Tag Archives: China

The following is issued on behalf of the Committee on Respect Our Teachers Campaign:
 
     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (September 11) officiated at the “Salute to Teachers 2018 – Teachers’ Day and Commendation Certificate Presentation Ceremony” organised by the Committee on Respect Our Teachers Campaign (CROTC), and paid tribute to more than 1 300 teachers for their dedication to the teaching profession this year.

     Speaking at the ceremony, the CROTC Chairman, Professor Tam Man-kwan, said the dedicated teachers teach by example with the aim of educating students to achieve a bright future conducive to the sustainable development of society. He added that teachers should foster students with the ability to think critically and tell right from wrong, so as to build up positive values with a strong sense of commitment to the country and society.

     The Chairperson of Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals (COTAP), Dr Carrie Willis, expressed her highest respect to teachers and principals at the Teachers’ Day Ceremony, and took this opportunity to officially launch the T-standard+, which aims to present the professional image of the teaching profession by portraying the professional roles of teachers in Hong Kong. Dr Willis encouraged teachers to use the T-standard+ as a tool to reflect on their own professional growth, pursue continuing professional development and sustain their efforts to enhance student learning and growth.

     T-standard+, as one of the areas of focus under the overarching project “T-excel@hk” launched by COTAP,  comprises “Professional Standards for Teachers of Hong Kong” and “Professional Standards for Principals of Hong Kong”. The development of the two sets of standards involved in-depth research and discussion by different stakeholders in the education sector, extensive consultation and feedback collection. T-standard+ portrays the vision and mission of teachers and principals at different stages of professional growth in Hong Kong, and provides a useful reference and anchor for initial teacher education, continuing professional development and school leadership development.

     Under the Teachers’ Commendation Scheme organised by CROTC to foster a culture of respect for teachers, secondary schools, primary schools, kindergartens and special schools may each nominate two teachers who have shown commitment and excellence in teaching. The Scheme is in its 23rd year, with over 28 000 teachers commended to date.

     Other officiating guests at the ceremony included the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; and the Chairperson of the Curriculum Development Council, Professor Tam Kar-yan.

    

     In the second quarter of 2018, 27.2% of Hong Kong’s total exports to the mainland of China (the Mainland) were for outward processing in the Mainland. On the other hand, 41.9% of Hong Kong’s imports from the Mainland were related to outward processing in the Mainland, according to statistics released today (September 11) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD). Over the same period, 72.1% of Hong Kong’s re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland.
 
     In the second quarter of 2017, the corresponding proportions were 28.8% for total exports to the Mainland, 43.3% for imports from the Mainland and 75.1% for re-exports of Mainland origin to other places.
 
     In the first half of 2018, 26.5% of Hong Kong’s total exports to the Mainland were for outward processing in the Mainland. On the other hand, 39.7% of Hong Kong’s imports from the Mainland were related to outward processing in the Mainland. Over the same period, 68.8% of Hong Kong’s re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland.
 
     The corresponding proportions in the first half of 2017 were 27.9% for total exports to the Mainland, 40.8% for imports from the Mainland and 71.0% for re-exports of Mainland origin to other places.
 
     In value terms, $152.2 billion of Hong Kong’s total exports to the Mainland in the second quarter of 2018 were for outward processing in the Mainland, representing an increase of 5.1% compared with the second quarter of 2017. On the other hand, the value of imports from the Mainland related to outward processing in the Mainland increased by 5.9% compared with the second quarter of 2017 to $224.2 billion. Meanwhile, $250.5 billion of Hong Kong’s re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland, representing an increase of 5.9% compared with the second quarter of 2017.
 
     In the first half of 2018, $284.9 billion of Hong Kong’s total exports to the Mainland were for outward processing in the Mainland, representing an increase of 6.4% compared with the first half of 2017. On the other hand, the value of imports from the Mainland related to outward processing in the Mainland increased by 5.6% compared with the first half of 2017 to $400.8 billion. Meanwhile, $451.6 billion of Hong Kong’s re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland, representing an increase of 5.1% compared with the first half of 2017.
 
     The statistics for the second quarter and first half of 2018 are given in the attached tables.
 
     Information on trade involving outward processing in the Mainland is collected in a sample survey conducted by the C&SD. For the purpose of the survey, exports to the Mainland for outward processing refer to raw materials or semi-manufactures exported from or through Hong Kong to the Mainland for processing with a contractual arrangement for subsequent re-importation of the processed goods into Hong Kong.
 
     Imports from the Mainland related to outward processing refer to processed goods imported from the Mainland, of which all or part of the raw materials or semi-manufactures have been under contractual arrangement exported from or through Hong Kong to the Mainland for processing.
 
     Re-exports of Mainland origin to other places involving outward processing in the Mainland refer to processed goods re-exported through Hong Kong, of which all or part of the raw materials or semi-manufactures have been exported from or through Hong Kong to the Mainland for processing with a contractual arrangement for subsequent re-importation of the processed goods into Hong Kong.
 
     In interpreting the statistics, it should be noted that all imports and exports of goods (not including transhipments and goods-in-transit) are recorded as external trade, irrespective of whether the goods are associated with outward processing or not. Moreover, the value and proportion of imports from the Mainland and re-exports of Mainland origin to other places involving outward processing in the Mainland refer to those of the entire goods instead of just the value added contributed by outward processing in the Mainland.
 
     A sample of import/export declarations in respect of Hong Kong’s trade with the Mainland and Hong Kong’s re-exports originated in the Mainland to other places is selected for enumeration to obtain the required information from the establishments concerned. The findings of the survey facilitate a more informed analysis of the nature of Hong Kong’s trade with the Mainland. In this respect, the survey results are a useful supplement to the regular trade statistics.
 
     The above survey results will be included in the September 2018 issue of the “Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade”. The publication will be available in November 2018. Users can download this publication free of charge from the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp230.jsp?productCode=B1020005).
 
     Enquiries on the survey results may be directed to the Outward Processing and Shipping Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 2126 or email: ops@censtatd.gov.hk). read more

     The total gross value of construction works performed by main contractors in the second quarter of 2018 decreased by 1.6% in nominal terms over a year earlier to $61.5 billion, according to the provisional results of the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output released today (September 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 decreased by 6.5% 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 $19.7 billion in the second quarter of 2018, up by 3.3% in nominal terms over a year earlier. In real terms, it increased by 1.1%.  

     The gross value of construction works performed at public sector sites decreased by 14.5% in nominal terms over a year earlier to $19.5 billion in the second quarter of 2018. In real terms, it decreased by 18.0%.

     The gross value of construction works performed by main contractors at locations other than construction sites amounted to $22.3 billion in the second quarter of 2018, up by 8.1% in nominal terms compared with a year earlier. In real terms, it showed virtually no change. 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 $18.5 billion in the second quarter of 2018, up by 8.1% 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 went down 30.2% in nominal terms to $9.1 billion in the second quarter of 2018.

     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, the gross value of construction works performed by main contractors decreased by 4.6% in nominal terms and decreased by 6.2% in real terms in the second quarter of 2018 compared with the first quarter of 2018.

     Table 1 shows the provisional figures on the gross value of construction works performed by main contractors in the second quarter of 2018. Table 2 shows the revised figures for the first quarter of 2018.

     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, 2nd 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). read more

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (September 11) that a new dedicated website for the "Electronic Road Pricing Pilot Scheme in Central and its Adjacent Areas" has been launched with a view to promotin… read more

     An arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong for conducting automatic exchange of financial account information in tax matters (AEOI) came into effect on September 6, 2018.       &quot… read more