November 2025 issue of "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" now available
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (November 17) the November 2025 issue of the "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" (HKMDS).
Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains two feature articles entitled "Statistics on Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong, 2024" and "Drug Situation in Hong Kong in 2024". Statistics presented in the "Drug Situation in Hong Kong in 2024" article are based on the data source from the Security Bureau, Government Secretariat.
"Statistics on Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong, 2024"
Chinese medicine has a long history in Hong Kong. The Government has been adopting a multipronged approach to facilitate the development of the Chinese medicine sector in Hong Kong. The Chinese medicine sector comprises : (a) manufacture of Chinese medicines; (b) distribution of Chinese medicines, including import/export, wholesale and retail trades; and (c) practising Chinese medicine, including Chinese medicine practitioners of general practice, acupuncture and bone-setting.
This feature article discusses the updated situation of some Chinese medicine activities including the manufacture of Chinese medicines and the distribution of Chinese medicines, as well as the external trade of Chinese herbal medicines.
For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7398; email: asw@censtatd.gov.hk).
"Drug Situation in Hong Kong in 2024"
This feature article gives an overview of the drug situation in Hong Kong in 2024 by making reference to statistics derived from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse. Moreover, statistics on the "2023/24 Survey of Drug Use among Students" and law enforcement on drug offences are presented. These statistics and findings provide useful information on the latest drug situation in Hong Kong, and support an evidence-based approach to the formulation of anti-drug policy and measures. The drug problem has continued to ameliorate through the concerted efforts of the government and the community. According to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse, the total number of reported drug abusers has dropped by around 40% over the past decade. However, phenomena such as increases in the reported number of young drug abusers in recent years, a high proportion of reported number of young adult drug abusers, and the involvement of young people in drug offences still warrant our attention.
For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Statistics Unit of the Security Bureau, Government Secretariat (Tel: 2867 2753; email: sb_stat@sb.gov.hk).
Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 130 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available. Users can download the Digest at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1010002&scode=460).
Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Dissemination Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).
Photo source: The official website of C&SD
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1
The Transport Department (TD) today (March 15) reminded taxi drivers that, starting from April 1, 2026, they must provide electronic payment means (e-payment means) to facilitate passengers' payments of taxi fares. Before boarding, passengers may check the stickers on taxi windows or ask the driver about the e-payment means available. Passengers may also continue to pay in cash. Drivers who have yet to install e-payment means are urged to do so as soon as possible to familiarise themselves with the operations.
From April 1, all taxi drivers are required to provide at least two types of e-payment means, including one QR code e-payment means (such as AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK or BoC Pay) and one non-QR code e-payment means (such as Octopus cards, credit cards or Faster Payment System (FPS)). Drivers may flexibly choose the e-payment means based on their operational needs. Stickers showing the available e-payment means should be displayed at designated positions on taxi windows for passengers' easy reference. There are e-payment platforms (e.g. Octopus Mobile POS) available in the market supporting multiple payment means to enable drivers to meet the mandatory requirement.
A spokesman for the TD said, "The new requirement aims to leverage the use of electronic technology to further enhance the overall quality of taxi services. Different types of e-payment means can provide convenience to passengers, especially tourists, in settling fares, cater for their different needs, and improve the operational efficiency of the taxi trade at the same time."
Since August 2025, the TD has been steering major e-payment platforms and the taxi trade to step up publicity and public education to familiarise taxi drivers with the mandatory requirement. The TD has also hosted over 20 workshops at community halls and centres across the territory and 11 outreach activities at taxi stands to proactively engage drivers, so that they understand the operations of e-payment means, and assist them to register as users. To date, about 1 900 drivers have joined the workshops. An additional workshop for drivers to register as users will be held from 6pm to 9pm on March 20 at the hall of Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre.
In addition, dedicated service counters have been set up at three Government carparks on Rumsey Street in Sheung Wan and in Kwai Fong and Tsuen Wanfrom March 7 to April 4 from 9.30am to 5.30pm to further support drivers in installing and registering for e-payment means early. Taxi drivers can make reservations by phone (38425821), email (taxiteam@td.gov.hk) or fax (28242176) to save waiting time. Over 1600 drivers have made bookings so far. Reservation holders who drive to the counters will enjoy one hour of free parking.
The TD has strengthened publicity through multiple channels, including dedicated liquefied petroleum gas filling stations for taxis, taxi stands at the airport, boundary control points and major stations, designated pre-service training schools for taxi drivers and taxi driver identity plate agents. Publicity has also been carried out regularly via placards inside taxi compartments, the Radio Announcement in the Public Interest, posters, social media, websites, taxi trade conferences and taxi newsletters. The Government noted that the taxi trade is ready for the new requirement.
Members of the public may refer to the TD's leaflet on taxi e-payment means (see Annex, Chinese only) coupled with infographics on the Agent T Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AgentT.hk) on the new requirement, or call the hotline at 28042600 for details.
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
