Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Home Affairs Department will open 18 temporary night heat shelters tonight (July 18) for people in need of the service.
 
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
 
     In light of the implementation of mandatory use of the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application when entering government premises, all persons are required to use the app to scan the venue QR code before they are allowed to enter temporary night heat shelters, except for exempted persons (including persons who are aged below 12 or aged 65 or above, persons with disabilities that render use of the app difficult and persons without smartphones). All exempted persons are required to complete a prescribed form to register their personal particulars, contact phone number and the date and time of entry. The staff will verify the information provided.
 
     For further information, please call the department’s hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
 
     The night heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Chi Shin Activity Centre
G/F, Tseung Kwan O South Ancillary Facilities Block, 5 Chi Shin Street, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Wu Shan Road Community Hall
101 Wu Shan Road, Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
     The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community.
 
     People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas of the designated community centres and community halls. For the addresses of these designated community centres and community halls, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf. read more

     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for May 2022 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 18) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
 
     In May 2022, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 8.1% and 6.4% respectively over May 2021.
 
     Comparing the first five months of 2022 with the same period in 2021, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 6.4% and 6.8% respectively.
 
     Comparing the three-month period ending May 2022 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 15.9% and 10.7% 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 2022 with May 2021, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 8.2% and 8.8% respectively.
 
     As regards price changes in the first five months of 2022 over the same period in 2021, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 9.4% and 9.9% 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 2021, the index decreased by 0.5% in May 2022 and 0.4% in the first five months of 2022.
 
     Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
 
     Comparing May 2022 with May 2021, the total export volume to the mainland of China (the Mainland) decreased by 18.3%. On the other hand, the total export volume to Taiwan (6.4%), the USA (11.2%), Vietnam (14.8%) and India (90.7%) increased.
 
     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to all main destinations increased: Taiwan (10.5%), the Mainland (10.1%), the USA (7.0%), Vietnam (5.1%) and India (2.6%).
 
     Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
 
     Comparing May 2022 with May 2021, declines were recorded for the import volume from the Mainland (-15.5%), Korea (-6.3%), Japan (-6.2%) and Singapore (-4.7%). On the other hand, the import volume from Taiwan increased by 4.7%.
 
     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Taiwan (12.0%), the Mainland (11.3%), Korea (8.8%), Singapore (7.5%) and Japan (2.7%).
 
Further information
 
     Details of the above statistics are published in the May 2022 issue of “Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers”. Users can download the publication 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 (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918). read more

     The Government announced today (July 18) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department have been collecting sewage samples for virus testing in all dist… read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, July 18, 2022 is 101 (down 0.1 against last Saturday’s index).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, July 16, 2022 was 101.1 (down 0.3 against last Friday’s index). read more

     â€‹Two teams of students representing Hong Kong achieved remarkable results in the 63rd International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 2022) and the 52nd International Physics Olympiad (IPhO 2022) respectively. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, Hong Kong teams participated in the competitions and activities via online mode.
      
     The IMO 2022, hosted by Norway, was held from July 6 to 16, with the participation of 589 students from 104 countries or regions. The Hong Kong team won one gold medal, three silver medals, one bronze medal and one honourable mention. The six awardees are as follows:
     Gold medal: Chu Cheuk-hei (St Paul’s Co-educational College)
     Silver medal: Hsieh Chong-ho (Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School)
                          Yau Ching-yan (Ying Wa College)
                          Yiu Chun-hei (S.K.H. Lam Woo Memorial Secondary School)
     Bronze medal: Lai Wai-lok (St Paul’s Co-educational College)
     Honourable mention: Cheng Nick-hang (Diocesan Boys’ School)
      
     The IPhO 2022, organised by Switzerland, was held from July 10 to 17. A total of 366 students from 76 countries or regions competed for the medals. The Hong Kong team won four silver medals and one bronze medal. The five awardees are as follows:
     Silver medal: Chan Tsz-chun (International Christian Quality Music Secondary and Primary School)
                         Cheng Yat-long (Raimondi College)
                         Cheung Man-yin (Queen’s College)
                         Lam Chung-wang (St Paul’s Co-educational College)
     Bronze medal: Kwok Ching-yeung (Sheng Kung Hui Tang Shiu Kin Secondary School)
      
     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, congratulated the Hong Kong teams today (July 18) on their excellent results in the two competitions. “The outstanding performance of the Hong Kong teams has demonstrated their persistent work and the concerted efforts of their schools, teachers, parents and different stakeholders in supporting them in striving for excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).  The Education Bureau (EDB) will continue to enhance the promotion of STEM education in primary and secondary schools by enriching curriculum, enhancing teacher training, providing schools with resources support, etc., so as to nurture students’ innovation,” Dr Choi said.
      
     “The Government has so far injected $1.6 billion into the Gifted Education Fund (the Fund) to provide sustained funding support to the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) for the development of gifted education.  From the 2019/20 school year onwards, the Fund has supported 31 off-school advanced learning programmes offered by different post-secondary institutions and organisations.  These programmes, targeting gifted students at the primary and secondary levels, enable students to fully develop their potential through challenging learning activities,” she added.
      
     The members of the Hong Kong teams of the IMO 2022 and the IPhO 2022 achieved excellent results in the local selection contests. They subsequently received specific training under the enhancement programmes arranged by the HKAGE. The outstanding students in the programmes were then selected as contestants to represent Hong Kong to participate in the above competitions. The Hong Kong teams were fully funded by the EDB to join these competitions.