Tag Archives: China

     â€‹The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened in Sha Tin last night (April 22), involving four workers performing drainage work at manholes. Two of them were certified dead later in hospital, and the other two did not feel well and stayed in hospital. The LD is saddened by the deaths of the workers and expresses its deepest sympathies to the victims’ families.
      
     The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending them from conducting drainage works at the manholes and the vicinity. They cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risk have been taken.”
      
     The spokesman added, “We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
      
     The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years on conviction on indictment; or $3 million and imprisonment for six months on a summary conviction.
      
     In regard to last night’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and by email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
      
     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
      
     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers. read more

     The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (April 23) held “Read Together for Half an Hour” activities at the Hong Kong Central Library (HKCL) and various LCSD venues on the first Hong Kong Reading for All Day. 

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, attended the “Read Together for Half an Hour” activity at the Exhibition Gallery of the HKCL today. He read together with students participating in the Hong Kong Inter-school Chinese Reading Contest organised by the Hong Kong Teacher-Librarians’ Association a book from the book list of the contest. Through the lively introduction of the Dunhuang murals and the Silk Road in the book, Mr Yeung encouraged the students to further explore and appreciate the values and attitudes in Chinese culture.

     Mr Yeung said that reading was not bounded by time nor location. Once people pick up a book or a chapter they like, they can enjoy the journey themselves. He encouraged the public to read more and make it a habit.

     Apart from the HKCL, the LCSD set up various reading locations today at a number of its venues, including the Oil Street Art Space in North Point, the Kowloon Park Arcade and selected libraries, where a variety of books were placed for members of the public to read. Souvenirs were given to those who participated in “Read Together for Half an Hour” activities at the reading locations in selected public libraries. The Education Bureau today also held joint secondary and primary school 30-minute reading activities to enhance the reading ambience on campus, with more than 220 schools joining the activities. The Hong Kong Publishing Federation invited the public to join the “Read Together for Half an Hour” activity at the “Hong Kong Reading+” carnival at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin.

     In addition, starting from today, the maximum number of loaned library items of the HKPL has been raised from eight to 10 to encourage and enable readers to cultivate a reading habit. 

     For details of more events of Hong Kong Reading Week, please visit the thematic website (www.hkpl.gov.hk/hkrw).

              

     The Civil Service College (CSC), in collaboration with the Institute for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, Peking University, launched an in-depth programme on “one country, two systems” and contemporary China. As part of the programme, a lecture on the topic of “Urban-rural Relationship and Urbanisation in Contemporary China” was delivered by the Dean of the Department of Sociology of Peking University, Professor Zhou Feizhou, at the CSC today (April 23).
 
     The country upholds the philosophy of people-centred development, acting on the principle that a city should be built by and for its people. It emphasises the need to maintain a people-centred approach, focusing on the public’s needs and prioritising liveability in urban development.
 
     Addressing the lecture, the Head of the CSC, Mr Oscar Kwok, said that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has long been upholding the country’s people-centred governing philosophy, emphasising serving the public in a pragmatic manner to make Hong Kong a better place for living and working. The mission of the CSC is to strengthen training to build a civil-service team that is patriotic, loves Hong Kong, has good morals and integrity, and is competent and people-oriented. The CSC has infused the people-first and “one government” service ethos into various programmes, building a service culture driven by the needs of the people and the overall interests of the country and Hong Kong, which exemplifies the implementation of the country’s governance philosophy and gives full play to the power and value of “patriots administering Hong Kong”.
 
     Around 70 civil servants at the rank of Directorate Pay Scale Point 1 and 2 attended the programme. In addition, about 90 politically appointed officials and other directorate officers enrolled and sat in on the lecture via video conferencing.
 
     The programme was organised to further strengthen training for senior officials and directorate civil servants. It consists of 12 monthly lectures covering a wide range of topics, such as the Communist Party of China and contemporary China, socialism with Chinese characteristics, the theory and practice of “one country, two systems”, as well as developments in contemporary Chinese society, economy, national defence, technology, and more. Distinguished scholars from the Mainland will deliver the programme and engage in in-depth discussions with participants.

      

     A spokesman for the Development Bureau (DEVB) said today (April 23) that the Government attaches great importance to construction site safety. In response to the fatal industrial incident at the sewer cleansing worksi… read more

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (April 23) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for March 2024. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 2.0% in March 2024 over the same month a year earlier, slightly larger than the average rate of increase in January and February 2024 (1.9%). 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 March 2024 was 1.0%, also slightly larger than the average rate of increase in January and February 2024 (0.9%). The comparison to the average rate of increase in January and February is to neutralise the effect caused by different timing of the Lunar New Year between two years, which occurred in February this year but in January last year. 

     Comparing March 2024 with February 2024, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI in March 2024 (2.0%) was smaller than the corresponding increase in February 2024 (2.1%). Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI in March 2024 (1.0%) was also smaller than the corresponding increase in February 2024 (1.2%).  

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

     Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.3%, 1.9% and 1.7% respectively in March 2024, as compared to the average rates of increase of 2.2%, 1.8% and 1.8% respectively in January and February 2024, and 2.3%, 2.0% and 2.0% respectively in February 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 0.8%, 1.1% and 1.3% respectively in March 2024, as compared to the average rates of increase of 0.6%, 1.0% and 1.3% respectively in January and February 2024, and 0.8%, 1.2% and 1.6% respectively in February 2024.   

     On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the 3-month period ending March 2024, the average monthly rates of change in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 0.0%, 0.0% and -0.1% respectively. The corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period ending February 2024 were -0.1%, 0.0% and 0.1% 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 March 2024 were 0.0%, 0.0% and -0.1% respectively, and the corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period ending February 2024 were 0.0%, 0.0% and 0.1% respectively.   

     Amongst the various components of the Composite CPI, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in March 2024 for alcoholic drinks and tobacco (17.7%), meals out and takeaway food (3.3%), housing (3.1%), miscellaneous services (2.9%), transport (2.2%), miscellaneous goods (1.2%), and clothing and footwear (0.3%).   

     On the other hand, year-on-year decreases in the components of the Composite CPI were recorded in March 2024 for electricity, gas and water (-8.7%), durable goods (-1.5%), and basic food (-0.5%).   

     In the first quarter of 2024, the Composite CPI rose by 1.9% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 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 1.0%, 0.7%, 1.0% and 1.3% respectively.   

     For the 12 months ending March 2024, the Composite CPI was on average 2.1% higher than that in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.3%, 2.0% and 2.0% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures were 1.5%, 1.4%, 1.4% and 1.7% respectively.   

Commentary

     A Government spokesman said that underlying consumer price inflation was modest in March. While prices of meals out and takeaway food continued to rise relatively fast, prices of basic food edged down from a year earlier. Prices of energy-related items fell further. Price pressures on other major components remained broadly in check.   

     Looking ahead, overall inflation should stay contained in the near term. Domestic costs may face some upward pressures as the Hong Kong economy continues to grow. External price pressures should remain on a broad downward trend, though heightened geopolitical tensions will 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 March 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).

     The reference period of the expenditure weights currently used for compilation of CPIs is the 12-month period from October 2019 to September 2020. The C&SD plans to update it to the whole year of 2023 starting from the next reference month (i.e. the CPIs for April 2024), primarily to better reflect changes in consumption patterns brought by resumption to normalcy after the COVID-19 epidemic. The updating is technical in nature in full conformity with international recommendations, and will not involve revision to CPIs already released. More details of the updating will be provided in the next release of CPIs to be published on May 23, 2024.

     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).
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