt condolences over the passing of Mr Paul Chow.
 
     Mr Hui said, "Mr Chow was a dedicated servant to the community. In particular, during his tenure as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), he was committed to enhancing the strengths of the HKEX, making Hong Kong one of the global premier financial and investment centres. Having been appointed to the Advisory Committee of the Securities and Futures Commission, he also made significant contributions to the development of Hong Kong's financial sector.
 
     "During the time when I worked at the HKEX, I had the privilege of witnessing Mr Chow's outstanding and pragmatic leadership and management skills, which are still beneficial to me today. I will always miss him and am extending my deepest condolences to his family."

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (June 2) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Mr Paul Chow.
 
     "Mr Chow served as the Chief Executive of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong as well as the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, and was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited. He had made substantial contributions to the development of financial services and innovation and technology in Hong Kong. Mr Chow was sincere and warm-hearted, and devoted himself to serving the community, having served in various professional and advisory bodies, courts/councils of universities and charitable organisations. Mr Chow was awarded a Gold Bauhinia Star in 2010 by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
 
     "I express sorrow over the passing of Mr Chow, and would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family," Mr Chan said.

     Two red tides were sighted during the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (June 2).

     On May 30, staff of the Environmental Protection Department spotted the first red tide at Deep Water Bay Beach, Hong Kong Island. On May 31, staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department spotted another red tide at Repulse Bay Beach, Hong Kong Island. Both red tides persist and no associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.

     A spokesman for the working group said, "Both red tides were formed by Phaeocystis globosa, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters. According to literature overseas, the algal species can produce foam that may affect fish."

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan, Cheung Sha Wan and Po Toi fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.

     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.

     The weather of Hong Kong was drier than usual in May 2023. The monthly rainfall was 182.8 millimetres, about 37 per cent below the normal of 290.6 millimetres in May. The accumulated rainfall recorded in the first five months of the year was 350.4 millimetres, about 41 per cent below the normal figure of 590.9 millimetres for the same period. The month was also slightly warmer than usual with the mean temperature of 26.6 degrees, 0.3 degrees above the normal of 26.3 degrees. Together with the above normal temperatures in March and April, the spring of this year from March to May was exceptionally warm. The mean minimum temperature of 22.0 degrees, mean temperature of 23.8 degrees and mean maximum temperature of 26.5 degrees were respectively one of the fourth, sixth and eighth highest on record for the same period.
 
     With the northeast monsoon affecting southern China and a band of clouds covering the coast of Guangdong, it was mainly cloudy with sunny intervals in Hong Kong on the first two days of the month. There were also a few light rain patches on the morning of May 1. Under the influence of an anticyclone aloft, apart from isolated showers on the morning of May 3, the weather of Hong Kong became hot with sunny periods on May 3 to 5. Affected by a southerly airstream, the weather turned cloudier with isolated showers on May 6.
 
     A trough of low pressure moved across the south China coastal area and brought showery weather and squally thunderstorms to Hong Kong on May 7 and 8. The rain was particularly heavy on the afternoon of May 7 and necessitated the issuance of the first Red Rainstorm Warning Signal of the year. More than 50 millimetres of rainfall were recorded generally over the territory and rainfall even exceeded 100 millimetres over parts of Hong Kong Island on these two days. Affected by a fresh to strong easterly airstream, there were sunny intervals and a few rain patches on May 9 to 11. With a band of clouds covering Guangdong, it was mainly cloudy with a few showers on May 12 and 13.
 
     Under the influence of a trough of low pressure, the showers affecting Hong Kong became more frequent during the day on May 14. More than 30 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over most parts of the territory and rainfall even exceeded 50 millimetres over Lantau Island on that day. Under the rain, temperatures at the Observatory dropped to a minimum of 20.2 degrees on that morning, the lowest of the month. With the departure of the trough of low pressure, the weather improved with sunny periods during the day on May 15 and 16.
 
     With the setting in of a southerly airstream, local weather turned showery with a few thunderstorms on May 17. The showers were heavier around noon on that day with more than 30 millimetres of rainfall recorded over many places. With the showers petering out, it was hot with sunny periods in Hong Kong on May 18 to 20. Visibility was also rather low in some areas on May 18 to 20. With abundant sunshine, it was very hot on the afternoon of May 22. Affected by a trough of low pressure, local weather became cloudy with showers and squally thunderstorms on May 23 and 24. The rain was particularly heavy in some areas on the morning of May 23. More than 30 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over parts of the territory and rainfall even exceeded 70 millimetres over Yuen Long. It remained mainly cloudy with a few showers on May 25.
 
     With the strengthening of the anticyclone aloft, apart from a few showers, local weather gradually turned mainly fine and hot on May 26 to 29. Meanwhile, over the western North Pacific, tropical cyclone Mawar moved across the sea areas to the east of Luzon and Taiwan on May 28 to 31. Under the influence of the outer subsiding air of Mawar, it was mainly fine and extremely hot on the afternoons of last two days of the month. Temperatures over many places rose to 35 degrees or above. The maximum temperature recorded at the Observatory was 34.7 degrees on the afternoon of May 31, the highest of the month. Moreover, the daily minimum temperature of 29.6 degrees and daily mean temperature of 31.4 degrees on that day were also the highest and one of the highest on record for May. Showers and thunderstorms triggered by high temperatures also affected parts of the territory on the afternoons of May 30 and 31. The showers were heavier in some places on the afternoon of May 31 with more than 30 millimetres of rainfall recorded over North District and Tai Po District.
 
     One tropical cyclone occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in May 2023.
 
     Details of issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in the month are summarised in Table 1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for May are tabulated in Table 2.

     The Land Registry today (June 2) released its statistics for May 2023.

Land registration
——————-
* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in May was 5,284 (-8.2 per cent compared with April 2023 and -33.5 per cent compared with May 2022)

* The 12-month moving average for May was 5,261 (4.0 per cent below the 12-month moving average for April 2023 and 22.7 per cent below that for May 2022)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements of building units in May was $44.6 billion (-30.1 per cent compared with April 2023 and -42.1 per cent compared with May 2022)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 4,003 were for residential units (-12.7 per cent compared with April 2023 and -35.5 per cent compared with May 2022)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $36.8 billion (-29.8 per cent compared with April 2023 and -36.6 per cent compared with May 2022)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme, the Tenants Purchase Scheme, etc, unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.

Land search
————-
* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in May was 413,181 (+18.3 per cent compared with April 2023 but -13.0 per cent compared with May 2022)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.