Month: May 2025

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Quarantine rules for cats, dogs reset

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today that new quarantine arrangements for cats and dogs imported from the Mainland will be implemented from June 3.

 

Starting June 3, the Mainland will be included in Group IIIA. This means that cats and dogs imported from the Mainland that meet all the pre-requisites will have their quarantine period significantly reduced from the current 120 days to 30 days upon arrival in Hong Kong.

 

The new arrangements will facilitate animal owners in bringing their pet cats and dogs from the Mainland to Hong Kong.

 

Applicants who import such pets from the Mainland must ensure that the animals comply with the requirements of Group IIIA and submit the necessary proof to the AFCD.

 

The animals must be implanted with a conforming microchip, hold a valid vaccination certificate for rabies and designated infectious diseases, and possess an animal health certificate issued by Mainland official veterinarians.

 

Furthermore, the animals must obtain satisfactory results from rabies antibody titer testing conducted at an AFCD-approved laboratory on a blood sample taken not less than 90 days and not more than one year before departure.

 

To ensure strict implementation of the relevant quarantine regulations, the AFCD has agreed with Mainland authorities that Shenzhen Customs veterinarians will issue the animal health certificates in the first phase of implementation.

 

Detailed requirements for issuing such certificates by the Mainland can be obtained from Shenzhen Customs.

 

Click here for more details of the quarantine arrangements and the application procedures for importing cats and dogs from the Mainland.

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Update on latest MERS situation in Saudi Arabia

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Update on latest MERS situation in Saudi Arabia 
Seven of the nine abovementioned cases were found to be epidemiologically linked. After one patient was hospitalised and confirmed to have MERS, six health and care workers who had cared for the patients were also confirmed through contact tracing, with four of them being asymptomatic and two showing mild symptoms. They were suspected to be infected in the healthcare facility and had recovered.
 
The WHO maintains its overall risk assessment of MERS in Saudi Arabia and expects that more cases of MERS will be reported in the Middle East or other countries where the virus is circulating in dromedaries. According to the latest information, 2 627 cases of MERS (including 946 deaths) have been notified by the WHO since 2012, and Saudi Arabia has notified 2 218 cases (including the above patients). The CHP will maintain close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities to monitor the activity and trends of MERS.
 
     “Scientific evidence shows that dromedary camels are reservoirs for MERS-CoV. Dromedary camels infected with MERS-CoV may not show any signs of infection. Infected animals may shed MERS-CoV through their nasal and eye discharge and faeces, and potentially in their milk and urine. The virus can also be found in the raw offal and meat of infected animals. Among the reported cases in the Middle East, most of the patients had been in contact with dromedary camels, consumed camel milk, or had contact with patients who had been diagnosed with MERS. The CHP recommends travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to refrain from arranging for visitors to ride dromedary camels or to participate in any activities involving direct contact with dromedary camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS-CoV. Moreover, travellers to the region should avoid visiting farms, barns or markets where there are dromedary camels, as well as contact with patients and animals, especially dromedary camels,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
 
      “As the Hajj pilgrimage will begin soon, pilgrims visiting Mecca in Saudi Arabia should be vigilant against MERS. Those with pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic renal disease and immunodeficiency, are more likely to develop severe infections if they are exposed to MERS-CoV. Pilgrims should hence consult healthcare providers before travel to review the risk and assess whether a pilgrimage is advisable. Pilgrims visiting Mecca may refer to the DH’s advice         
The public may visit the MERS page of the CHPIssued at HKT 18:00

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Chinese Culture Festival 2025 to open in Hong Kong with contemporary dance “Dongpo: Life in Poems” in June (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

　　The Chinese Cultural Festival (CCF) 2025, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will open in June with “Dongpo: Life in Poems”, a contemporary dance performance by the China Oriental Performing Arts Group. Directed by international acclaimed choreographer and visual artist Shen Wei, the production is inspired by the poetry and life of Su Dongpo, a literary master in the Song dynasty. The performance, to be staged in Hong Kong, as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges that boldly explores the integration of Chinese and Western arts, will showcase the remarkable talent and patriotic spirit of Su, while confidently presenting the beauty of traditional Chinese culture to the world. 

　　Su, a polymath in literature, calligraphy and painting in Chinese history, remains a celebrated figure 1 000 years later. His classic verses are still widely recited and resonate deeply today. “Dongpo: Life in Poems” goes beyond the usual linear narrative of dance drama. Instead, it revolves around 12 of Su’s poems that epitomise the poet’s life philosophy from over 3 000 works, while reinterpreting Su’s multifaceted legacy through contemporary dance. Divided into six acts, the selected poems, each of which touches on a different aspect of the poet’s life philosophy, are integrated to convey the poetic culture and texture with famous lines displayed onstage in calligraphic form. The poetic verses are about magnificent landscapes and graceful rivers, patriotic sentiments and timeless human nature and value. They range from the heroic emotion in “To the east, the Yangtze River constantly flows, bringing with its waves numerous ancient heroes” to the profound thoughts for his deceased wife in “Life and death have separated us for 10 years”; the world of compassion in “May all of us far apart be blessed with longevity”, and optimism in “I don’t mind leading a life in a raincoat”. By merging “cognitive essence” and “aesthetic realm”, this approach is designed to transcend linguistic barriers, allowing audiences to explore Su’s spiritual world through a contemporary lens. 

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Tender results of 10-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Tender results of 10-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds 
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that a tender for 10-year RMB institutional Government Bonds (issue number 10GB3505001) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme was held today (May 13).
 
A total of RMB1.0 billion 10-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of RMB6.814 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 6.81. The average price accepted is 101.91, implying an annualised yield of 2.088 per cent.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Results
 
Tender results of 10-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
 

Tender DateIssued at HKT 17:26

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Tender results of 5-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Tender results of 5-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds 
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that a tender for 5-year RMB institutional Government Bonds (issue number 05GB3005001) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme was held today (May 13).
 
A total of RMB1.5 billion 5-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of RMB10.753 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 7.17. The average price accepted is 101.46, implying an annualised yield of 1.672 per cent.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Results
 
Tender results of 5-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
 

Tender DateIssued at HKT 17:25

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Tender results of 2-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Tender results of 2-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds 
A total of RMB1.5 billion 2-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of RMB11.905 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 7.94. The average price accepted is 100.14, implying an annualised yield of 1.643 per cent. 
Tender results of 2-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
 

Tender Date* Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.

Note: The yields stated above are annualised yields. For reference, the semi-annualised yields corresponding to the average price accepted, lowest price accepted, and average tender price are 1.637 per cent, 1.654 per cent, and 1.747 per cent respectively.
Issued at HKT 17:24

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Results of monthly survey on business situation of small and medium-sized enterprises for April 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (May 13) the results of the Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for April 2025.
 
     The current diffusion index (DI) on business receipts amongst SMEs decreased from 43.5 in March 2025 in the contractionary zone to 41.2 in April 2025, whereas the one-month’s ahead (i.e. May 2025) outlook DI on business receipts was 43.6. Analysed by sector, the current DIs on business receipts for majority of the surveyed sectors dropped in April 2025 as compared with previous month, particularly for the import and export trades (from 45.1 to 40.2) and business services (from 48.4 to 45.3).
  
     The current DI on new orders for the import and export trades decreased from 46.6 in March 2025 to 42.0 in April 2025, whereas the outlook DI on new orders in one month’s time (i.e. May 2025) was 43.8.
 
Commentary
 
     A Government spokesman said that business sentiment among SMEs and their outlook in one month’s time both weakened in April, as the headwinds and uncertainties in the external environment increased sharply after the United States (US) announced significant increases in import tariffs last month. The overall employment situation also softened.
 
     Looking ahead, while trade tensions have eased somewhat of late, the uncertainty of US’ trade policy will still affect the economic outlook and business sentiment. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely.
 
Further information
 
     The Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises aims to provide a quick reference, with minimum time lag, for assessing the short-term business situation faced by SMEs. SMEs covered in this survey refer to establishments with fewer than 50 persons engaged. Respondents were asked to exclude seasonal fluctuations in reporting their views. Based on the views collected from the survey, a set of diffusion indices (including current and outlook diffusion indices) is compiled. A reading above 50 indicates that the business condition is generally favourable, whereas that below 50 indicates otherwise. As for statistics on the business prospects of prominent establishments in Hong Kong, users may refer to the publication entitled “Report on Quarterly Business Tendency Survey” released by the C&SD.
 
     The results of the survey should be interpreted with care. The survey solicits feedback from a panel sample of about 600 SMEs each month and the survey findings are thus subject to sample size constraint. Views collected from the survey refer only to those of respondents on their own establishments rather than those on the respective sectors they are engaged in. Besides, in this type of opinion survey on expected business situation, the views collected in the survey are affected by the events in the community occurring around the time of enumeration, and it is difficult to establish precisely the extent to which respondents’ perception of the business situation accords with the underlying trends. For this survey, main bulk of the data were collected around the last week of the reference month.
 
     More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey on the Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080015&scode=300).
 
     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7246; email: sme-survey@censtatd.gov.hk).