May 2026 issue of "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" now available
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (May 15) the May 2026 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 "Container Statistics, 2016 to 2025" and "External Debt Statistics of Hong Kong for 2021 to 2025".
"Container Statistics, 2016 to 2025"
In 2025, Hong Kong's port container throughput reached 12.99 million TEUs, maintaining its position as one of the busiest ports in the world. Laden container movements between Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) accounted for 47.8% of the laden container throughput of the port of Hong Kong in 2025. Of these movements, about 66.9% were related to the Pearl River Delta region, reflecting the close economic ties between Hong Kong and the region.
This article provides a detailed analysis of the container statistics of the port of Hong Kong from 2016 to 2025.
For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Electronic Trading Services and Cargo Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3863 2476; email: shipping@censtatd.gov.hk).
"External Debt Statistics of Hong Kong for 2021 to 2025"
External Debt (ED) statistics provide useful information for international financial surveillance. Reliable, comprehensive and timely ED statistics assist data users in monitoring the development of an economy's external liabilities and hence its debt servicing obligations over time. They can also provide early warning signal of possible debt servicing problems. ED statistics are useful for the formulation and management of the economy's micro- and macro-economic policies and strategies.
This feature article briefly describes the underlying concepts of ED statistics and presents salient features of Hong Kong's ED statistics during 2021 to 2025.
For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Balance of Payments Branch (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 3863 2348; email: bop@censtatd.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: 3863 2532; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), Photo source: reference image
Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million
Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Tseung Kwan O and Hong Kong International Airport respectively yesterday (May 21) and today (May 22), and seized a total of about 21.8 kilograms of assorted drugs with a total estimated market value of about $7.95 million. Two men and one woman, aged between 38 and 49, were arrested.
In the first case, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman in Tseung Kwan O during an anti-narcotics operation yesterday afternoon. About 3.8kg of suspected drugs, including ketamine, methamphetamine, etomidate capsules, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA and a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia were found in their residence in the same district. They were then arrested.
In the second case, a 38-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 18kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase and 33 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
The arrested man and woman in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 23), while an investigation is ongoing for the second case.
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
