Month: December 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (December 1).
 
The value of total retail sales in October 2025, provisionally estimated at $35.2 billion, increased by 6.9% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in September 2025 increased by 6.0% compared with a year earlier. For the first 10 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales remained at a similar level when compared with a year earlier.
 
Of the total retail sales value in October 2025, online sales accounted for 14.6%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $5.2 billion, increased by 27.2% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of online retail sales in September 2025 increased by 27.2% compared with a year earlier. For the first 10 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales increased by 9.5% compared with the same period in 2024.
 
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in October 2025 increased by 5.3% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in September 2025 increased by 4.8% compared with a year earlier. For the first 10 months of 2025 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales decreased by 1.5% in volume compared with the same period in 2024.
 
Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing October 2025 with October 2024, the value of sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified increased by 24.6%. This was followed by sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+9.5% in value); other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (+9.7%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+6.0%); commodities in department stores (+5.8%); wearing apparel (+0.9%); medicines and cosmetics (+3.8%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+1.1%); and optical shops (+4.4%).
 
On the other hand, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets decreased by 1.8% in October 2025 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of motor vehicles and parts (-20.1% in value); fuels (-8.7%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-0.6%); furniture and fixtures (-2.3%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-6.6%).
 
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 3.0% in the three months ending October 2025 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales increased by 1.4%.
 
Commentary
 
A government spokesman said that the recovery in retail sales gathered strength in October. The value of total retail sales rose by 6.9% over a year earlier, picking up further from the increase in the preceding month. Sales of most broad retail outlet types continued to grow.
 
Looking ahead, ongoing improvement in local consumer sentiment and sustained notable growth in visitor arrivals should continue to render support to retail businesses.
 
Further information
 
Table 1 presents the revised figures on value index and value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for September 2025 as well as the provisional figures for October 2025. The provisional figures on the value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet as well as the corresponding year-on-year changes for the first 10 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.
 
Table 2 presents the revised figures on value of online retail sales for September 2025 as well as the provisional figures for October 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 10 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.
 
Table 3 presents the revised figures on volume index of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for September 2025 as well as the provisional figures for October 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 10 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.
 
Table 4 shows the movements of the value and volume of total retail sales in terms of the year-on-year rate of change for a month compared with the same month in the preceding year based on the original series, and in terms of the rate of change for a three-month period compared with the preceding three-month period based on the seasonally adjusted series.
 
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.
 
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).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Fire Services Department (FSD) today (December 1) appealed to members of the public to stay alert to a video of unknown origin on the Internet, carrying a fraudulent fundraising message in the name of a family member of the deceased fireman, Mr Ho Wai-ho. In an attempt to deceive, the fraudulent message included a bank account under a name highly similar to that of the family member. The FSD has immediately referred the case to the Police for follow-up.
 
     Should members of the public wish to express their support for the family of the deceased member by making donations, the donation arrangements are as follows:
 
1. Deposit into the bank account of Mr Ho Shing, Mr Ho Wai-ho’s father
Account Name: HO SHING
Account Number: 039-744-1-039365-9 (Chiyu Banking Corporation Ltd)

Or
 
2. Issue a cheque and send it to the FSD via mail or in person for forwarding
Payable to “何å‹�” or “HO SHING”

Address:
Welfare and Building Management
Fire Services Department
11/F, South Wing, Fire Services Headquarters Building
1 Hong Chong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon
(Attn: Mr Wong Hon-kiu)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit 2025 – Judicial Conference under Hong Kong Legal Week 2025 today (December 1):

The Honourable Chief Justice Mr Andrew Cheung (Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal), Ms Anna Joubin-Bret (Secretary of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Professor Teresa Cheng (Secretary-General of International Organization for Mediation), your excellencies, Consuls General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     As we gather today for the 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit, we also kick-start the Hong Kong Legal Week 2025.

     The Hong Kong Legal Week is an annual major event of the Department of Justice which serves as a dynamic platform for the legal and dispute resolution sector, legal scholars, judges and experts to discuss key topical legal issues in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

     Under the theme of “Linking Laws, Bridging Worlds”, Hong Kong Legal Week 2025 aims at highlighting Hong Kong’s role in connecting different economies and legal systems through collaboration, understanding and global legal exchange. Under the fundamental principle of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China. With our strong legal foundation and international connectivity, Hong Kong is dedicated to serve as a super connector and capacity building hub, in order to facilitate the legal and economic collaboration across the region and beyond. 

     The 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit is co-oragnised by UNCITRAL and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice, under the theme “The Future is Now: Legally Enabling Digitalization of International Trade”. Today, we have more than 50 judges from over 25 jurisdictions attending in person, with numerous other jurisdictions joining virtually, including those from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Central Asia, and Pacific Islands, reflecting the global reach and importance of the Summit. To facilitate the participation of Russian-speaking judges from Central Asia, we are grateful for the support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) of providing simultaneous interpretation from English into Russian.

     In fact, it is not the first time we work with the ADB and UNCITRAL on capacity building. This Judicial Summit actually marks the third event that we have co-organised with UNCITRAL this year. Since the Department of Justice launched the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy during the Hong Kong Legal Week last year, the Academy and UNCITRAL have co-organised capacity building programmes including the Conference on Climate Change and International Trade Law this March in Hong Kong and the Workshop on Use of International Instruments to Legally Enable End-to-End Digitalization of Trade under the Economic Committee of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) in Incheon, Korea, in August this year. These collaborations have not only contributed to capacity building for stakeholders in the region but also the further development of international trade law. 

     In addition to co-organising events with UNCITRAL, we worked with UNCITRAL to set up the Inclusive Global Legal Innovation Platform on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) which will hold its fifth expert meeting tomorrow to discuss international development and potential issues relating to ODR. Besides, we are delighted to see UNCITRAL’s strong support for the secondment programme with the Department of Justice, which enables Hong Kong legal practitioners to actively take part in UNCITRAL’s work and enhance their knowledge of international legal matters, thereby contributing to the capacity building of our local legal practitioners as well. I note that a number of our colleagues who have been seconded to the UNCITRAL Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific are also with us today.

     Apart from the objective of capacity building, the Judicial Conference which will centre on the theme “Building Towards End-to-End Trade Digitalization” provides a platform to share experience and exchange views on critical issues in facilitating digitalisation of the entire trade process, digitalisation of trade finance and digital assets, paperless trade systems, digital transformation in transport, as well as emerging trends in dispute resolution within the rapidly evolving digital economy, with reference to the application of UNCITRAL texts. 

     In fact, UNCITRAL texts have been proven to be very useful tool for creating a harmonised and enabling legal environment. We have applied and implemented quite a number of UNCITRAL texts, ranging from conventions to model rule in various areas. Very soon, as announced in the Chief Executive’s Hong Kong Policy Address this year, Hong Kong would introduce legislative amendments in 2026 for digitalisation of business-to-business trade documents with reference to the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records adopted by UNCITRAL. 

     Complementing the Judicial Conference today, the Judicial Roundtable to be held tomorrow will explore “Recent Trends in Dispute Resolution”, in order to facilitate interactive and in-depth dialogues among judges and judicial officers in the region on innovative judicial approaches for handling disputes involving artificial intelligence, as well as the dynamic interaction between alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and formal court proceedings. Let us seize the opportunity to actively engage in the exchanges, whether in person or online.

     Before I conclude, may I express my appreciation to UNCITRAL again for their partnership, the Asian Development Bank for their support, and my heartfelt gratitude to all moderators and speakers, some of them have come from afar, as well as the Secretary General of the International Organization for Mediation and our Chief Justice who will give special remarks and a keynote speech in a moment. On this note, I announce the official opening of the Hong Kong Legal Week 2025. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government launched a public consultation today (December 1) on the proposed updates to Schedules 1 and 2 to the Toys and Children’s Products Safety Ordinance (Cap. 424) to implement up-to-date safety standards promulgated by the relevant standardisation bodies for toys and children’s products listed in Schedule 2 (Schedule 2 products).
 
     The Ordinance stipulates that a person must not manufacture, import or supply a toy or a Schedule 2 product unless it complies with all the applicable requirements contained in any one of the safety standards (international standards or standards adopted by major economies) specified in Schedule 1 (applicable to toys) or Schedule 2 (applicable to Schedule 2 products) to the Ordinance. The Government keeps in view any updates or amendments to the safety standards so as to apply up-to-date and operative versions of the standards to toys and Schedule 2 products supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     As the safety standards specified for toys and for four classes of Schedule 2 products, namely (i) children’s high chairs and multi-purpose high chairs for domestic use; (ii) children’s paints; (iii) playpens for domestic use; and (iv) wheeled child conveyances have been updated, the Government proposes to adopt the up-to-date versions of those safety standards under the Ordinance. Details of the proposals are available on the website of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau at
www.cedb.gov.hk.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to send their views on the proposals in writing to the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau at 23/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong, or by fax to 2869 4420, or by email to tcpso_standards_updates@cedb.gov.hk, on or before December 31, 2025.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     A Government spokesman said yesterday (November 30) that the Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, the Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund-Raising, and the Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements, led respectively by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, and the Deputy Financial Secretary, are making every effort to press ahead with the support and relief work and investigations on the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

     The Government has been offering an emergency cash subsidy of $10,000 per affected household since November 27 evening to provide immediate relief for affected residents. As at 1pm yesterday, the Government has registered more than 1 900 households for the subsidy and disbursed the emergency cash subsidies to 1 420 households. In addition, the Government will provide a token of solidarity of $200,000 to the family members of each deceased victim, and a living allowance of $50,000 will be provided to each affected household starting this week.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     In view of the residents affected by the fire incident at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po gradually relocating to various communities from temporary shelters, the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) announced today (November 30) that it will leverage the District Health Centres (DHCs)/DHC Expresses (DHCEs) as hubs to provide personalised case management services to residents affected by the incident, free of charge, offering comprehensive support to meet their primary healthcare needs. The PHC Commission will also co-ordinate healthcare professionals from various disciplines to provide support to affected residents referred by the DHCs/DHCEs, including specialised medical, nursing and medication services, as well as psychological support.

     Affected residents can register via hotline or online without having to visit the centres in person. Operators of emergency transitional housing and social workers from the Social Welfare Department can also assist in referring residents in need to the DHCs/DHCEs to receive services.

     Hotlines will be set up for DHCs/DHCEs across all 18 districts, with details to be announced on the websites of the PHC Commission and the DHCs/DHCEs.

     In addition, those affected may visit any of the Hospital Authority (HA)’s Family Medicine Clinics, where consultation, treatment, drug dispensing and other services will be provided. The PHC Commission is working with the HA to update the relevant systems so that affected residents can later make priority booking for Family Medicine Out-patient Services.

     The medical stations currently set up at temporary shelters will remain in operation until closure of the shelters.

     The PHC Commission expressed gratitude to the private medical sector for its enthusiastic response in offering to provide free medical services to residents affected by the fire incident. The free services will be co-ordinated and arranged through DHCs/DHCEs, with relevant details to be announced shortly.