According to the results of the 2017 Annual Survey of Economic Activities – Industrial Sector released today (November 27) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the manufacturing sector's total receipts (comprising sales and other receipts) amounted to $226.3 billion in 2017, representing an increase of 3.0% compared with 2016; on a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 8.8% compared with 2016 to $29.7 million in 2017. 

     Operating expenses and compensation of employees of the manufacturing sector altogether amounted to $211.5 billion in 2017, representing an increase of 3.3% compared with 2016; on a per establishment basis, they increased by 9.1% compared with 2016 to $27.8 million in 2017. 

     Gross surplus of the manufacturing sector, which is equal to total receipts less operating expenses and compensation of employees, decreased by 1.2% compared with 2016 to $14.7 billion in 2017; on a per establishment basis, gross surplus increased by 4.3% compared with 2016 to $1.9 million in 2017. Gross surplus accounted for 6.5% of total receipts of this sector in 2017, slightly down by 0.3 percentage point compared with 2016. 

     Value added of the manufacturing sector, which is a measure of its contribution to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product, increased by 3.5% compared with 2016 to $34.6 billion in 2017; on a per establishment basis, the value added was $4.5 million in 2017, which increased by 9.3% compared with 2016.

     According to the survey results, it was estimated that the manufacturing sector comprised some 7 600 establishments and engaged about 91 800 persons, or an average of 12.1 persons per establishment in 2017. 

     Within the manufacturing sector, the four largest industry groupings in terms of value added in 2017 were (1) food, beverages and tobacco; (2) metal products, machinery and equipment; (3) chemicals, rubber, plastics and non-metallic mineral products; and (4) paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media. They together accounted for 85.9% of the value added of the manufacturing sector.

     In the food, beverages and tobacco industry, total receipts amounted to $43.0 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $37.7 billion in 2017. Gross surplus amounted to $5.4 billion in 2017, accounting for 12.5% of total receipts in 2017. Value added increased by 5.0% compared with 2016 to $11.1 billion. 

     In the metal products, machinery and equipment industry, total receipts amounted to $122.2 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $119.3 billion in 2017. Gross surplus amounted to $2.8 billion in 2017, accounting for 2.3% of total receipts in 2017. Value added increased by 6.2% compared with 2016 to $8.9 billion. 

     In the chemicals, rubber, plastics and non-metallic mineral products industry, total receipts amounted to $24.2 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $20.8 billion in 2017. Gross surplus amounted to $3.4 billion in 2017, accounting for 14.1% of total receipts in 2017. Value added increased by 5.9% compared with 2016 to $6.1 billion. 

     In the paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media industry, total receipts amounted to $12.5 billion while operating expenses and compensation of employees totalled $11.4 billion in 2017. Gross surplus amounted to $1.0 billion in 2017, accounting for 8.4% of total receipts in 2017. Value added increased by 3.8% compared with 2016 to $3.7 billion. 

     In addition to manufacturing establishments, the industrial sector also includes establishments engaged in mining and quarrying; electricity and gas supply; and sewerage, waste management and remediation activities. Selected statistics for the industrial sector (except mining and quarrying), with breakdowns by major industry grouping, are shown in the attached table.

     More detailed survey results on the industrial sector will be given in the report "Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Industrial Sector in 2017". Users can download this report (in PDF format) free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp310.jsp?productCode=B1080012) as from end-December 2018.

     For enquiries about the key statistics on business performance and operating characteristics of the industrial sector, please contact the Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7246; email: manufacturing@censtatd.gov.hk).

     The Statistics Advisory Board held a meeting today (November 27) to discuss official statistics work and its recent developments.
 
     Members noted the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD)'s strategy of building the professional capacity of the department to cope with various challenges nowadays. 
 
     The Commissioner for Census and Statistics and Chairman of the Statistics Advisory Board, Mr Leslie Tang, said, "As society is becoming more complex in the information age, the demand for statistics from data users for understanding and monitoring the social and economic trends is ever increasing. To meet the challenges nowadays, it is essential for us to nurture a professional staff force equipped with the knowledge and competencies necessary for serving the community well."
 
     Members also noted that the trial use of online questionnaire in the General Household Survey has been successfully concluded. Online questionnaire will be available for use by all respondents of the General Household Survey starting from January 2019.
           
     The Statistics Advisory Board is a non-statutory advisory body which advises the Commissioner for Census and Statistics on matters pertaining to government statistical work. Its membership consists of professionals from the business sector, the academia and the community, which provides for a wide representation to assist the Commissioner in integrating views of data users, data suppliers and statisticians. The terms of reference and composition of the Board can be found on the C&SD website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/about_us/our_advisory_board/index.jsp).

     The Labour Department has called on the catering industry to work together to establish a safe and healthy work environment to give employees and their family members peace of mind.
 
     Speaking at the Catering Industry Safety Award Scheme (2018/2019) award presentation ceremony, the Commissioner for Labour, Mr Carlson Chan, today (November 27) said, "The Labour Department attaches great importance to the occupational safety and health (OSH) performance of the catering industry. With joint efforts of the industry, workers' unions, trade associations, the Government and the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC), there has been continuous improvement in the OSH performance of the industry in recent years. Over the past decade, the accident toll in the industry decreased by 38 per cent from about 8 000 in 2008 to less than 5 000 last year, and the accident rate per 1 000 workers also dropped by about 50 per cent, from 38.7 to 20.5. Though there has been a visible improvement, every stakeholder still has to continue his effort to improve the OSH performance of the industry.
 
     "The Labour Department has revised the competition criteria for the Group Safety Performance Award and the Safety Awareness Award this year to encourage more participation from small and medium-scale catering establishments so as to enhance their OSH awareness. The Safe Use of Personal Protective Equipment Award has also been introduced to recognise the workers with proper use of personal protective equipment." 
 
     Launched in 1999, the Catering Industry Safety Award Scheme is jointly organised by the Labour Department and the OSHC, with the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board and related organisations, trade associations, workers' unions as co-organising bodies. Entering its 20th year, the award scheme this year has drawn participation from a total of 324 catering establishments with 366 workers nominated to compete for different categories of awards.
 
     The scheme aims to reinforce awareness of OSH among employers, employees and stakeholders in the industry as well as the public. It also aims to inculcate a good OSH culture in the catering industry and to recognise catering establishments, supervisors and workers with good performance in OSH.
 
     Also officiating at the award presentation ceremony today were Executive Council and Legislative Council member Mr Tommy Cheung; the Chairman of the OSHC, Dr Alan Chan; the Chairman of the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, Dr Albert Luk; and representatives of the co-organisers.

      

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (November 27):

Reporter: Mrs Lam, what expectation do you have on the new lawmaker, and are you going to take the opportunity of strong pro-government power in the legislature to roll out controversial laws like Article 23 or to make it easier to pass like the Lantau Tomorrow Project?

Chief Executive: Since taking office last July I have adopted a very consistent approach in interacting with members of the Legislative Council regardless of their political affiliations. So, I’ve been attending more frequently meetings of the Legislative Council to answer questions and address concerns from members with different political backgrounds, and diligently follow up on their suggestions and ideas. This particular result of the by-election will not have any material impact on what I have been doing in the last 16 months or so.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 is 105.9 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).