The Government announced today (July 18) the appointment of Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing as Chairman of the Consumer Council for a term of two years with effect from July 15, 2022.
      
     "With his extensive experience in and strong commitment to public service, we are confident that Mr Chan will provide able leadership for the development of the Council in protecting and promoting consumer interests in Hong Kong," a Government spokesman said.
      
     "We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the former Chairman, Mr Paul Lam Ting-kwok, SC, who has assumed the post of the Secretary for Justice, for his distinguished contributions to the Council. His exemplary leadership and dedication have been invaluable to the work of the Council," the spokesman added.
 

     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.

     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).

     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 districts, and had detected positive results in some areas, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the premises within these areas.
 
Rapid test
 
     As regards positive sewage testing results with relatively high viral loads in the following areas, the Housing Department and the respective District Offices will commence distributing about 300 000 sets of the COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to residents, cleaning workers and property management staff working in the following areas for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identify infected persons:
                                  

• Tuen Mun District – Sam Shing Estate, Tuen Mun Town Plaza, New Town Mansion, The Trend Plaza, Waldorf Garden, Kam Wah Garden, Hong Kong Gold Coast, Marina Villas of Hong Kong Gold Coast, Siu On Court, Aegean Coast, Seaview Garden, Bayview Terrace, Tsing Yung Terrace, Tuen Mun Court, Hanford Garden, Crown By The Sea, Verdant Villa, Palm Cove, Faraday House, Elegant Villa, Castle Peak Bay Garden, Dragon Villa, Lepont, Avignon, Avignon Arles Street, Avignon Benezet Street and The Bloomsway
• North District – Royal Green, Ng Uk Tsuen, Ping Kong, Ping Kong Village, 8 Royal Green, Glorious Peak, King Shing Court, Ka Shing Court, Dawning Views, Avon Park, Cheung Wah Estate and Tin Ping Estate

 
     Members of the public may refer to (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/rat/eng/rat.html) for enquiries relating to the use of the RAT kits.
 
     When using an RAT kit, please pay attention to and follow the instructions from the manufacturer to perform the test and read the result properly. It is advisable to record the displayed result by taking a photo immediately after reading. Users should wash their hands before and after performing the tests, and avoid placing non-essential items within the specimen collection area. After completing the test, wrap and seal all components of the test kit carefully and dispose of them properly. If the household environment is contaminated during the specimen collecting process, disinfection should be conducted with 1 in 49 diluted bleach solution or 70 per cent alcohol.
 
     People who obtained a positive result through an RAT for the first time can report via the online platform "Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test" (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp). If individuals encounter difficulties using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will contact the relevant person later to finish the report procedure.

     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).