Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹Two recycling sites in Yuen Long, operated by Shengji Industrial Trading Limited and Dragon_I Recycling Trading Company respectively, illegally stored hazardous electronic waste (e-waste). The responsible person and owner of the companies were convicted and fined a total of $20,500 at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (November 20) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.
      
     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that operations were conducted by EPD staff in March and April to step up enforcement actions to combat irregularities at open space recycling sites in the vicinity of Shek Wu Wai in Yuen Long. The officers successfully raided the recycling sites operated by Shengji Industrial Trading Limited and Dragon_I Recycling Trading Company respectively at the above location and found that the sites illegally stored waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) and waste LCD monitors, which are classified as chemical waste. Some waste PCBs and LCDs were stored in the open space or chaotically placed in plastic or paper boxes without lids. A total of about 50 bags of PCBs weighing about 18 tonnes and more than 800 waste LCDs monitors were found during the two operations, with a total export market value of $2 million. Upon evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecutions against the recycling sites’ responsible person and owner in accordance with the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.
      
     The spokesman stressed that dismantled PCBs, LCD monitors and cathode ray tubes are hazardous e-waste, containing heavy metals and other toxic substances. They are classified as chemical waste. Chemical waste is hazardous by nature and, if not properly controlled, will pollute the environment and pose a risk to the health of relevant trade practitioners and the general public. The EPD will continue to combat the illegal collection, storage, handling and import activities of hazardous e-waste. Anyone who violates the above laws shall be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment for the first conviction. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
      
     For more information about the control of chemical waste, please visit the EPD’s website: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.

    

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has accepted the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and approved from the Disaster Relief Fund two grants totalling $8.8 million to two agencies f… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:            The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office (IFFO) hosted a workshop on infra… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Rhinovirus in a male ward for severe intellectual disability, the spokesperson for Siu Lam… read more

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (November 20) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for October 2018. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 2.7% in October 2018 over the same month a year earlier, remaining virtually unchanged as compared to September 2018. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI (i.e. the underlying inflation rate) in October 2018 was 3.0%, slightly smaller than that in September 2018 (3.1%), mainly due to the smaller increases in the prices of fresh vegetables and the charges for package tours.

     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of increase in the Composite CPI for the three-month period from August to October 2018 was 0.2%, the same as that for the three-month period from July to September 2018. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the average monthly rate of increase in the Composite CPI for the three-month period from August to October 2018 was 0.2%, the same as that for the three-month period from July to September 2018.  

     Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 3.2%, 2.5% and 2.3% respectively in October 2018, as compared to 3.3%, 2.5% and 2.4% respectively in September 2018. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 3.5%, 2.9% and 2.6% respectively in October 2018, as compared to 3.6%, 2.9% and 2.7% respectively in September 2018.  

     On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the three-month period from August to October 2018, the average monthly rates of increase in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 0.3%, 0.2% and 0.2% respectively. The corresponding rates of increase for the three-month period from July to September 2018 were 0.3%, 0.2% and 0.1% respectively. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the corresponding average monthly rates of increase in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) for the three-month period from August to October 2018 were 0.3%, 0.2% and 0.2% respectively, same as those for the three-month period from July to September 2018.  

     Amongst the various CPI components, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in October 2018 for electricity, gas and water (4.1% in the Composite CPI and 4.6% in the CPI(A)); food (excluding meals bought away from home) (3.9% in the Composite CPI and 3.8% in the CPI(A)); alcoholic drinks and tobacco (3.5% in the Composite CPI and 3.3% in the CPI(A)); housing (3.0% in the Composite CPI and 4.4% in the CPI(A)); meals bought away from home (2.7% in both the Composite CPI and CPI(A)); miscellaneous services (2.7% in the Composite CPI and 1.8% in the CPI(A)); clothing and footwear (2.0% in the Composite CPI and 2.8% in the CPI(A)); transport (1.6% in the Composite CPI and 1.9% in the CPI(A)) and miscellaneous goods (1.5% in the Composite CPI and 1.9% in the CPI(A)).  

     On the other hand, year-on-year decrease in prices was recorded in October 2018 for durable goods (-1.8% in both the Composite CPI and CPI(A)).  

     Taking the first 10 months of 2018 together, the Composite CPI rose by 2.4% over a year earlier. The corresponding increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.7%, 2.3% and 2.2% respectively. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the Composite CPI, CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 2.6%, 2.9%, 2.6% and 2.4% respectively in the first 10 months of 2018 over a year earlier.  

     For the three months ended October 2018, the Composite CPI rose by 2.5% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 3.0%, 2.4% and 2.2% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures were 2.9%, 3.3%, 2.9% and 2.5% respectively.  

     For the 12 months ended October 2018, the Composite CPI was on average 2.3% higher than that in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.5%, 2.2% and 2.1% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures were 2.4%, 2.6%, 2.4% and 2.3% respectively.  

Commentary

     A Government spokesman said that the underlying inflation rate went down marginally to 3.0% in October, as fresh vegetable prices and charges for package tours recorded less rapid increases. The inflation rate may still be subject to some mild upward pressure in the coming months, due to rising local costs and continued feed-through of the earlier rises in fresh-letting residential rentals. The Government will monitor the situation closely, particularly the impact on the lower-income people.

Further information

     The CPIs and year-on-year rates of change at section level for October 2018 are shown in Table 1. The time series on the year-on-year rates of change in the CPIs before and after removing the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures are shown in Table 2. For discerning the latest trend in consumer prices, it is also useful to look at the changes in the seasonally adjusted CPIs. The corresponding time series on the average monthly rates of change during the latest three months for the seasonally adjusted CPIs are shown in Table 3. The rates of change in the original and the seasonally adjusted Composite CPI and the underlying inflation rate are presented graphically in Chart 1.

     More detailed CPI data (including year-on-year comparison, month-to-month comparison, seasonally adjusted data series and the CPIs by the Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP)) are available in the monthly reports. Users can download the October 2018 issue of the “Monthly Report on the Consumer Price Index” (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp270.jsp?productCode=B1060001), the time series of CPIs at detailed level (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp270.jsp?productCode=D5600001), the time series of CPIs at COICOP division level (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp270.jsp?productCode=D5600002) and the time series of CPIs after netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp270.jsp?productCode=D5600003) free of charge at the website of the C&SD.

     For enquiries about the CPIs, please contact the Consumer Price Index Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7374 or email: cpi@censtatd.gov.hk). read more