Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in October 2024
Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for October 2024 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (December 16) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
In October 2024, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 0.3% and 1.5% respectively over October 2023.
Comparing the first ten months of 2024 with the same period in 2023, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 5.8% and 3.3% respectively.
Comparing the three-month period ending October 2024 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 4.5% and 0.5% respectively.
Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
Comparing October 2024 with October 2023, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 3.4% and 3.0% respectively.
As regards price changes in the first ten months of 2024 over the same period in 2023, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 3.8% and 3.3% respectively.
Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.
The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2023, the index increased by 0.4% in October 2024 and 0.5% in the first ten months of 2024.
Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
Comparing October 2024 with October 2023, increases were recorded for the total export volume to Vietnam (29.9%), the mainland of China (the Mainland) (4.4%) and the USA (1.0%). On the other hand, the total export volume to Taiwan (-3.4%) and India (-34.0%) decreased.
Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to the USA (4.4%), the Mainland (4.3%), Taiwan (3.6%) and Vietnam (1.7%) increased. On the other hand, the total export prices to India decreased by 1.0%.
Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
Comparing October 2024 with October 2023, increases were recorded for the import volume from Taiwan (11.4%), Singapore (10.5%), Japan (6.3%) and the Mainland (0.7%). On the other hand, the import volume from Korea decreased by 13.1%.
Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Korea (6.8%), Singapore (5.9%), Taiwan (5.1%), the Mainland (2.1%) and Japan (1.0%).
Further information
Details of the above statistics are published in the October 2024 issue of "Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers". Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230).
Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918).
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.
An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
