The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (February 16) the Hong Kong's trade in services (TIS) statistics for 2022, with detailed breakdowns by service component and by main destination/source.

     Comparing 2022 with 2021, the value of total exports of services rose by 5.8% to $650.5 billion, and that of total imports of services increased by 3.2% to $495.2 billion. An invisible trade surplus at $155.4 billion, equivalent to 31.4% of the value of total imports of services, was recorded in 2022.  This was larger than the corresponding surplus of $135.0 billion in 2021, equivalent to 28.1% of the value of total imports of services in 2021.

Analysis by service component

     Analysed by service component, transport was the largest component in exports of services, accounting for 40.1% of the value of total exports of services in 2022.  This was followed by financial services (31.0%) and other business services (17.1%).

     As for imports of services, transport accounted for 31.1% of the value of total imports of services in 2022, followed by manufacturing services (18.3%) and other business services (18.3%).

     Amongst various service components, the net exports of financial services contributed most significantly to the overall invisible trade surplus, at $141.0 billion in 2022. This was followed by transport ($107.1 billion) and other business services ($20.7 billion). 

     On the other hand, manufacturing services imported by Hong Kong in outward processing were substantial, resulting in a deficit of $90.7 billion in 2022. This was followed by travel ($18.5 billion) and charges for the use of intellectual property ($10.6 billion).

Analysis by main destination/source 

     The United States of America (the USA) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) were the top two main destinations of exports of services of Hong Kong, accounting for 23.7% and 19.0% respectively of the value of total exports of services in 2022. They were followed by the United Kingdom (the UK) (11.8%), Germany (5.4%) and Taiwan (5.2%).

     The Mainland and the USA were also the top two main sources of imports of services, accounting for 39.8% and 15.3% respectively of the value of total imports of services in 2022. They were followed by the UK (7.0%), Singapore (7.0%) and Japan (4.6%).

     Analysed by region, Asia was the most important destination of the exports of services of Hong Kong, accounting for 41.6% of the value of total exports of services in 2022, followed by North America (25.7%) and Western Europe (25.6%).

     For imports of services, Asia was also the most important source, accounting for 60.8% of the value of total imports of services in 2022, followed by North America (17.2%) and Western Europe (16.3%).

Further information

     Table 1 presents exports, imports and net exports of services by service component in 2021 and 2022.

     Table 2 presents exports of services by main destination and imports of services by main source in 2021 and 2022. 

     Table 3 presents exports, imports and net exports of services by region of destination/source in 2021 and 2022.

     More detailed TIS statistics will be given in the report "Hong Kong Trade in Services Statistics in 2022". Users can browse and download this report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020011&scode=240) as from end-February 2024.

     The TIS statistics have incorporated the latest international recommendations given in the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010. For details, please refer to the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode240.html). They are compiled mainly based on data obtained from the Annual Survey of Imports and Exports of Services conducted by the C&SD, supplemented by data from other relevant sources. The TIS statistics for 2022 are subject to minor revision when more data from supplementary sources become available.

     For enquiries about TIS statistics, please contact the Trade in Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7415; email: tis@censtatd.gov.hk).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (February 16) released the latest grading of water quality for four gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.
      
     Four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:           

      
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD's beach thematic website.

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (February 16) the February 2024 issue of the "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" (HKMDS).

     Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains a feature article entitled "Use of Language in Hong Kong".

"Use of Language in Hong Kong"

     The C&SD conducted a Thematic Household Survey on use of language in Hong Kong during September to December 2021 to collect information on Hong Kong persons aged 6 to 65 on the use of spoken and written Chinese and English. This feature article gives a brief account of the major findings of the survey.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Social Surveys Section (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5179; email: thematic@censtatd.gov.hk).

     Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 130 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available. Users can download the Digest at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1010002&scode=460).

     Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Dissemination Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, February 16, 2024 is 105.2 (down 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) hosted a reception in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday (February 15) to celebrate Chinese New Year.
 
     More than 150 guests from various sectors including political and business circles, media, academic and community groups as well as government representatives attended the reception. Amongst them were the Acting Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Melbourne, Mr Zeng Jianhua, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Development, representing the Premier of Victoria, Mr Paul Hamer.
 
     Addressing the reception, the Director of the Sydney ETO, Miss Trista Lim, highlighted the strong trade and investment ties as well as the long-standing people-to-people links between Hong Kong and Australia. Miss Lim introduced to the guests the array of initiatives announced in "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" to attract enterprises, investment and talent, and to enhance Hong Kong's development of "eight centres" as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan. In the international arena, Miss Lim said that Hong Kong is striving for early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the world's largest free trade agreement.
 
     "Blessed with the strong support of our motherland and our close connection to the world, Hong Kong is the only world‑class city that can capitalise on both the China advantage and the international advantage. We will continue to proactively play the bridging role as the 'super connector' and 'super value-adder' between the Mainland and the rest of the world", Miss Lim said.
 
     Miss Lim also shared that the Government will step up promoting the development of a mega-event economy, noting that over 80 mega events are to take place in Hong Kong in the first half of 2024.
 
     To promote traditional Chinese music, a Chinese orchestra performance was staged at the reception.
 
     In addition to the Melbourne reception, the Sydney ETO will host Chinese New Year receptions in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in Australia, and Auckland in New Zealand, to celebrate the Year of the Dragon with the communities.