Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Census and Statistics Department maintains a computerised Central Register of Establishments which contains information relating to some 410 000 active establishments in Hong Kong. Information kept in the Register is updated on a quarterly basis through feedback from various surveys of the department and administrative returns from relevant government departments. Information in respect of the third quarter of 2018 is now updated in the Register.
 
     The Register serves mainly as the sampling frame for various economic surveys conducted by the department. In addition, many other government departments and private organisations also make use of the disclosable particulars kept in the Register for their surveys, publicity, business promotion, customer classification and research work. These disclosable particulars cover the name, address, type of business and employment size class of the establishments. They are available to the public in the following two forms.
 
20% sample listing
 
     A sample listing containing 20% of the records randomly selected from the Register, together with disclosable particulars of the establishments, is available to users. Users may apply for all or part of the records in the 20% sample listing in writing by providing the following information:
 
* Particulars of the applicant (including name, position, organisation, address, telephone, fax and email);
 
* Details of the project (including name, purpose, expected completion date, and specifications of information required such as industries, employment sizes and districts); and
 
* Medium of delivering the information (e.g. photocopy or CD-R and file format such as Visual FoxPro, Excel or text, if applicable).
 
     The application can be faxed to 2827 2296, emailed to cre@censtatd.gov.hk or posted to the Employment Statistics and Central Register of Establishments Section, Census and Statistics Department, 20/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
 
     The information can be supplied in the form of CD-R or photocopies at the following rates:
 
* CD-R – a charge of about $1,540 per listing, compiled to the user’s requirements (exact amount depending on the complexity of the job concerned);
 
* Photocopies – a ready, standard listing is available for photocopying (in part if desired). A charge of $1.30 per page is levied.
 
Matching operation with specified establishments
 
     Users may apply to conduct matching operations for a list of establishments in their databases and then extract disclosable particulars for the matched establishments from the Register. The matching operation will be done using the application program supplied by the user and conducted on the computing facilities in the Department. Both the name and address of establishment will be used as matching keys.
 
     Users may apply for this service item by submitting a proposal of the matching operation to the department. The proposal should cover the intended use of the information derived from the matching operation, the specifications of the establishment database provided by the user, the details of the matching process and the specifications of the output data.
 
     The information can be supplied in the form of CD-R. A charge will be levied at the following rates:
 
* a minimum charge of about $4,800 for the service required (exact amount depending on the complexity of the matching operation conducted); plus
 
* $1 per matched record with information supplied to the user.
 
Enquiries
 
     Further details about the above service items can be obtained from the Employment Statistics and Central Register of Establishments Section of the department at Tel: 2582 4760; fax: 2827 2296; or email: cre@censtatd.gov.hk. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:        The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, announces today (December 10) the re… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (December 10) that the Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited (HKICL), the operator of the FPS… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

(Approved for issue by the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee on November 26)
  
Report on the Currency Board Operations (June 15 – October 8)
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     The Currency Board Sub-Committee noted that during the review period, the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) traded within a range of 7.8090 – 7.8500 against the US dollar (USD). Since the first triggering on April 12, the weak-side Convertibility Undertaking (CU) was triggered 27 times and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority bought HK$103.5 billion under the weak-side CU. Correspondingly, the Aggregate Balance and the Monetary Base declined to HK$76.58 billion and HK$1,616.14 billion respectively at the end of the review period. Partly reflecting squaring of interest carry trade positions amid tightening of interbank liquidity ahead of the quarter-end, the HKD exchange rate strengthened in late September, before easing gradually at the end of the review period.
 
     The Sub-Committee noted that largely reflecting reduced interbank liquidity following triggering of the weak-side CU, expectation of US rate hikes, IPO-related funding demand, and seasonal liquidity needs, HKD interbank interest rates broadly picked up during the review period.
 
     The Sub-Committee further noted that, in accordance with the Currency Board principles, all changes in the Monetary Base had been fully matched by changes in foreign reserves.
 
     The Report on Currency Board Operations for the period under review is at the Annex.
 
Monitoring of risks and vulnerabilities
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     The Sub-Committee noted that in the US, growth momentum remained strong but its outlook was clouded by trade tensions with its trading partners. Inflationary pressures continued to build up, and the Federal Reserve signalled further gradual tightening ahead.
 
     The Sub-Committee noted that in emerging market economies (EMEs), the recent slump in the Turkish lira and the Argentine peso had sparked volatility in EME currencies and stocks.  Nonetheless, EMEs with stronger fundamentals (mostly in Asia) had been faring better.
      
     The Sub-Committee noted that in Mainland China, growth momentum showed some moderation but economic restructuring remained on track. While the renminbi had depreciated amid the US-China trade conflicts, capital outflow pressure had been limited so far.
      
     The Sub-Committee noted that in Hong Kong, downside risks to growth increased amid stronger external headwinds. That said, banks’ asset quality stayed healthy. In addition, the sizeable Monetary Base and the robust banking system provided strong buffer to external shocks.
      
Linked Exchange Rate System (LERS) Operations since the three refinements – mechanism and theory
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     The Sub-Committee noted a study which provided a theoretical explanation of the HKD exchange rate dynamics and interest rate differential between the HKD and the USD since 2008.  The study found that the LERS had been working according to its design. read more

Attention Duty Announcers of radio and TV stations: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:      In view of a serious traffic accident at Cheung Hong Street in North Point, the E… read more