The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (April 15) the April 2019 issue of the "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" (HKMDS).

     Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains two feature articles entitled "Hong Kong's Balance of Payments, 2009 to 2018" and "Statistics on Innovation Activities in Hong Kong, 2013 to 2017".

"Hong Kong's Balance of Payments, 2009 to 2018"

     The Balance of Payments (BoP) records economic transactions between Hong Kong and the rest of the world. BoP represents a comprehensive set of statistics, covering trade in goods and services, investment and income. These statistics on cross-border transactions are useful for monitoring financial flows between Hong Kong and other economies, thus providing an objective basis for gauging financial soundness and policy formulation.

     This feature article highlights the salient features of Hong Kong's BoP as well as the latest trends from 2009 to 2018.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Balance of Payments Branch, C&SD (Tel: 3903 6979; email: bop@censtatd.gov.hk).

"Statistics on Innovation Activities in Hong Kong, 2013 to 2017"

     Innovation is a key impetus to economic growth and development towards a knowledge-based economy. Innovation activities encompass research and development activities, product and process innovation activities as well as organisational and marketing innovation activities which are not directly related to technological advancement but help enhance competitiveness and business performance.

     Statistics on innovation activities are useful in shedding light on the diffusion of innovation activities in an economy and can offer insight into possible development areas. This feature article aims at portraying the latest development of innovation activities in Hong Kong, with separate analyses for research and development, technological innovation and non-technological innovation activities.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Science and Technology Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel: 3903 7282; email: stb1@censtatd.gov.hk).

     Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 140 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available. Users can download the Digest free of charge at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp460.jsp?productCode=B1010002).

     Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Dissemination Section of C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (April 15) announced that the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus for March rose to 1.1 per cent from 0.1 per cent in February, indicating that the infestation of Aedes albopictus in the areas surveyed was not extensive. Nevertheless, the FEHD reminded the public to carry out effective prevention and control measures against mosquitoes early before the onset of the rainy season. Relevant government departments have also commenced the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations today to enhance anti-mosquito work throughout the territory.
      
     Among the 57 areas surveyed last month, positive ovitrap indices were recorded in 28 areas, ranging from 0.8 per cent to 6.6 per cent, with Cheung Chau ranked the highest. As for the port areas, the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus for March rose slightly to 0.01 per cent from zero in February.
      
     "Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit dengue fever (DF) and Zika virus. In view of the 29 local DF cases recorded in Hong Kong last year and the high prevalence of DF in neighbouring areas, and that Hong Kong has a warmer and wetter spring this year which is conducive to large-scale mosquito breeding within a short period of time, relevant government departments have enhanced co-operation to eliminate potential breeding places for mosquitoes ahead of the rainy season and commenced the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations today to run until the end of the rainy season so as to start the fogging operations specifically at risky areas to eradicate adult mosquitoes. The community should also remain vigilant and take effective mosquito prevention and control measures together," an FEHD spokesman said.
      
     "The major anti-mosquito measures of the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations include carrying out fogging in the scrubby areas within a 100-metre radius around residences weekly to kill adult mosquitoes; carrying out inspection, removing stagnant water, applying insecticide and disposing of abandoned water containers weekly to prevent mosquito breeding; and trimming of grass to discourage resting of the 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, and strengthen publicity and education campaigns in the coming months. In addition, the FEHD has also started the second phase of its Anti-mosquito Campaign today which lasts for nine weeks until June 14. The district offices of the FEHD will target areas which have drawn particular concern, 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 places. The FEHD will, after the second phase of the campaign, conduct territory-wide thematic mosquito prevention and control special operations so as to enhance the effectiveness of the campaign," he added.
      
     The department's Pest Control Inspection Teams have also stepped up inspection of construction sites and enforcement action against mosquito breeding. This year (as at April 7), the FEHD had instituted 26 prosecutions for mosquito breeding found in relevant premises under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), comprising 25 cases involving construction sites and one case 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 Area Ovitrap Index (AOI) 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 to strengthen the anti-mosquito efforts.
      
     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 all 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 the 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 follow 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 the government departments via 1823 if mosquito problems are detected.
      
     The spokesman reiterated that effective mosquito control requires the sustained effort of all parties concerned. The community must work together with the Government to carry out effective mosquito control measures.
      
     He also reminded travellers to take the following precautionary measures when visiting areas where mosquito-borne diseases are prevalent during the Easter holidays:
           
* Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved clothes and trousers;
* Use insect repellents over exposed parts of the body when outdoors; and
* Use mosquito screens or nets when a room is not air-conditioned.
           
     Travellers returning from these places should seek medical advice if they have symptoms such as fever, 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 following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Tenders to be held on April 23:
  

     A car dealer, its sole proprietor and salesman were convicted today (April 15) at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts for supplying a second-hand vehicle with a false trade description, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). The sole proprietor and the salesman were each sentenced to 180 hours of community service while the car dealer was fined $20,000.

     Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that a second-hand car dealer had made a false claim to a consumer. After investigation, it was revealed that the dealer's sole proprietor and salesman had supplied a second-hand vehicle bearing an odometer reading (travelling mileage) of 36,029 kilometres to a customer. It was subsequently confirmed that the vehicle's actual travelling mileage exceeded 49,479 kilometres.

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

     Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, 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 the Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

     The Instrumental Music Training Scheme (IMTS), organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is now recruiting intermediate year-one and advanced year-one trainees for 2019-20. The deadline for applications is May 16.
 
     The IMTS provides training in a wide variety of string, wind and Chinese musical instruments including violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, percussion, dizi, pipa, sheng, suona, zhongruan, liuyeqin and yangqin. Courses on musicianship and music theory are also included.
 
     One-hour group lessons, conducted in Cantonese, are held once a week at the Music Office's five music centres in Hong Kong, Kwun Tong, Mong Kok, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan. Annual tuition fees of $3,377 for intermediate level and $4,312 for advanced level are payable in four instalments.
 
     Online applications are available at www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice. Course pamphlets and application forms are now available at all Music Office music centres. Applicants must have attained the required music qualifications. Qualified applicants will be invited to attend auditions on June 15 (advanced level) or June 16 (intermediate level) and will be notified of the results by early August. Training will commence in early September.
 
     For enquiries, please call the Music Office's music centres at 2802 0657 (Hong Kong), 2796 2893 (Kwun Tong), 2399 2200 (Mong Kok), 2158 6462 (Sha Tin) and 2417 6429 (Tsuen Wan).