The total gross value of construction works performed by main contractors in the first quarter of 2018 increased by 12.1% in nominal terms over a year earlier to $65.9 billion, according to the provisional results of the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output released today (June 11) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).

     After discounting the effect of price changes, the provisional results showed that the total gross value of construction works performed by main contractors increased by 7.4% in real terms over the same period.

     Gross value of construction works in real terms is derived by deflating the corresponding nominal value with an appropriate price index to the price level in the base period of 2000.

     Analysed by type of construction works, the gross value of construction works performed at private sector sites totalled $19.8 billion in the first quarter of 2018, up by 8.9% in nominal terms over a year earlier. In real terms, it increased by 7.5%. 

     The gross value of construction works performed at public sector sites increased by 13.3% in nominal terms over a year earlier to $23.4 billion in the first quarter of 2018. In real terms, it increased by 8.1%.

     The gross value of construction works performed by main contractors at locations other than construction sites amounted to $22.7 billion in the first quarter of 2018, up by 13.8% in nominal terms compared with a year earlier. In real terms, it increased by 6.6%. Construction works at locations other than construction sites included minor new construction activities and decoration, repair and maintenance for buildings; and electrical equipment installation and maintenance works at locations other than construction sites.

     Analysed by major end-use group, the gross value of construction works performed at construction sites in respect of residential buildings projects amounted to $17.9 billion in the first quarter of 2018, up by 16.2% in nominal terms over a year earlier. Over the same period, the gross value of construction works performed at construction sites in respect of transport projects up by 5.1% in nominal terms to $12.8 billion in the first quarter of 2018.

     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, the gross value of construction works performed by main contractors increased by 5.3% in nominal terms and increased by 3.5% in real terms in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the fourth quarter of 2017.

     Table 1 shows the provisional figures on the gross value of construction works performed by main contractors in the first quarter of 2018. Tables 2 and 3 show the revised figures for the whole year of 2017 and the fourth quarter of 2017 respectively.

     Owing to the widespread sub-contracting practices in the construction industry, a construction establishment can be a main contractor for one contract and a sub-contractor for another contract at the same time. The gross value of construction works performed by main contractors covers only those projects in which the construction establishment takes the role of a main contractor, but not projects in which it takes only the role of a sub-contractor. However, sub-contractors' contribution to projects should have been included in the gross value of construction works performed by main contractors for whom they worked.

     The classification of construction establishments follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.

     More detailed statistics are given in "Report on the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output, 1st Quarter 2018". Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp330.jsp?productCode=B1090002).

     For enquiries about the survey results, please contact the Construction and Miscellaneous Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 6965 or email: building@censtatd.gov.hk).

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 11) announced that a sample of Chinese chives was found to have pesticide residue at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the case.
      
     A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS collected the sample of Chinese chives at a supermarket in Quarry Bay for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained endosulfan at a level of 0.19 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.1 ppm.
      
     "Based on the level of pesticide residue detected in the sample, adverse health effects would not be caused under usual consumption."
      
     Generally speaking, to reduce pesticide residues in vegetables, members of the public can rinse vegetables thoroughly under clean running water, and scrub produces with hard surfaces with a clean brush to remove dirt and substances including pesticides and contaminants from the surface and the crevices, when appropriate.
      
     Any person who imports, manufactures or sells any food not in compliance with the requirements of the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap 132CM) concerning pesticide residues commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
      
     Since the regulation came into effect on August 1, 2014, the CFS has taken over 145,500 samples at import, wholesale and retail levels for testing for pesticide residues. Together with the unsatisfactory sample announced today, a total of 222 food samples (including 214 vegetable and fruit samples) have been detected as having excessive pesticide residues. The overall unsatisfactory rate is less than 0.2 per cent.
      
     The spokesman added that excessive pesticide residues in food may arise from the trade not observing Good Agricultural Practice, e.g. using excessive pesticides and/or not allowing sufficient time for pesticides to decompose before harvesting. The MRLs of pesticide residues in food set in the Regulation are not safety indicators. They are the maximum concentrations of pesticide residues to be permitted in a food commodity under Good Agricultural Practice when applying pesticides. In this connection, consumption of food with pesticide residues higher than the MRLs will not necessarily lead to any adverse health effects.
      
     The CFS will follow up on the unsatisfactory result, including tracing the source of the food in question and taking samples for testing. Investigation is ongoing.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, June 11, 2018 is 99.6 (down 0.1 against last Saturday's index).
 
     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, June 9, 2018 is 99.7 (same as last Friday's index).

     The owner of a motorcycle workshop, Safety Motorcycle Accessories Company, located at Wood Road in Wan Chai, illegally handled spent lubricating oil and was fined $7,000 by Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (June 11) for contravening the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) conducted a blitz inspection at Wood Road in Wan Chai last November. It was found that the motorcycle workshop concerned illegally deposited spent lubricating oil, which is classified as chemical waste, on the pavement outside the workshop and the spent lubricating oil was not properly labelled and stored in accordance with the statuary requirements. After the EPD's investigation, it was confirmed that the owner of the maintenance workshop was not registered with the department as a chemical waste producer. After evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecution against the owner concerned for contravening the Regulation.

     An EPD spokesman explained that spent lubricating oil generated by vehicle maintenance workshops is classified as chemical waste and contains various toxic chemicals. Improper handling of such waste will cause the spent lubricating oil to leak into nearby drains and soil, which pollutes the environment and causes harm to public health.
      
     The spokesman reminded all garage operators and workers engaged in the vehicle repairing business that they should register as chemical waste producers with the EPD in accordance with the above Regulation. Chemical waste must be properly packaged, labelled and stored, and has to be collected by licensed chemical waste collectors for delivery to licensed chemical waste disposal facilities for treatment. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.
      
     Members of the public may visit the EPD's website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD)'s Quality Assurance Division held a press briefing today (June 11) to highlight a series of measures to combat soccer betting in correctional institutions arising from World Cup 2018. In addition, officers introduced measures to thwart the trafficking of contraband into correctional institutions and demonstrated the general routine searching of persons in custody to prevent them from concealing contraband.
 
     The department's Senior Superintendent (Quality Assurance), Mr Anthony Pang, said, "The CSD always strives to ensure good order and discipline in correctional institutions. Given that there have been persons in custody engaging in gambling activities arising from major soccer competitions in the past, thereby affecting institutional discipline, the CSD has, as in past years, conducted a series of anti-gambling measures early in the year to combat gambling activities of persons in custody. The CSD has also stepped up its searching, so as to prevent persons in custody from concealing contraband and to stamp out smuggling of contraband into correctional institutions, thus ensuring a secure and safe custodial environment."
 
     From the beginning of this year to the end of May, the department conducted special searches, night raids and joint search operations on more than 3,000 occasions. During the operations, 45 persons in custody were found to have participated in gambling activities or have possessed gambling-related contraband. Anti-gambling measures will continue to be implemented throughout the World Cup 2018 period. During the press briefing, officers introduced their searching techniques, and contraband items including gambling records and homemade weapons were displayed.
 
     In view of the international situation as well as the security concerns within the correctional institutions, the CSD introduced flammable liquid detectors this year so as to detect flammable substances and prevent them from being introduced into correctional institutions. In this regard, officers demonstrated how to detect flammable substances with the detector.
 
     Finally, members of the Correctional Services Dog Unit demonstrated the use of their trained dogs for searching activities. In addition to patrol duties, the dogs are trained to detect other contraband as well in order to support the surveillance inside the correctional institutions.