Hong Kong Customs seized a total of 72 golden peaches with a suspected false claim of origin from two fruit retailers in Ma On Shan and Mong Kok on August 24 and today (August 27) respectively with a total estimated market value of about $5,000.

     Customs earlier received information alleging fruit retailers had sold a type of golden peach suspected of having a false origin claim with a price tag bearing Japanese golden peach marking.

     Customs investigations revealed that the retail price of the fruit was much lower than that imported from Japan.

     Customs officers conducted test-buy operations on August 24 and today at two fruit retailers in Ma On Shan and Mong Kok respectively where the golden peaches with suspected false claim of origin were seized. Two male shop owners, aged 63 and 39, and a 39-year-old female salesperson were arrested.

     Investigations are ongoing and inspections will continue.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). False or misleading claims on origin of goods may constitute an offence under the TDO. Consumers are advised to procure goods at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the TDO to the Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

    

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (August 27) the external merchandise trade statistics for July 2018.  In July 2018, the values of Hong Kong's total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year increases, at 10.0% and 14.0% respectively.

     In July 2018, the value of total exports of goods increased by 10.0% over a year earlier to $359.1 billion, after a year-on-year increase of 3.3% in June 2018. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 14.0% over a year earlier to $406.2 billion in July 2018, after a year-on-year increase of 4.4% in June 2018. A visible trade deficit of $47.1 billion, equivalent to 11.6% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in July 2018.

     For the first seven months of 2018 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods rose by 9.4% over the same period in 2017. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 11.1%. A visible trade deficit of $321.5 billion, equivalent to 12.2% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first seven months of 2018.

     Comparing the three-month period ending July 2018 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 0.5%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 0.4%.

Analysis by country/territory

     Comparing July 2018 with July 2017, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 10.6%. In this region, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular Malaysia (+44.0%), Vietnam (+23.3%), the mainland of China (the Mainland) (+12.8%), India (+11.2%) and Korea (+6.8%). On the other hand, decreases were recorded in the values of total exports to Taiwan (-15.6%) and Japan (-7.5%).

     Apart from destinations in Asia, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations in other regions, in particular the USA (+10.1%) and Germany (+1.8%). Concurrently, a decrease was registered in the value of total exports to the United Kingdom (-3.6%).

     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Malaysia (+111.5%), Korea (+26.4%), the USA (+15.1%), the Mainland (+10.2%), Japan (+10.1%), India (+9.7%) and the Philippines (+9.1%).

     For the first seven months of 2018 as a whole, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular the Mainland (+12.1%), Singapore (+11.6%), Germany (+11.0%), the Netherlands (+10.0%), the USA (+9.3%) and Thailand (+8.6%). However, a year-on-year decrease was registered in the value of total exports to India (-17.8%).

     Over the same period of comparison, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Malaysia (+92.2%), Korea (+21.7%), Taiwan (+14.0%), the Philippines (+9.6%), the Mainland (+8.9%) and Singapore (+8.0%). On the other hand, a year-on-year decrease was registered in the value of imports from India (-17.8%).

Analysis by major commodity

     Comparing July 2018 with July 2017, increases were registered in the values of total exports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $21.9 billion or 18.4%), "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $5.4 billion or 16.3%) and "power generating machinery and equipment" (by $1.7 billion or 39.4%). However, a decrease was registered in the value of total exports of "articles of apparel and clothing accessories" (by $0.2 billion or -1.8%).

     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $23.9 billion or 18.0%), "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $7.6 billion or 26.3%) and "miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly jewellery, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' wares)" (by $4.5 billion or 23.1%). However, a decrease was registered in the value of imports of "telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment" (by $0.1 billion or -0.1%).

     For the first seven months of 2018 as a whole, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $137.7 billion or 18.4%), "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $39.8 billion or 18.4%) and "miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly jewellery, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' wares)" (by $19.6 billion or 17.3%). However, a year-on-year decrease was registered in the value of total exports of "non-metallic mineral manufactures" (by $16.1 billion or -13.8%).

     Over the same period of comparison, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of imports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular "electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof" (by $147.6 billion or 17.3%), "office machines and automatic data processing machines" (by $46.7 billion or 25.0%) and "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (by $14.3 billion or 36.0%). However, a year-on-year decrease was registered in the value of imports of "telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment" (by $7.1 billion or -1.8%).

Commentary

     A Government spokesman noted that the value of merchandise exports registered double-digit year-on-year growth in July, supported by the still-solid global economy and buoyant regional production and trading activities. Exports to many major markets, including the Mainland and the US, attained visible gains.

     The spokesman commented further that, looking ahead, downside risks in the external trading environment have increased markedly in recent months. While the impacts of the US-Mainland trade conflicts on Hong Kong's export performance appeared to be limited so far, they could become more apparent later this year. Global economic growth will also be affected if the trade conflicts are to persist or escalate further. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Further information

     Table 1 at the annex presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for July 2018. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2015 to July 2018, and Table 3 gives the seasonally adjusted series for the same period.

     The values of total exports of goods to 10 main destinations for July 2018 are shown in Table 4, whereas the values of imports of goods from 10 main suppliers are given in Table 5.

     Tables 6 and 7 show the values of total exports and imports of 10 principal commodity divisions for July 2018.

     All the merchandise trade statistics described here are measured at current prices and no account has been taken of changes in prices between the periods of comparison. A separate analysis of the volume and price movements of external merchandise trade for July 2018 will be released in mid-September 2018.

     The July 2018 issue of "Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade" contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong's external merchandise trade in July 2018 and will be available in mid-September 2018. Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp230.jsp).

     Enquiries on merchandise trade statistics may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5042). 

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
 
     The Research Grants Council (RGC) will present its third public lecture this year under the theme "Stress Management and Mental Health" on September 2 (Sunday) at the Hong Kong Central Library.
 
     The RGC has invited the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Education) of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Professor of Mental Health of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Samson Tse, and the Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Wing Yun-kwok, to share their research findings and knowledge with the public. Details are as follows:
 
Time: 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre, G/F, Hong Kong Central Library
Language: Cantonese
Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     Mental health problem affects not only the physical health and living quality of the individuals concerned, but also their family and caregivers. Professor Tse will deliver a talk entitled "Coping with stress: From lived experience to lifestyle change", using bipolar disorder as an example, to illustrate the challenges and needs of both service users and family caregivers. He will also discuss how peer support workers make use of their life experience to help change the lifestyles of service users and their family caregivers, reduce their stress levels and facilitate service users’ recovery.
 
     Sleep is essential and indispensable for the health and growth of an individual. Although sleep problems are common, they are often neglected or ignored. Sleep deprivation in school-aged children and adolescents is an emerging epidemic across the world, and 10 per cent to 30 per cent of adults and the elderly also suffer from chronic insomnia. Professor Wing will deliver a lecture entitled "Sleeping well for better mental health", focusing on the magnitude of sleep deprivation and insomnia among schoolchildren, adults and the elderly, the associated negative consequences and the effectiveness of various sleep interventions. The relationship between sleep and mental health and some possible suggestions for the future development of sleep intervention will also be discussed.
 
     RGC public lectures aim to arouse public interest in local research developments. Since 2009, the RGC has invited numerous leading scholars to speak at these lectures. For enquiries, please call 2524 3987 or visit the University Grants Committee webpage (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/lectures/lectures.html).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, August 27, 2018 is 103.9 (up 0.1 against last Saturday's index).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, August 25, 2018 was 103.8 (down 0.6 against last Friday's index).

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM) this morning (August 27) to learn more about the application of technology in improving elderly services. The Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, also joined the visit.

     Accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the LSCM, Mr Simon Wong, Dr Law toured its office in Cyberport. The LSCM was founded with funding from the Innovation and Technology Fund. He said he was glad to note that the LSCM, in collaboration with non-governmental organisations and social enterprises, had developed tracking and positioning systems using radio frequency identification technology to enable carers to monitor the location of elderly persons and dementia patients and prevent them from getting lost. They also discussed new initiatives using robotics and artificial intelligence in elderly care.

     To cope with the challenges of an ageing population, Dr Law said that gerontechnology would help improve the quality of life of elderly persons and at the same time enhance the effectiveness of elderly services, thereby relieving the burden and pressure on carers and care staff. The Government has set up the $1 billion Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care to subsidise elderly and rehabilitation service units to procure, rent or try out technology products. The Fund will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2018.

     In addition, the Government and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service will hold the second Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit from November 22 to 25 this year to showcase innovative technology products around the world and get stakeholders together to share their experiences and exchange views, so as to explore the further use of technology in improving the lives of elderly people.