Increase in Minimum Allowable Wage and no change in food allowance for foreign domestic helpers
The Government announced today (October 2) that the Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) in Hong Kong will be increased by 2.35 per cent, from $5,100 to $5,220 per month.
The Central Government Offices, Photo source: reference image
In addition, under the Standard Employment Contract for hiring FDHs, employers are required to provide FDHs with food free of charge. At present, the vast majority of employers provide free food to FDHs, but they may choose to pay a food allowance in lieu. The food allowance will remain unchanged at no less than $1,236 per month.
The new MAW level will apply to all FDH contracts signed on or after tomorrow (October 3).
A Government spokesman said, "The Government regularly reviews the MAW for FDHs to ensure its level is commensurate with Hong Kong's economic and labour market conditions, taking into account the interests of both employers and FDHs. In this year's review, we comprehensively considered a basket of socio-economic factors in accordance with the established mechanism, including Hong Kong's general economic performance and labour market conditions over the past year, near-term economic outlook, affordability of FDH employers and basic living needs of FDHs. Throughout the review process, the Government also carefully listened to the views of employers and FDHs to gain a thorough understanding of their concerns and suggestions. Having carefully assessed and balanced the views of all parties, and comprehensively considered that this year's socio-economic factors are more favourable than those at the time of last year's review, the Government has decided to suitably increase the MAW to $5,220 per month. Furthermore, the Government has reviewed the food allowance in lieu of free food and, having taken into account the relevant consumer price index, decided that the level should remain unchanged."
Foreign domestic helpers, Photo by Bastille Post
FDH contracts signed today or before at the existing MAW of $5,100 per month will still be processed by the Immigration Department (ImmD), provided that the applications reach the ImmD on or before October 30 (Friday). This arrangement allows employers sufficient time to submit signed contracts to the ImmD for completion of relevant application procedures.
Provisional statistics of retail sales for August 2026
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (October 2).
The Census and Statistics Department, Photo source: reference image
The value of total retail sales in August 2026, provisionally estimated at $32.1 billion, increased by 5.6% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in July 2026 increased by 4.5% compared with a year earlier. For the first 8 months of 2026 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales increased by 8.5% compared with the same period in 2025.
Of the total retail sales value in August 2026, online sales accounted for 8.7%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $2.8 billion, increased by 9.9% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of online retail sales in July 2026 increased by 9.6% compared with a year earlier. For the first 8 months of 2026 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales increased by 23.0% compared with the same period in 2025.
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in August 2026 increased by 2.9% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in July 2026 increased by 2.4% compared with a year earlier. For the first 8 months of 2026 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales increased by 6.1% in volume compared with the same period in 2025.
Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing August 2026 with August 2025, the value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts increased by 11.9%. This was followed by sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (+9.6% in value); commodities in supermarkets (+2.1%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (+29.1%); medicines and cosmetics (+5.6%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+1.9%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+11.2%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+0.6%); furniture and fixtures (+3.0%); and optical shops (+5.9%).
Photo source: reference image
On the other hand, the value of sales of wearing apparel decreased by 0.5% in August 2026 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of commodities in department stores (-2.6% in value); motor vehicles and parts (-22.0%); fuels (-11.7%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-6.0%).
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales decreased by 4.6% in the three months ending August 2026 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales decreased by 3.4%.
Commentary
A government spokesman said that total retail sales value grew at an accelerated pace of 5.6% year-on-year in August, marking the 16th consecutive month of expansion. Growth was seen across many types of retail outlets, while online retail sales value grew notably, reflecting a continued shift in consumer spending towards digital channels.
Looking ahead, sustained economic expansion and rising labour earnings should support local consumption sentiment and spending. Continued growth in visitor arrivals and a series of upcoming mega-events should further inject vibrancy into the retail sector. The Government will continue to monitor the potential impacts of the evolving external headwinds on the local consumption market closely.
Photo source: reference image
Further information
The classification of retail companies follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.
These retail sales statistics measure the sales receipts in respect of goods sold by local retail companies and are primarily intended for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. Data on retail sales are collected from local retail companies through the Monthly Survey of Retail Sales (MRS). Local retail companies with and without physical shops are covered in MRS and their sales, both through conventional shops and online channels, are included in the retail sales statistics.
The retail sales statistics cover consumer spending on goods but not on services (such as those on housing, catering, medical care and health services, transport and communication, financial services, education and entertainment) which account for over 50% of the overall consumer spending. Moreover, they include spending on goods in Hong Kong by visitors but exclude spending outside Hong Kong by Hong Kong residents. Hence they should not be regarded as indicators for measuring overall consumer spending.
Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the data series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product published at quarterly intervals. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (including goods purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether locally or abroad. Please refer to the C&SD publication "Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component" for more details.
Photo source: reference image
More detailed statistics are given in the "Report on Monthly Survey of Retail Sales". Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080003&scode=530).
Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; email: mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).
