The 38th Shenzhen-Hong Kong Environmental Co-operation Forum was held in Hong Kong today (December 12). It was co-chaired by the Director of Environmental Protection of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Dr Samuel Chui, and the Director of the Ecology Environment Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, Mr Li Shuisheng, to review this year's work progress and pass the work plan for the year ahead. They also exchanged views on the work of Shenzhen and Hong Kong in solid waste management and resource recovery, as well as co-operation in water quality management.

     Dr Chui said, "On solid waste management and resource recovery, waste reduction and circular economy are part of the Greater Bay Area (GBA)'s significant development. Hong Kong will keep boosting waste reduction and recycling, including introducing a producer responsibility scheme for more products. We will also continue to promote jointly with Shenzhen and other Mainland cities of the GBA the circular economy and green transformation by strengthening collaboration in environmental technology and industries, with a view to supporting the high-quality development of the GBA."

     He added that Hong Kong and Shenzhen will also strengthen studies in areas including collaboration on improving regional ozone pollution, as well as analysis of formation mechanisms and the uniqueness of regional and cross-regional ozone transportation in the GBA. Both sides will further improve the water quality management of the Deep Bay (Shenzhen Bay) to enhance the sewerage collection and treatment facilities in the area, as well as improve assessment standards suitable for the unique ecological environment quality of the Deep Bay, in order to ensure the water quality of the Deep Bay and build picturesque bays together.

     Following the forum, representatives from the Shenzhen Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau visited the Environmental Protection Department's sludge treatment facility, T·PARK, to learn about how this modern waste management facility applies waste-to-energy technology in sludge treatment and provides leisure and environmental education for the public.

     The HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government have been in close contact, exchanging information and sharing knowledge on different environmental protection aspects such as regional air quality, water quality management and waste management, in order to align with national planning and developments. The Forum has been held twice a year since 2006 to deepen environmental co-operation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

      

     According to the provisional results of a survey released today (December 12) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the index of industrial production for manufacturing industries as a whole decreased slightly by 0.1% in the third quarter of 2024 compared with a year earlier, as against a year-on-year increase of 0.7% in the second quarter of 2024. The corresponding producer price index increased by 3.2% in the third quarter of 2024 compared with a year earlier, following a year-on-year increase of 3.1% in the second quarter of 2024.
 
     The index of industrial production for sewerage, waste management and remediation activities increased by 0.7% in the third quarter of 2024 compared with a year earlier, following a year-on-year increase of 1.5% in the second quarter of 2024. The corresponding producer price index increased by 1.3% in the third quarter of 2024 compared with a year earlier, following a year-on-year increase of 1.0% in the second quarter of 2024.
 
     Indices of industrial production reflect changes in the volume of local industrial output after discounting the effect of price changes. The price changes are measured by the producer price indices compiled from data on producer prices of selected industrial goods/services collected in the same survey.
 
     Comparing the industrial production in respect of major manufacturing industries in the third quarter of 2024 with that a year earlier, decreases in output volume were recorded in the paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media industry (-4.6%), and the food, beverages and tobacco industry (-2.7%). On the other hand, increases in output volume were recorded mainly in the textiles and wearing apparel industry (+5.8%), and the metal, computer, electronic and optical products, machinery and equipment industry (+3.5%).
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the index of industrial production for manufacturing industries as a whole remained virtually unchanged in the third quarter of 2024 compared with the second quarter of 2024.
 
     Producer price indices reflect changes in the prices of local output. They measure changes in the actual prices (net of any discounts or rebates allowed to buyers, plus any surcharges) received by producers for their output. Transportation and other incidental charges are not included.
 
     Comparing the third quarter of 2024 with a year earlier, increases in producer prices were recorded mainly in the metal, computer, electronic and optical products, machinery and equipment industry (+6.1%), the paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media industry (+1.9%), and the food, beverages and tobacco industry (+1.8%). On the other hand, a decrease in producer price was recorded in the textiles and wearing apparel industry (-0.3%).
 
     Table 1 shows the year-on-year percentage changes in the indices of industrial production by selected industry grouping.  Table 2 shows the year-on-year percentage changes in the producer price indices for the industrial sector by selected industry grouping.
 
     The revised figures on indices of industrial production and producer price indices for the industrial sector for the third quarter of 2024 will be released at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/page_8000.html) and relevant publications of the Department starting from January 20, 2025.
 
     Users can browse and download the reports "Quarterly Index of Industrial Production, 3rd Quarter 2024" (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1070002&scode=310) and "Quarterly Producer Price Index for Industrial Sector, 3rd Quarter 2024" (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1070003&scode=280) at the website of the C&SD.
 
     For enquiries about indices of industrial production and producer price indices, please contact the Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7247; email: ind-production@censtatd.gov.hk).
 

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on December 11 to noon today (December 12), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 132 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 104 906 samples of food imported from Japan (including 67 864 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 23 716 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, December 12, 2024 is 106.7 (up 0.2 against yesterday's index).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Octopus Cards Limited relating to phishing messages and fraudulent websites. The relevant stored value facility (SVF) licensee has reported the case to the HKMA. 
      
     The fraudulent websites reported by the SVF licensee known at the time are as follows:
https://hk[.]octopust[.]vip/gob
https://hk[.]octopes[.]cc/ph
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that anyone who has provided his or her personal information or account credentials, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the messages or websites concerned, should contact the relevant SVF licensee, and report to the Police or contact the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre of the Police at 18222.