Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Overall Wage and Payroll Statistics

According to the figures released today (June 26) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the average wage rate for all the selected industry sections surveyed, as measured by the wage index, increased by 3.4% in nominal terms in March 2026 over a year earlier.

About 62% of the companies reported increase in average wage rates in March 2026 compared with a year ago. A total of 33% of the companies recorded decrease in average wage rates over the same period. The remaining 5% reported virtually no change in average wage rates.

After discounting the changes in consumer prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index (A), the overall average wage rate for all the selected industry sections surveyed increased by 1.7% in real terms in March 2026 over a year earlier. 

As for payroll, the index of payroll per person engaged for all the industry sections surveyed increased by 3.4% in nominal terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier. 

After discounting the changes in consumer prices as measured by the Composite Consumer Price Index, the average payroll per person engaged increased by 1.8% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier.

The wage rate includes basic wages and other regular and guaranteed allowances and bonuses. Payroll includes elements covered by wage rate as well as other irregular payments to workers such as discretionary bonuses and overtime allowances. The payroll statistics therefore tend to show relatively larger quarter-to-quarter changes, affected by the number of hours actually worked and the timing of payment of bonuses and back-pay.

Sectoral Changes

For the nominal wage indices, year-on-year increases were recorded in all selected industry sections in March 2026, ranging from 2.5% to 4.0%.

For the real wage indices, year-on-year increases were also recorded in all selected industry sections in March 2026, ranging from 0.9% to 2.3%.

The year-on-year changes in the nominal and real wage indices for the selected industry sections from March 2025 to March 2026 are shown in Table 1.

As for the nominal indices of payroll per person engaged, year-on-year increases were recorded in all selected industry sections in the first quarter of 2026, ranging from 2.3% to 4.1%. 

For the real payroll indices, year-on-year increases were also recorded in all selected industry sections in the first quarter of 2026, ranging from 0.7% to 2.5%.

The year-on-year changes in the nominal and real indices of payroll per person engaged for selected industry sections from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026 are shown in Table 2. The quarterly changes in the seasonally adjusted nominal and real indices of payroll per person engaged in the same period are shown in Table 3.

Commentary 

A Government spokesman said that wages and labour earnings rose further in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, at a pace similar to that in the preceding quarter. A broad-based rise was recorded, with all selected industries registering increases in the average wage rate and payroll per person engaged.

Looking ahead, the ongoing expansion of the Hong Kong economy should continue to render support to labour demand, and thus wages and labour earnings. The Government will continue to keep a close watch on the potential implications of the evolving external uncertainties on the Hong Kong economy.

Other Information

Both wage indices and payroll indices are compiled quarterly based on the results of the Labour Earnings Survey (LES) conducted by C&SD. Wage index only covers employees up to the supervisory level (i.e. not including managerial and professional employees), whereas payroll index covers employees at all levels and proprietors actively engaged in the work of the establishment.

Apart from the differences in employee coverage, wage statistics are conceptually different from the payroll statistics. Firstly, wage rate for an employee refers to the sum earned for his normal hours of work. It covers basic wages and other regular and guaranteed allowances and bonuses, but excludes earnings from overtime work and discretionary bonuses, which are however included in payroll per person engaged. Secondly, the payroll index of an industry is an indicator of the simple average payroll received per person engaged in the industry. Its movement is therefore affected by changes in wage rates, number of hours of work and occupational composition in the industry. In contrast, the wage index of an industry is devised to reflect the pure changes in wage rate, with the occupational composition between two successive statistical periods being kept unchanged. In other words, the wage index reflects the change in the price of labour. Because of these conceptual and enumeration differences between payroll and wage statistics, the movements in payroll indices and in wage indices do not necessarily match closely with each other.

It should also be noted that different consumer price indices are used for compiling the real indices of wage and payroll to take into account the differences in their respective occupation coverage. Specifically, the Composite Consumer Price Index, being an indicator of overall consumer prices, is taken as the price deflator for payroll of workers at all levels of the occupational hierarchy. The Consumer Price Index (A), being an indicator of consumer prices for the relatively low expenditure group, is taken as the price deflator for wages in respect of employees engaged in occupations up to the supervisory level.

Detailed breakdowns of the payroll and wage statistics are published in the “Quarterly Report of Wage and Payroll Statistics, March 2026”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050009&scode=210).

For enquiries on wage and payroll statistics, please contact the Wages and Labour Costs Statistics Section (1) of C&SD (Tel: 2887 5550 or email: wage@censtatd.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary today (June 26) announced that the e-Appointment service will be extended to applications for registration of Enduring Power of Attorney (EPoA) in the High Court Registry from next Friday (July 3), for the booking of appointments from July 6.

     Starting from July 6, 2026, anyone who wishes to apply for registration of an EPoA at the High Court Registry is required to make an online appointment in advance via the e-Appointment System at www.judiciary.hk/en/court_services_facilities/hcr_index.html. For details, please refer to the Guidance Notes on the system’s webpage. Walk-in applications without an appointment will no longer be accepted. Walk-in applicants will need to book an appointment for another day via the system, unless there are remaining timeslots in the afternoon of the same day.

     Registered users of “iAM Smart” may use the auto form-filling function of “iAM Smart” to provide relevant personal data for making appointments.

     The e-Appointment service aims at saving court users’ time and enhancing the operational efficiency of court registries and offices. It has already been made available for a wide range of services, including those at the Appeals Registry of the Clerk of Court’s Office of the High Court, the Apostille Service Office of the High Court Registry, the High Court Registry, the Probate Registry, the District Court Registry, the Family Court Registry, the Lands Tribunal Registry, the Labour Tribunal Registry and the Integrated Mediation Office. Details are available at www.judiciary.hk/en/court_services_facilities/es_index.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 25) arrested a female director and salesperson of a postnatal care centre suspected of having applied false trade descriptions in the course of selling postnatal services, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

Customs earlier received information from members of the public alleging that a postnatal care centre, when selling postnatal services, had falsely claimed to have partnerships with multiple private hospitals, offering appointment-free medical consultation services, and claimed to have collaborated with a well-known restaurant to provide postnatal meals. Upon using the services, customers found that there were material differences from what the centre had promised and services delivered. Customs subsequently launched an investigation and verified with the relevant hospitals and the restaurant, all of which confirmed that they had no partnership with the postnatal care centre.

After investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a 40-year-old local female director and salesperson of the centre.

An investigation is ongoing and the arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation.

Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable businesses.

Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied or offered to be supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO 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).
 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government announced today (June 26) that the Financial Secretary, in exercise of his authority under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485) (MPFSO) as delegated by the Chief Executive, has reappointed Mr Eric Cheng Siu-fun as the Executive Director (Policy) of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) for a term of three years from July 1, 2026, until June 30, 2029.

In welcoming the reappointment, a spokesperson for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said, “Mr Cheng has served as the Executive Director (Policy) of the MPFA since 2023. Over the past three years, he has played an active role in advancing reform initiatives for the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) System, including formulating legislative proposals to implement MPF ‘Full Portability’ and measures to expand the scope of MPF permissible investments, thereby furthering the interests of scheme members. We are confident that Mr Cheng will continue to make valuable contributions to the betterment of the MPF System.”

The MPFA is a statutory body established under the MPFSO in September 1998 for the regulation and supervision of the MPF System.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government today (June 26) announced appointments to the new-term Commission on Poverty (CoP) for a term of two years from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, as the Chairperson of the CoP, expressed his gratitude to all members of the current-term CoP for their efforts and contributions, especially the completion of the Report on Impact of Targeted Poverty Alleviation Strategy in Hong Kong within the current term of office. The Report reviews the accomplishments of Hong Kong’s poverty alleviation efforts and unveils a new chapter of the support for the underprivileged groups in future.

     Mr Chan said that over the past few years, with the steadfast support of the CoP, various targeted poverty alleviation measures, including the Strive and Rise Programme, the Pilot Programme on Community Living Room, and the School-based After School Care Service Scheme, have all achieved remarkable results. The Government, jointly with the new-term CoP, will continue to promote tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, providing targeted assistance to citizens in need and enhancing their sense of achievement and satisfaction.

     The membership of the new-term CoP is as follows:

Chairperson
————-
Chief Secretary for Administration 

Non-official members
———————–
Mr Calvin Chan Ming-wai
Professor Terence Chong Tai-leung
Ms Cecilia Ho Chung-chee*
Ms Helen Hsu Siu-man
Mr Kan Ming-tung
Mr Jimmy Kwok Chun-wah
Mrs Patricia Lau 
Ms Joyce Lee Yuen-sum*
Ms Josephine Lee Yuk-chi
Dr James Li Tsz-shu
Ms Anthea Lo Wing-sze*
Ms Loretta Lo Yee-hang
Ms Nikki Ng Mien-hua
Mr Roger Ngan Chi-wing*
Mrs Chandni Rakesh
Dr Loletta So Kit-ying
Mr So Ping-fai
Mrs Mary Suen Choi To-may
Mr Augustine Wong Ho-ming

Ex-officio members
———————
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs
Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Chairperson of Community Care Fund Task Force)
Secretary for Education
Secretary for Health

* new members

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2026, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will bring the complete two-part Kunqu opera “A Dream Under the Southern Bough” to the Hong Kong stage for the first time on July 31 and August 1 (Friday and Saturday) at the Sha Tin Town Hall. Shi Xiaming, president of the Jiangsu Performing Arts Group Kun Opera Theatre and winner of the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award (Plum Blossom Award), will lead the troupe’s fourth and fifth-generation talent to present an aesthetically stunning interpretation of the illusory life of Chunyu Fen in a dream within the Huai’an Kingdom, as depicted by Ming dynasty legendary playwright Tang Xianzu. This programme is also part of the 14th Chinese Opera Festival.

     “A Dream Under the Southern Bough” is derived from “The Dream of Nanke”, one of the four legendary plays collectively known as the “Four Dreams of Linchuan” written by Tang. While preserving the core narrative and themes of the original text, the Jiangsu Performing Arts Group Kun Opera Theatre reworked the original 44 scenes into 17 scenes, and was first brought to the modern Kunqu stage in 2012 as a two-part production. Refined over more than a decade, “A Dream Under the Southern Bough” has evolved into a signature production of the troupe notable for its full range of role types and the mix of civil and martial elements.

     While faithfully following the traditional conventions of Kunqu and the stylistic elegance of Southern Kunqu, the production reinterprets this classic play through an innovative visual aesthetic. The stage design combines traditional Chinese symbolic aesthetics with modern theatrical lighting. Suspended wooden elements and the minimalist “one table, two chairs” setup are seamlessly integrated, crafting an ethereal, dreamlike visual experience. The costume design incorporates elements of blue-and-white porcelain and traditional landscape paintings, constructing a realm where reality and illusion intertwine. The ensemble incorporates additional percussion such as yunluo (tuned gongs) and yinshu (bar chimes), and integrates Buddhist musical elements in final scene “The Elusive Journey End” to highlight the play’s meditative qualities in the original text.

     Marking its Hong Kong debut, this performance features Shi Xiaming (as Chunyu Fen) alongside a vibrant cast. This includes fourth-generation Kunqu performers Zhao Yutao (as Monk Qixuan/Fourth Prince of Tanluo), Xu Sijia (as Princess Qiongying), Sun Jing (as King of Huai’an/King of Tanluo), and fifth-generation young talent He Xinyue (as Princess Yaofang) and more, carrying forward the fine legacy of this operatic legend. 

     Details of the two performances are as follows:

“A Dream Under the Southern Bough” – Part One
————————————————————
Date and time: July 31 (Friday), 7.30pm

     Chunyu Fen, a down-and-out military officer of the Tang dynasty, falls into a drunken slumber beneath a pagoda tree during the Ghost Festival. He dreams of entering the Huai’an (Ant Kingdom), where he marries Princess Yaofang. Appointed as the governor of Nanke for over 20 years, he reaches the pinnacle of success, immersed in the illusion of a prosperous, harmonious and splendid kingdom. In the scene “The Celestial Palace”, Chunyu Fen and Princess Yaofang fight against Fourth Prince of Tanluo. This exhilarating martial arts sequence brings Part One to a climax, while foreshadowing the dramatic shifts in fortune in Part Two.

“A Dream Under the Southern Bough” – Part Two
————————————————————
Date and time: August 1 (Saturday), 7.30pm

     Princess Yaofang falls ill and passes away. Chunyu Fen is summoned back to court and is appointed Left Prime Minister, but is later envied, framed, and exiled back to his hometown. Upon waking, he realises that his 20 years of rise and fall were nothing more than a fleeting dream. In the play, the aria “Ji-Xian-Bin” captures Princess Yaofang’s sorrow to leave her husband and homeland. The scene “Swinging Parties” reveals Chunyu Fen stepping on a path of no return where fame, ambition, and carnal desires entangle. In the final scene, “The Elusive Journey Ends”, Chunyu Fen attains spiritual enlightenment to become a monk. This production invites the audience to embark on a profound spiritual journey exploring love, ambition and self-realisation. 

     The Jiangsu Performing Arts Group Kun Opera Theatre is renowned for its rich artistic lineage and comprehensive range of role types. The troupe has on its cast nine bearers of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Kunqu at National and Provincial Levels, and 11 recipients of Plum Blossom Awards, inheriting the essence of Kunqu through classical and delicate performances. The troupe has built a repertory of around 300 classic works, and has created new original productions in recent years. In addition, it has given touring performances and exchanges in various places such as Italy, the United Kingdom, France and Japan, receiving high acclaim.

     Both performances will be held at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall (STTH). Lyrics and dialogue are with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $200, $300, $400 and $500 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. The CCF 2026 offers various discount schemes, such as group booking discounts, package booking discounts and the newly introduced “Generations Together 1+1” discount. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/jiangsu-performing-arts-group-kun-opera-theatre.

     The programme also features a variety of free extension activities. These include two workshops introducing the stylised movements of the sheng (male) and dan (female) roles in Kunqu opera respectively (June 29 and 30), a demonstration talk on the painted faces of Kunqu (July 29), a meet-the-artists session (July 30) and a backstage tour (August 1). Since the spaces for online registration of the extension activities are full, those who are interested may wait at the venue’s entrance for a standby space on the day of the session. Any unclaimed spots will be released 10 minutes after the session begins on a first-come, first-served basis. For further details regarding the activities, please visit the above-mentioned programme webpage.

     The programme also features an exhibition entitled “The Virtual Realm of Kingdom of Huai’an – The Staging of ‘A Dream Under the Southern Bough'”, which runs until tomorrow (June 27) at the Exhibition Gallery of STTH. It introduces the creation, artistic features and transmission of elegance, as well as a brief introduction to its role types and costumes. The exhibition will subsequently be relocated to the Foyer Exhibition Area of Tai Po Civic Centre from June 29 to August 2. Members of the public are welcome to visit. 

     The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public’s sense of national identity and cultural confidence, thereby facilitating patriotic education. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from the Chinese Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2026 is held from June to September. It hosts various forms of distinctive stage programmes and related extension activities, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, talks, workshops, as well as community and school activities, affording the public and visitors more opportunities to appreciate and experience the beauty of fine traditional Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li, and representatives of participating corporates today (June 26) officiated at the kick-off ceremony of the HYAB Scheme on Corporate Summer Internship on the Mainland and Overseas 2026.
 
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said that the Scheme has benefited over 1 300 Hong Kong youths since its launch in 2018. Over the years, the Government and the business sector have jointly provided Hong Kong young people with internship opportunities at corporates on the Mainland and overseas. The Scheme enables young people to experience first-hand the workplace culture in large corporates, gain hands-on experience, broaden their horizons, and understand national development and global trends, thereby enhancing their competitiveness.
 
Mr Chan added that this year the number of corporates participating in the Scheme and the number of internship placements are the highest on record, encompassing a wider range of industries. In addition to traditional sectors, the Government has extended the coverage of the Scheme to emerging industries such as biotechnology and artificial intelligence. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the participating corporates for their profound engagement, which has become a pivotal force in nurturing local young talent. He also emphasised that the Government is drawing up Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan. Building upon the foundation of the Youth Development Blueprint and fully leveraging Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, the Government strives to nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and Hong Kong and equipped with global perspectives, an aspiring mindset and positive thinking, who will become the successors of “one country, two systems” and integrate into and serve the overall development of the country more effectively and proactively.
 
A total of 29 corporates participate in the Scheme this year (refer to Annex for the list of participating corporates). They provide internship placements covering multiple industries, including financial services, innovation and technology, pharmaceutical, logistics, property development, construction, retail, hospitality, and public utilities, spanning different Mainland provinces and cities, and overseas countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia. The recruited interns will depart from June onwards to undertake internship placements of no fewer than five weeks.