Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 17) seized 5 443 suspected smuggled smartphones and 90 suspected smuggled watches at Lok Ma Chau Control Point with an estimated market value of about $20 million in total.

     Customs officers intercepted an outgoing container truck at Lok Ma Chau Control Point for inspection yesterday and seized the batch of smartphones and watches in the driving cabin.

     The 36-year-old male driver was arrested. Investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     According to the figures released today (December 18) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 1.0% or 27 900 persons in September 2018 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 78 340, representing an increase of 10% or 7 190 over the preceding year.
 
Employment statistics

     In September 2018, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 871 700 persons. The import and export trade engaged 476 000 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 303 100 persons, the retail trade 273 100 persons, and the food and beverage services 251 600 persons.

     Employment increased in many surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (5.8% or 2 200 persons), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (3.5% or 10 300 persons), human health services (3.2% or 4 000 persons), food and beverage services (3.1% or 7 500 persons), and financing and insurance (2.8% or 6 200 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (-11.4% or -13 900 persons) and manufacturing (-2.8% or -2 600 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
 
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 78 340 private sector vacancies, 12 060 were from the industry of food and beverage services, 8 120 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 8 010 from retail trade, 6 230 from import and export trade, and 6 030 from financing and insurance.

     Vacancies increased in majority of the selected industries in September 2018 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (1 380 or 21%); food and beverage services (1 280 or 12%); education (970 or 25%); and transportation, storage, postal and courier services (880 or 24%). On the other hand, vacancies decreased mainly in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (-310 or -38%) and retail trade (-120 or -1%). Job vacancies figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 2.

     Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly in the categories of service and sales workers (22 980 vacancies), elementary occupations (15 520 vacancies), associate professionals (15 350 vacancies), and clerical support workers (9 390 vacancies). Job vacancies figures by major occupation category are shown in Table 3.

Seasonally adjusted statistics

     For discerning the latest trend in employment and vacancies in the private sector, it is useful to look at changes over a three-month period in the respective seasonally adjusted figures. Compared with June 2018, both the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.1% in September 2018. The changes over three-month periods in the seasonally adjusted series of employment and vacancies are shown in Table 4.

Other information

     The above employment and vacancies statistics were obtained from the Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies and the Quarterly Employment Survey of Construction Sites conducted by the C&SD. In the former survey, some economic activities (e.g. those dominated by self-employment, including taxi operators and hawkers) are not covered. Therefore, the respective employment and vacancies figures relate only to those selected industries included in the survey. In the latter survey on construction sites, employment and vacancies figures relate to manual workers only.

     A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the following reports:

"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies Statistics, September 2018"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, September 2018"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050004)

     Users can download these publications free of charge at the website of the C&SD.

     Enquiries on more detailed employment and vacancies statistics can be directed to the Employment Statistics and Central Register of Establishments Section, C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076; fax: 2827 2296; email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).

     According to the latest labour force statistics (i.e. provisional figures for September – November 2018) released today (December 18) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.8% in September – November 2018, same as that in August – October 2018. The underemployment rate also remained unchanged at 1.2% in the two periods.

     Comparing September – November 2018 with August – October 2018, movements in the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) and underemployment rate in different industry sectors varied, but were generally small in magnitude.

     Total employment decreased by around 5 400 from 3 872 600 in August – October 2018 to 3 867 200 in September – November 2018. Over the same period, the labour force also decreased by around 10 600 from 3 988 600 to 3 978 000.

     The number of unemployed persons (not seasonally adjusted) decreased by around 5 200 from 116 000 in August – October 2018 to 110 800 in September – November 2018. Over the same period, the number of underemployed persons also decreased by around 800 from 46 700 to 45 900.

Commentary

     Commenting on the latest unemployment figures, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, said, "The labour market remained tight in September – November 2018, with the unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) and the underemployment rate holding steady at 2.8% and 1.2% respectively. Total employment continued to record solid growth on a year-on-year basis."

     "When compared to the preceding three-month period, movements in unemployment rates varied across sectors, but were generally small in magnitude. The unemployment situation in most of the major service sectors showed improvements on a year-on-year basis. In particular, the unemployment rates of the retail, accommodation and food services sectors decreased visibly from a year earlier on the back of resilient local consumption demand and the strong performance of inbound tourism."

     Looking ahead, Dr Law said, "The labour market will likely remain tight in the near term. Yet, the employment outlook further down the road will hinge on the impacts of the various external headwinds on the local economy. The Government will stay vigilant and monitor the situation closely."

     He noted that the Labour Department (LD) continues to promote the employment of elderly persons, including organising experience sharing sessions on employment of elderly persons and inviting representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers to brief employers on matters relating to the taking out of employees' compensation insurance policies for elderly employees. LD also stages large-scale thematic job fairs targeted at middle-aged and elderly job seekers and organises district-based job fairs on part-time employment at job centres to meet the needs of some elderly persons who are more interested in taking up part-time jobs.  

     On large-scale job fairs, LD will organise the North District Recruitment and Training Expo 2019 on January 4, 2019 at Wo Hing Sports Centre in Fanling. 57 employers will participate, offering about 5 800 vacancies. Eight training bodies will introduce job training programmes at the venue and receive applications on the spot. Moreover, LD will organise the Leap into a New Page Job Expo on March 5 and 6, 2019 at the Hong Kong Productivity Council Building in Kowloon Tong. In addition, industry-based or district-based job fairs are regularly organised at LD's industry-based recruitment centres and job centres located across the territory.

Further information

     The unemployment and underemployment statistics were compiled from the findings of the continuous General Household Survey.

     The survey for September – November 2018 covered a sample of some 25 000 households or 74 000 persons, selected in accordance with a scientifically designed sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong.

     Data on labour force characteristics were obtained from the survey by interviewing each member aged 15 or over in the sampled households.

     In the survey, the definitions used in measuring unemployment and underemployment follow closely those recommended by the International Labour Organization.

     Detailed analysis of labour force characteristics is given in the "Quarterly Report on General Household Survey" which is published four times a year. The latest issue of the publication contains statistics for the quarter July – September 2018 while the next issue covering the quarter October – December 2018 will be available by end February 2019. Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp200.jsp?productCode=B1050001).

     For enquiries about labour force statistics, please contact the Household Statistics Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5508 or email: ghs@censtatd.gov.hk).

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (December 18) that the monthly territory-wide ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus dropped further, from 2.2 per cent in October to 0.8 per cent in November, indicating that the infestation of Aedes albopictus in the areas surveyed was not extensive.

      "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 so far this year, and that DF is highly prevalent in neighbouring areas while the breeding and activity of mosquitoes also continue in the winter season, the community must remain vigilant and continue to carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures," an FEHD spokesman said.

     Among the 57 areas surveyed last month, positive ovitrap indices were recorded in 26 areas, ranging from 0.7 per cent to 6.3 per cent, with the highest in Ma On Shan. As for the port areas, the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus for November fell to 0.04 per cent from 0.2 per cent in October.

     "The FEHD and relevant government departments will continue to intensify their mosquito preventive and control work covering areas under their purview and strengthen publicity and education campaigns. The FEHD has launched a special territory-wide thematic mosquito prevention and control operation on October 29, which will continue in the winter season and last till January 11, 2019. Relevant departments have also participated in the operation. The district offices of the FEHD will target areas which have drawn particular concern, such as single-block buildings, village houses, construction sites, areas previously detected with local DF cases and container terminals and cargo working areas in port areas, to intensify mosquito prevention and control work throughout winter. Closely following the thematic operation, the year-end clean-up operation will commence on January 11, 2019, during which mosquito control work will also be enhanced."

     In addition, the FEHD set up four Pest Control Inspection Teams in May last year to step up inspection of construction sites and enforcement action against mosquito breeding. This year, as of December 9, the FEHD has instituted 203 prosecutions for mosquito breeding found in relevant premises under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), comprising 194 cases involving construction sites and nine cases 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 additional results of the Area Ovitrap Index (AOI) for Aedes albopictus at two more stages every month, 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 continue to carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, scrubbing vases and pot plant saucers 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 fill up all depressions to prevent puddles from forming. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent compound 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 Christmas and New Year 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 index is divided into four levels, reflecting the infestation level of Aedes albopictus. Level 1 (< 5 per cent) indicates that infestation of the mosquito is not extensive in the area surveyed. Level 2 (5 per cent – < 20 per cent) indicates that infestation of the mosquito is slightly more extensive in the area surveyed. Level 3 (20 per cent – < 40 per cent) indicates that infestation of the mosquito exceeds one-fifth of the area surveyed. Level 4 (>/= 40 per cent) indicates that almost half of the surveyed area is infested with the mosquito. The Government will step up the scale of anti-mosquito operations according to the level of infestation as well as reports from front-line staff and the public.

     As Aedes albopictus can transmit DF and Zika virus, oviposition traps are set in 57 areas in Hong Kong for monitoring the breeding of Aedes albopictus, which is only one of the mosquito species commonly found in Hong Kong and is active only in the daytime. The index does not capture the activity of Aedes albopictus outside the 57 areas and it also does not measure the prevalence of other kinds of mosquitoes.

     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 effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 is 105.5 (down 0.2 against yesterday's index).