Author Archives: hksar gov

     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for May 2023 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 17) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
 
     In May 2023, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 18.3% and 19.2% respectively over May 2022.
 
     Comparing the first five months of 2023 with the same period in 2022, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 19.5% and 16.3% respectively.
 
    Comparing the three-month period ending May 2023 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 1.5% and 0.8% respectively.
 
     Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
 
     Comparing May 2023 with May 2022, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods both increased by 3.2%.
 
     As regards price changes in the first five months of 2023 over the same period in 2022, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 4.4% and 3.8% respectively.
 
     Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.
 
     The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2022, the index remained virtually unchanged in May 2023, whereas it increased by 0.6% in the first five months of 2023.
 
     Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
 
     Comparing May 2023 with May 2022, declines were recorded for the total export volume to all main destinations: India (-36.7%), Taiwan (-25.7%), the USA (-21.1%), the mainland of China (the Mainland) (-19.4%) and Vietnam (-6.4%).
 
     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to all main destinations increased: India (10.9%), Vietnam (5.0%), the USA (4.8%), the Mainland (2.4%) and Taiwan (0.6%).
 
     Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
 
     Comparing May 2023 with May 2022, declines were recorded for the import volume from all main suppliers: Singapore (-35.8%), Taiwan (-24.2%), Japan (-15.7%), the Mainland (-14.2%) and the USA (-10.7%).
 
     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Taiwan (6.6%), the Mainland (5.1%), Japan (2.0%), the USA (1.3%) and Singapore (1.3%).
 
Further information
 
     Details of the above statistics are published in the May 2023 issue of “Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers”. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230).
 
     Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:      This press release summarises the decisions of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 127th meeting. Breach of licence condition by Phoenix Satellite … read more

Attention duty announcers of radio and television stations:  Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:           The Department of Health (DH) today (July 17… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     As the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 has been cancelled, the Judiciary has announced that all hearings of the courts and tribunals will be resumed/held as scheduled tomorrow (July 18).

     Those who were due to attend court hearings today (July 17) but were affected by the issuing of the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8, including the jurors, should do so at 9.30am tomorrow.

     Those who have been summoned for jury empanelment in the High Court today are not required to attend court until further notice in writing.

     As for those who have been summoned for jury empanelment in the Coroner’s Court today, they are required to appear in court at 9.30am tomorrow.

     Court/tribunal registries and offices will open as usual tomorrow.  Court users may also use the integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) for electronic services provided by the registries of the District Court and Magistrates’ Courts as usual.  Any documents filed via the iCMS during the registries’ closure period will be deemed to have been received upon their reopening tomorrow.

     It is anticipated that there will be a significant number of people going to the courts. In particular, for the High Court, District Court and West Kowloon Law Courts Building, given the need for security screening, court users are advised to arrive at the court buildings earlier to allow time for screening, particularly during the peak hours in the morning. read more

     The Labour Department (LD) today (July 17) reminded employers to make practical and reasonable work arrangements for staff after tropical cyclone and rainstorm warnings.  Employers should also make flexible arrangements for staff to resume work or work from home (if applicable) after a tropical cyclone or rainstorm warning is cancelled, with due consideration to road and traffic conditions and other factors. This will help maintain good labour-management relations and ensure the safety of employees and the smooth operation of establishments.
 
     “For staff who have practical difficulties in resuming work on time upon the cancellation of a tropical cyclone or rainstorm warning, employers should give due consideration to the situations of individual employees and handle each case flexibly. For example, employers may permit employees who have difficulties in returning to workplaces to work from home or allow more time for them to report for duty and resume work,” an LD spokesman said.
 
     “As typhoons and rainstorms are natural occurrences that cannot be avoided, for employees who are not able to report for duty or resume work on time due to adverse weather conditions, employers should not withhold their wages, good attendance bonuses or allowances without reasons. Employers should enquire into the reasons and give due consideration to the exceptional circumstances in each case and should not penalise or dismiss the employee concerned rashly,” he said.
 
     The spokesman also reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance and the Minimum Wage Ordinance. 
 
     Employers should not deduct annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days to which employees are entitled under the Employment Ordinance to compensate for the loss of working hours resulting from employees’ failure to report for duty when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force or when the post-super typhoon “extreme conditions” exist. An employer who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with the relevant provisions under the Employment Ordinance is liable to prosecution. 
 
     Employers should also note that they have an obligation to provide and maintain a safe working environment for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance.
 
     The LD has published the “Code of Practice in Times of Typhoons and Rainstorms”, which provides a reference for employers and employees on the work and resumption of work arrangements in the event of the Government making the post-super typhoon “extreme conditions” announcement, as well as the major principles, the framework, the reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation for reference in drawing up the work arrangements under adverse weather conditions. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department’s webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf). read more