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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) welcomes the launch of the revised Code of Practice on Person-to-Person Marketing Calls (the Code) by the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) and the DTC Association (DTCA) today (June 21). 
      
     The Code provides guidance to Authorized Institutions (AIs) in undertaking telemarketing activities with a view to promoting good banking practices. The latest revision sets a limit on the frequency of person-to-person marketing calls (Note 1) made to the same telephone number to no more than three calls in a calendar week. This will enhance telemarketing experience of the public. On top of this, the Code also provides guidance to AIs on other major areas to protect the public, for example, confining hours of making calls to 9am to 10pm; providing clear identity of the callers and purpose of calls to the called parties; handling requests for unsubscribing marketing calls; controls over collection of information from the called parties and arrangement for any subsequent meetings; and mechanism for handling of complaints.
      
     The Code is jointly issued by the HKAB and the DTCA. The enhanced Code is effective from today (June 21, 2024). The HKMA expects all AIs to follow the enhanced guidance as soon as practicable in accordance with the implementation timeline prescribed in the Code. 

Note 1: Excluding "warm calls" which broadly refer to calls whereby the AI is able to identify the called party with prior contact.

     Regarding a fatal work accident that occurred in September last year in an underground cooling main at a construction site on Austin Road West, the Labour Department (LD) has completed its investigation.
 
     Having consulted the Department of Justice, the LD has initiated a total of 31 prosecutions against the relevant duty holders (including the relevant contractor, subcontractors and individuals) under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (Cap. 59) and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Confined Spaces) Regulation (Cap. 59AE). As the accident involved extremely serious occupational safety and health contraventions, the LD decided for the first time to take out part of the prosecutions against the duty holders concerned by way of indictment under the Occupational Safety and Occupational Health Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2023, which came into effect last April. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.
 
     A spokesperson for the LD said, "The LD will not tolerate illegal acts, and will strictly enforce the law and do its utmost to protect the occupational safety and health of employees."
 
     To curb unsafe work practices and ensure the safety of workers, the LD last year conducted a two-week special inspection exercise targeting confined space work in construction sites. Moreover, the LD revised the Code of Practice for Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces (CoP) which was gazetted on May 31, 2024. The CoP will take effect on November 30, 2024, after a six-month transition period for the industry to get prepared for the revision.
 
     The spokesperson said that the CoP provides proprietors, contractors, competent persons and certified workers with practical guidance and technical information to comply with the requirements set out in the occupational safety and health legislation regarding confined space work for safeguarding the safety and health of workers.
 
     The LD takes this opportunity to remind contractors and employers once again that they should provide plant, systems of work as well as a working environment that are safe and without risk to health to safeguard the work safety of construction workers. Employees should also co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use the provided personal protective equipment properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 21) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for May 2024. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 1.2% in May 2024 over the same month a year earlier, slightly larger than the corresponding increase (1.1%) in April 2024. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI (i.e. the underlying inflation rate) in May 2024 was 1.0%, also slightly larger than that in April 2024 (0.9%).  

     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period ending May 2024 was -0.2%, the same as that for the 3-month period ending April 2024. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the corresponding rates of change were 0.1% and 0.0%.   

     Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 1.2%, 1.1% and 1.2% respectively in May 2024, as compared to 1.1%, 1.0% and 1.1% respectively in April 2024. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 0.9%, 1.1% and 1.2% respectively in May 2024, as compared to 0.8%, 1.0% and 1.1% respectively in April 2024.   

     On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the 3-month period ending May 2024, the average monthly rates of change in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were -0.3%, -0.2% and -0.1% respectively. The corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period ending April 2024 were -0.3%, -0.2% and 0.0% respectively. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the average monthly rates of change in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) for the 3-month period ending May 2024 were 0.2%, 0.1% and 0.0% respectively, and the corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period ending April 2024 were 0.1%, 0.0% and 0.1% respectively.   

     Amongst the various components of the Composite CPI, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in May 2024 for alcoholic drinks and tobacco (20.1%), meals out and takeaway food (3.0%), transport (2.3%), miscellaneous services (2.2%), miscellaneous goods (1.2%), clothing and footwear (1.1%), and housing (1.1%).   

     On the other hand, year-on-year decreases in the components of the Composite CPI were recorded in May 2024 for electricity, gas and water (-10.9%), and durable goods (-0.9%).   

     As for basic food, the Composite CPI in May 2024 remained unchanged over a year earlier.   

     Taking the first 5 months of 2024 together, the Composite CPI rose by 1.6% over a year earlier. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 1.8%, 1.5% and 1.5% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 1.0%, 0.7%, 1.0% and 1.2% respectively.   

     For the 3 months ending May 2024, the Composite CPI rose by 1.4% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 1.6%, 1.3% and 1.3% respectively.  The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 1.0%, 0.8%, 1.0% and 1.2% respectively. 

     For the 12 months ending May 2024, the Composite CPI was on average 1.9% higher than that in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.2%, 1.8% and 1.8% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 1.3%, 1.2%, 1.3% and 1.5% respectively. 

Commentary

     A Government spokesman said that underlying consumer price inflation remained modest in May. Prices of meals out and takeaway food continued to increase at a relatively fast pace over a year earlier, while those of basic food were virtually unchanged. Prices of energy-related items decreased markedly further. Price pressures on other major components remained broadly in check.

     Looking ahead, overall inflation should stay contained in the near term. Domestic cost pressures may increase as the Hong Kong economy continues to grow. External price pressures should continue to stay on a broad moderating trend, though geopolitical tensions may bring uncertainties. The Government will continue to monitor the situation.

Further information

     The CPIs and year-on-year rates of change at section level for May 2024 are shown in Table 1. The time series on the year-on-year rates of change in the CPIs before and after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures are shown in Table 2. For discerning the latest trend in consumer prices, it is also useful to look at the changes in the seasonally adjusted CPIs. The time series on the average monthly rates of change during the latest 3 months for the seasonally adjusted CPIs are shown in Table 3. The rates of change in the original and the seasonally adjusted Composite CPI and the underlying inflation rate are presented graphically in Chart 1.

     More detailed statistics are given in the "Monthly Report on the Consumer Price Index". Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1060001&scode=270).

     For enquiries about the CPIs, please contact the Consumer Price Index Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7374 or email: cpi@censtatd.gov.hk).
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, June 21, 2024 is 106.8 (up 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 21) investigating three epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters affecting nine persons involving a restaurant located in The Kimberley Hotel. The CHP reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent foodborne diseases.

     The first cluster involved three females aged between 54 and 82, who developed abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and weakness about 28 hours after having a lunch buffet at the Coffee House in the Kimberley Hotel located in Tsim Sha Tsui on June 17.
 
     The second cluster involved four females aged between 7 and 50, who developed similar symptoms about 14 hours after having a dinner buffet at the same restaurant of the hotel on June 18.

     The third cluster involved a male and a female, who developed similar symptoms about 12 hours after having a dinner buffet at the same restaurant of the hotel on June 18.
 
     Among the nine affected persons, seven of them sought medical advice. Three of them required hospitalisation. The stool specimen of one affected person was positive for Salmonella upon laboratory testing. All patients are in stable condition.

     Initial investigations by the CHP revealed that the clusters involved buffets, and the affected persons had consumed different types of food including cold seafood platters and desserts. The CHP appeals to persons who have patronised the Coffee House in the Kimberley Hotel on June 17 or 18, and have experienced relevant acute gastroenteritis symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, to seek medical attention and contact the CHP immediately. The CHP has set up an enquiry hotline (2125 2372) which operates from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm.
     
     The personnel from the Centre for Food Safety and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) conducted a site investigation at the food premises last night (June 20), and found that its hygienic condition was unsatisfactory. The FEHD therefore summonsed the operator of the food premises concerned. After site investigations, the FEHD considered a thorough cleaning and disinfection shall be conducted in the food premises. The management is co-operating and will temporarily close the food premises for a thorough cleaning and disinfection from today onwards. Business will resume upon a satisfactory review by the FEHD. Food and environmental samples were taken by the personnel from the FEHD for testing, and an investigation is ongoing.
     
     To prevent foodborne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
• Pre-cooked or leftover foods should be stored and reheated properly before consumption;
• Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hotpot or barbecue meal;
• Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
• Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked foods;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water;
• Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine or wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
• Always wash hands before eating and after using the toilet.