The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (November 29) that a tender of 1-year RMB Institutional Government Bonds (Bonds) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme will be held on December 5, 2024 (Thursday), for settlement on December 9, 2024 (Monday).

     A total of RMB1.5 billion 1-year RMB Bonds will be tendered. The Bonds will mature on December 9, 2025, and will carry interest at the rate of 2.38 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear.

     Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of RMB50,000 or integral multiples thereof.

     Tender results will be published on the HKMA's website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK <GO>) and Refinitiv (IBPGSBPINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3pm on the tender day.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Information

     Tender information of 1-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
 

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

     According to statistics published today (November 29) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorized institutions remained virtually unchanged in October 2024. Among the total, Hong Kong dollar deposits increased by 0.4 per cent, while foreign currency deposits decreased by 0.3 per cent in October. In the year to end-October, total deposits and Hong Kong dollar deposits grew by 5.8 per cent and 2.8 per cent respectively. Renminbi deposits in Hong Kong decreased by 5.8 per cent in October to RMB957.8 billion at the end of October, mainly reflecting fund flows of corporates. The total remittance of renminbi for cross-border trade settlement amounted to RMB 1,218.0 billion in October, compared with RMB1,267.2 billion in September. It should be noted that changes in deposits are affected by a wide range of factors, such as interest rate movements and fund-raising activities. It is therefore more appropriate to observe the longer-term trends, and not to over-generalise fluctuations in a single month.

     Total loans and advances decreased by 1.1 per cent in October, and decreased by 3.2 per cent in the year to end-October. Among the total, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) and loans for use outside Hong Kong both decreased by 1.1 per cent in October. The Hong Kong dollar loan-to-deposit ratio decreased to 77.5 per cent at the end of October from 78.4 per cent at the end of September, as Hong Kong dollar deposits increased while Hong Kong dollar loans decreased.

     Hong Kong dollar M2 and M3 both increased by 0.3 per cent in October and both increased by 3.7 per cent when compared to a year ago. The seasonally-adjusted Hong Kong dollar M1 increased by 1.2 per cent in October and increased by 3.4 per cent compared to a year ago, reflecting in part investment-related activities. Total M2 and total M3 both increased by 0.2 per cent in October. Compared to a year earlier, total M2 and total M3 both increased by 8.6 per cent.

     As monthly monetary statistics are subject to volatilities due to a wide range of transient factors, such as seasonal and IPO-related funding demand as well as business and investment-related activities, caution is required when interpreting the statistics.

     According to the results of the 2023 Annual Survey of Economic Activities – Import/Export, Wholesale and Retail Trades, and Accommodation and Food Services Sectors released today (November 29) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total receipts (i.e. sales and other receipts) of the import/export, wholesale and retail trades, and accommodation and food services sectors amounted to $5,238.9 billion in 2023, representing a decrease of 0.1% compared with 2022; on a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 0.4% over 2022 to $35.0 million in 2023.
 
     Operating expenses, cost of goods sold and compensation of employees of the above sectors altogether amounted to $4,781.2 billion in 2023, representing a decrease of 0.5% compared with 2022; on a per establishment basis, they altogether amounted to $31.9 million in 2023, similar to that in 2022.
 
     Gross surplus of the sectors, which is equal to total receipts less operating expenses, cost of goods sold and compensation of employees, increased by 3.6% over 2022 to $457.6 billion in 2023; on a per establishment basis, gross surplus was $3.1 million in 2023, which increased by 4.2% over 2022. For all these sectors taken together, gross surplus accounted for 8.7% of total receipts in 2023, up by 0.3 percentage point over 2022.
 
     Industry value added of the sectors, which is a measure of their total contribution to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product, increased by 6.2% over 2022 to $627.5 billion in 2023; on a per establishment basis, industry value added was $4.2 million in 2023, which increased by 6.7% over 2022.
 
     According to the survey results, it was estimated that the aforementioned sectors comprised some 149 700 establishments and engaged about 926 800 persons, or an average of 6.2 persons per establishment, in 2023.
 
     In the import/export trade, total receipts amounted to $4,245.4 billion while operating expenses, cost of goods sold and compensation of employees totalled $3,832.3 billion in 2023. Gross surplus increased from $400.8 billion in 2022 to $413.2 billion in 2023, accounting for 9.7% of total receipts in 2023. Industry value added decreased by 0.3% compared with 2022 to $467.1 billion.
 
     In the wholesale trade, total receipts amounted to $283.0 billion while operating expenses, cost of goods sold and compensation of employees totalled $277.4 billion in 2023. Gross surplus decreased from $6.6 billion in 2022 to $5.6 billion in 2023, accounting for 2.0% of total receipts in 2023. Industry value added decreased by 3.2% compared with 2022 to $19.6 billion.
 
     In the retail trade, total receipts amounted to $523.0 billion while operating expenses, cost of goods sold and compensation of employees totalled $493.2 billion in 2023. Gross surplus increased from $27.0 billion in 2022 to $29.9 billion in 2023, accounting for 5.7% of total receipts in 2023. Industry value added increased by 37.0% over 2022 to $74.7 billion.
 
     In the accommodation services sector which covers hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation, total receipts amounted to $45.3 billion while operating expenses, cost of goods sold and compensation of employees totalled $39.3 billion in 2023. Gross surplus increased from $3.2 billion in 2022 to $6.1 billion in 2023, accounting for 13.4% of total receipts in 2023.  Industry value added increased by 63.4% over 2022 to $20.4 billion.
 
     In the food services sector which mainly covers restaurants, total receipts amounted to $142.1 billion while operating expenses, cost of goods sold and compensation of employees totalled $139.2 billion in 2023. Gross surplus decreased from $3.9 billion in 2022 to $2.9 billion in 2023, accounting for 2.1% of total receipts in 2023. Industry value added increased by 29.6% over 2022 to $45.7 billion.
 
     Selected statistics for the sectors mentioned above are shown in the attached table. More detailed statistics will be given in the reports "Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Import/Export, Wholesale and Retail Trades Sectors in 2023" and "Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Food and Accommodation Services Sectors in 2023". Users can browse and download these reports at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080014&scode=550 and www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080016&scode=540) as from end-December 2024.
 
     For enquiries about the key statistics on business performance and operating characteristics of the import/export, wholesale and retail trades, and accommodation and food services sectors, please contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7399 or email: asw@censtatd.gov.hk).

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (November 29).

     The value of total retail sales in October 2024, provisionally estimated at $32.9 billion, decreased by 2.9% compared with the same month in 2023. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in September 2024 decreased by 6.9% compared with a year earlier. For the first 10 months of 2024 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales decreased by 7.1% compared with the same period in 2023.

     Of the total retail sales value in October 2024, online sales accounted for 12.3%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $4.0 billion, increased by 8.4% compared with the same month in 2023. The revised estimate of online retail sales in September 2024 decreased by 12.1% compared with a year earlier. For the first 10 months of 2024 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales decreased by 0.5% compared with the same period in 2023.

     After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in October 2024 decreased by 4.9% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in September 2024 decreased by 8.7% compared with a year earlier. For the first 10 months of 2024 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales decreased by 8.8% in volume compared with the same period in 2023.

     Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing October 2024 with October 2023, the value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts decreased by 11.1%. This was followed by sales of commodities in supermarkets (-0.4% in value); wearing apparel (-9.8%); commodities in department stores (-9.2%); motor vehicles and parts (-27.5%); fuels (-9.6%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-21.0%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-6.9%); Chinese drugs and herbs (-7.0%); furniture and fixtures (-18.0%); and optical shops (-10.2%).

     On the other hand, the value of sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified increased by 17.1% in October 2024 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (+1.0% in value); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+0.3%); and medicines and cosmetics (+3.9%).

     Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 0.7% in the three months ending October 2024 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales decreased by 0.4%.

Commentary

     A government spokesman said that the year-on-year decline of total retail sales value narrowed further in October. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total retail sales continued to increase month-to-month.

     Looking ahead, the spokesman said that the Mainland’s recent introduction of various measures to boost the economy would help support consumption sentiment and economic activities in Hong Kong. The Central Government's various measures benefitting Hong Kong, including the resumption of the multiple-entry Individual Visit Scheme for permanent residents of Shenzhen and its extension to non-permanent residents of Shenzhen with residence permits, together with the SAR Government's various initiatives to boost market sentiment, as well as increasing employment earnings, would be conducive to spending by both residents and visitors in the domestic market, though the change in their consumption patterns will continue to pose a constraint.

Further information

     Table 1 presents the revised figures on value index and value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for September 2024 as well as the provisional figures for October 2024. The provisional figures on the value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet as well as the corresponding year-on-year changes for the first 10 months of 2024 taken together are also shown.

     Table 2 presents the revised figures on value of online retail sales for September 2024 as well as the provisional figures for October 2024. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 10 months of 2024 taken together are also shown.

     Table 3 presents the revised figures on volume index of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for September 2024 as well as the provisional figures for October 2024. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 10 months of 2024 taken together are also shown.

     Table 4 shows the movements of the value and volume of total retail sales in terms of the year-on-year rate of change for a month compared with the same month in the preceding year based on the original series, and in terms of the rate of change for a three-month period compared with the preceding three-month period based on the seasonally adjusted series.

     The classification of retail establishments follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.

     These retail sales statistics measure the sales receipts in respect of goods sold by local retail establishments and are primarily intended for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. Data on retail sales are collected from local retail establishments through the Monthly Survey of Retail Sales (MRS). Local retail establishments with and without physical shops are covered in MRS and their sales, both through conventional shops and online channels, are included in the retail sales statistics.

     The retail sales statistics cover consumer spending on goods but not on services (such as those on housing, catering, medical care and health services, transport and communication, financial services, education and entertainment) which account for over 50% of the overall consumer spending. Moreover, they include spending on goods in Hong Kong by visitors but exclude spending outside Hong Kong by Hong Kong residents. Hence they should not be regarded as indicators for measuring overall consumer spending.

     Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the data series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product published at quarterly intervals. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (including goods purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether locally or abroad. Please refer to the C&SD publication "Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component" for more details.

     More detailed statistics are given in the "Report on Monthly Survey of Retail Sales". Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080003&scode=530).

     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; email: mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Signing Ceremony for Enterprise Participation in Northern Metropolis Development today (November 29):

尊敬的鄭�雄主任（中央人民政府�香港特別行政��絡辦公室主任）�鄒��局長（國務院港澳事務辦公室三局局長）���商界領袖���嘉賓���朋�：
 
　　大家好�今日的活動有來自本地�內地和海外的代表，接下來我會用廣�話�普通話和英語�大家介紹北都的機�。
 
     æ­¡è¿Žå¤§å®¶ä¾†åˆ°æ”¿åºœç¸½éƒ¨ï¼Œä¸€å�Œä»¥å¯¦éš›è¡Œå‹•ï¼Œå±•ç�¾å°�å�ƒèˆ‡åŒ—部都會å�€çš„支æŒ�和信心。香港是國際都會，匯è�šæµ·å…§å¤–人æ‰�å’Œä¼�業。
 
　　今日早上，���觀了「河套�港深創新�科技園�和「洪水橋╱厦�新發展��，了解我們在北部都會�三個將試行的「片�開發��域。
　　 
　　北部都會����3�公頃，佔香港��三分之一，幅員廣闊，一個早上當然無法盡窺全豹。但�於善於洞悉先機�有大局視野的商界領袖，一定看到北部都會�，是一個充滿希望��景亮麗的未來。
　　 
　　在未來五年，北部都會�將有約6�個�宅單�完工，並將推出新的創新科技用地。��五年，新的�宅單�進一步增加15�個，�供超�1 000�平方米的樓���作��的經濟用途。

　　新的公路和�路等交通設施，也將陸續開通。�時，我們正全速�劃兩�新的跨境�路，分別是連接洪水橋與深圳�海的深港西部�路，和連接新田科技城�河套��深圳新皇崗�岸的北環線支線。這些跨境�路將進一步促進香港�深圳和大��其他城市的��。
　　 
　　接下來，我會用普通話跟大家介紹。
 
　　��朋�，今天我們共�一堂，展示了�北部都會�發展的信心和支�。
　　 
　　香港是粵港澳大��的中心城市之一。北部都會��處香港最北部，與內地山水相�，�有無與倫比的地�優勢。一河之隔的深圳，是經濟特��全國性經濟中心城市和國家創新型城市，匯�創新�素，培育大��功和具潛力的�業。

　　香港與深圳情�手足，一直��發展，我們會更好利用香港北部的土地資�，加強與深圳的互�互通�優勢互補，為兩地帶來互利共�的�果。
　　 
　　��今天早上�觀的河套�，是國家「�四五��劃下的大���大�作平�。河套�作�在深圳河兩�以「一河兩岸��「一�兩園�的�念構建，包括香港園�和深圳園�，��香港和深圳的體制優勢，將�為培育新質生產力的��策�地。

　　上星期，特�政府公布了《河套深港科技創新�作�香港園�發展綱�》，勾劃了我們�香港園�的願景�開發策略和方�，並�出促進深港兩地園�之間，跨境�素�動的便利措施。
　　 
　　隨�河套�和其他多個新發展�的建設，北部都會�將�為香港與其他粵港澳大��城市高質��作的新平�，以�香港增長的新引擎。
　　 ã€€ 
　　我很高興今天有來自��領域的�業代表，包括房地產開發商�創新科技�物��電訊�旅��金��業等。北部都會��有廣闊的土地和明確的產業定�，將為�行�業�供優質的商機。
　　 
　　我鼓勵大家把�北部都會�發展的無比機�，�極投資土地開發�商業建設�創新科技等範疇，攜手共建璀璨未來。
 
     Now I would like to address our English-speaking friends. I welcome all of you in coming together to show your support to the development of the Northern Metropolis.
      
     You are here because you believe in Hong Kong, believe in the Northern Metropolis, and believe in the immense opportunities presented by its development.
      
     Hong Kong is a key gateway – a "super connector" and "super value-adder" – between the Mainland market and a world of investors. And the Northern Metropolis is a geographical manifestation of this very important role.
      
     The Northern Metropolis enjoys an unparalleled geographical advantage of seamlessly connecting with Shenzhen, one of the most entrepreneurial and energetic cities on the Mainland.
      
     Shenzhen and Hong Kong, together with Guangzhou, Macao and seven other cities in southern China, form the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The GBA brings together a population of 86 million and a combined GDP (Gross Domestic Product) that rivals that of the world's 10th-largest economy.
      
     The Loop, an area that straddles across the boundary between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, will be developed into an international innovation and technology hub. With the Loop, and other development areas in the pipeline, the Northern Metropolis will become a region that radiates beyond geographical boundaries.
      
     Taking forward a development of this scale, and gravitas, requires the efforts and resources of all sectors of our community. Yes, the development of the Northern Metropolis will be government-led, but market participation is just as vital.
      
     The private sector could participate in land development by multiple means. We will be trying out a large‑scale land‑disposal approach in three pilot areas: Hung Shui Kiu, Fanling North and San Tin Technopole.
      
     In each of these areas, a relatively large parcel of land will be put to tender. Each parcel will feature elements of commercial values, as well as infrastructure works or government facilities. The three sites are different in scale and components, suiting varying commercial interests and risk appetite. I am confident that this would provide the private sector with a brand-new and efficient way to participate in our development and, in turn, benefit our society as a whole.
      
     Ladies and gentlemen, I look forward to your active participation in the development of the Northern Metropolis. Together, we will realise that bright future for your businesses, for the Northern Metropolis, and for Hong Kong.
 
　　��，我剛剛在英語致辭講到，北部都會�的發展�模�大，為香港帶來無�機�，需�社會�界�與投入。
　　 
　　我鼓勵商界從多方��與北部都會�的土地發展，包括承投土地�修訂土地契約等。政府將會在洪水橋�粉嶺北�新田科技城三個試點，試行「片�開發�模�。�個片�將�供具�模的土地進行招標，包括具商業價值的元素，例如�人�宅用地，也將包括基礎設施或政府設施。
　　 
　　這三個試點在�模和組�上�有��，將迎���的商業考慮。政府希望��這種新開發方�，為商界�供�與發展北都的新途徑，加速發展，惠�整個社會。
　　 
　　今天的活動彰顯特�政府決心帶領社會�界和市場�與，共�發展北部都會�的願景。今天我們共�簽署的��書，展示我們�香港未來充滿信心，支��與北部都會�的發展。我相信通�政�商�民的共�努力，我們將��更多具經濟和社會效益的實質投資和項目，共�實�北都願景。
　　 
　　我�願大家�與北部都會�發展鵬程�里，在座��工作順利。多�大家�