Monthly wage
 
     According to the statistics released today (March 25) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the median monthly wage of employees in Hong Kong in May – June 2023 was $19,800. This was 3.5% higher than the median of $19,100 in May – June 2022.
 
     The change in monthly wage in 2023 when compared with 2022 is useful in reflecting the change in take-home pay of employees between these two years.
 
     In May – June 2023, the 10th, 25th, 75th and 90th percentile monthly wages of Hong Kong employees were $10,400, $14,300, $31,100 and $48,500 respectively. They were 3.8%, 4.3%, 3.1% and 2.6% higher than the corresponding figures in May – June 2022 respectively (Table 1).
 
     As shown in Table 2, increase in median monthly wage was generally observed for both male and female employees and for all age groups, educational attainments, occupational groups and industry sections.
 
Hourly wage
 
     The median hourly wage of employees in Hong Kong in May – June 2023 was $80.1, 3.5% higher than the median of $77.4 in May – June 2022.  The 5th, 10th, 25th, 75th and 90th percentile hourly wages were $44.4, $47.7, $57.0, $127.6 and $204.2 respectively. The overall hourly wage distribution of employees is shown in Table 3. The number of employees analysed by selected hourly wage level is shown in Table 4.
 
     In May – June 2023, the median hourly wage of male employees was $89.6 while that of female employees was $70.7.  Analysed by age group, the median hourly wage of employees at age 35 – 44 was the highest ($94.0), followed by employees at age 25 – 34 ($82.4) and at age 45 – 54 ($82.0). The median hourly wages of employees of different sexes, age groups, educational attainments, occupational groups and industry sections are given in Table 5.
 
Further information
 
     The above wage statistics were compiled based on the data obtained from the 2023 Annual Earnings and Hours Survey (AEHS). The purpose of the survey is to provide comprehensive data on the level and distribution of wages, employment details and demographic profile of employees in Hong Kong. These statistics are useful for studies on labour-related topics by the private sector and the Government. They also provide important inputs for analyses related to the Statutory Minimum Wage. A sample of about 10 000 business undertakings was selected for the survey.
 
     Wage(s) is defined to include basic wage, commission and tips not of gratuitous nature, guaranteed bonuses and allowances, and overtime allowance paid to an employee in the survey period. It does not cover bonuses and allowances of gratuitous nature, end of year payment and payments in kind. Number of working hours is the sum of contractual/agreed working hours (including meal breaks if they are regarded as working hours according to the employment contract or agreement with the employer) and overtime hours worked at the direction of employers.
 
     By arranging the hourly wages of all employees from the smallest to the largest value, the median hourly wage is the hourly wage of the employee who ranks in the middle of all the employees concerned. In other words, the median hourly wage is the hourly wage value that delineates the lowest 50% of all the employees concerned.
 
     Percentile hourly wage figures are useful in discerning the distribution of hourly wage of employees. The pth percentile hourly wage is the hourly wage value which delineates the lowest p% of all the employees concerned, where p can be any integer value from 1 to 99. For instance, the 10th percentile hourly wage is the hourly wage value that delineates the lowest 10% of the employees. The 25th percentile, 50th percentile and 75th percentile hourly wages are also known as the lower quartile, median and upper quartile hourly wages respectively.
 
     The median and percentile monthly wage figures are derived similarly as the median and percentile hourly wage figures.
 
     Regarding the survey coverage, the AEHS covers all business undertakings irrespective of their employment sizes and industries, except those engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishing activities. All employees of business undertakings falling within the scope of the survey who are under the coverage of the Minimum Wage Ordinance (MWO) are included in the survey.  Government employees as well as student interns, work experience students and live-in domestic workers as exempted by MWO are excluded.  As it is necessary to derive the hourly wage of employees from their monthly wages and hours of work, those employees with zero working hours in the survey reference period are also excluded.
 
     Details of the wage statistics compiled from the 2023 AEHS and the survey methodology are given in the 2023 Report on Annual Earnings and Hours Survey. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050014&scode=210).
 
     Enquiries concerning the survey results of the AEHS can be directed to the Wages and Labour Costs Statistics Section (2) of the C&SD at 3105 2369.

     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 March 22 to noon today (March 25), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 298 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category, in the past three days (including last Saturday and Sunday). 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 150 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 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 38 327 samples of food imported from Japan (including 25 575 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 10 580 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, March 25, 2024 is 105.7 (down 0.1 against last Saturday's index).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, March 23, 2024 was 105.8 (up 0.1 against last Friday's index).

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is presenting the large-scale outdoor art project "Art@Harbour 2024" from today (March 25) to June 2 at Tamar Park and the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section). The exhibition opens from 6.30pm to 11pm. Members of the public who wish to enter the lawn area for a better visiting experience by interacting with the exhibits are required to pre-book their visits through the Klook system every Monday at noon for the visiting sessions in the following week. They can also register for available same-day quota at 1pm daily. Reservations are not required for visiting other areas and exhibits of "Science in Art". To ensure a better visiting experience, the LCSD reminds visitors of the following points to note:

(1) Visiting time for each registered session is limited. Registered visitors should arrive at the exhibition on time for the pre-registered period.

(2) Visitors are reminded to maintain a quiet environment, keep moving along slowly and avoid running or prolonged stops during the visit. Exits are located on both sides of the exhibition area near the promenade.

(3) Do not slap exhibits as it may affect visitors behind the exhibits.

(4) Beware of uneven ground and take care of children.

(5) To allow more visitors to enjoy the display and to provide a better visiting experience, clearance may be implemented every night at some of the exhibition areas to disperse crowds. Visitors should follow the instructions of on-site staff during clearance and co-operate with them in an orderly manner. 

(6) The exhibition closes at 11pm. No visitors will be admitted from 10.50pm. Holders of a valid entry QR code for the last session (i.e. the session starting 10.30pm) should ensure sufficient visiting time.

     The LCSD has produced a short video on the points to note.

     For more information of "Art@Harbour 2024", please visit the website for the latest updates at www.museums.gov.hk/en/web/portal/artatharbour.html.

     The Government announced today (March 25) that the Financial Secretary, in exercise of the authority under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485) delegated to him by the Chief Executive, has reappointed Miss Queenie Fiona Lau as a Non-executive Director of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) for a term of two years from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026, both dates inclusive.

     Announcing the above appointment, a spokesperson for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said, "Miss Lau has provided the MPFA with constructive insights from the legal perspective. We trust she will continue to contribute to the work of the MPFA in enhancing the protection of scheme members and regulating the industry."

     The membership of the MPFA with effect from April 1, 2024, is as follows:

Chairman and Non-Executive Director
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Mrs Ayesha Macpherson Lau

Non-Executive Directors
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Mr Karson Choi Ka-tsan
Mr Lam Chun-sing
Miss Queenie Fiona Lau
Mr Dominic Pang Yat-ting
Mr Bill Tang Ka-piu
Dr Levin Wang Lei
Ms Fanny Wong Lai-kwan
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) as alternate)
Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare as alternate)
 
Executive Directors
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Mr Cheng Yan-chee
Ms Cynthia Hui Wai-yee
Mr Wallace Lau Ka-ki
Mr Eric Cheng Siu-fun