Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Government appoints HKEX Risk Management Committee members 
     “Ms Kwok and Mr Sun are experienced professionals with profound knowledge in the financial services sector. We believe that they will continue to provide insightful advice to the RMC and contribute to formulating appropriate risk management policies for the HKEX,” the spokesman said.
 
     The RMC was established in March 2000 with the role of formulating policies on risk management matters relating to the activities of the HKEX and its subsidiaries for submission to the Board of the HKEX for consideration.
 
     The RMC is chaired by the Chairman of the HKEX, Mr Carlson Tong Ka-shing. Other serving members are Mrs Susan Chow Woo Mo-fong, Mr Hugo Leung Pak-hon, the Executive Director (Supervision of Markets) of the Securities and Futures Commission, the Executive Director (Monetary Management) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited.
Issued at HKT 17:00

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Employment and vacancies statistics for March 2025 
Employment statistics
 
In March 2025, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 714 400 persons. The import and export trade engaged 349 800 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 314 000 persons, financing and insurance 232 700 persons, retail trade 230 800 persons, and food and beverage services 218 900 persons.
 
Movements in the employment in different surveyed industries varied when compared with a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of accommodation services (4.0% or 1 500 persons), human health services (3.9% or 6 000 persons), and real estate (3.7% or 5 100 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of retail trade (-4.6% or -11 100 persons), wholesale (-3.4% or -1 700 persons), information and communications (-3.3% or -3 600 persons), and food and beverage services (-2.8% or -6 300 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
 
Vacancies statistics
 
Among the 55 170 private sector vacancies in March 2025, 5 660 were from the industry of education, 5 050 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 4 950 from residential care and social work services, 4 860 from food and beverage services, and 4 660 from financing and insurance.
 
Vacancies decreased in all the selected industries in March 2025 over a year earlier. Decreases were more notable in the industries of transportation, storage, postal and courier services (-5 080 or -58%), human health services (-2 760 or -43%), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-1 670 or -25%), education (-1 660 or -23%), and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-1 550 or -31%). Job vacancies figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 2.
 
Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly in the categories of service and sales workers (20 200 vacancies), professionals (10 120 vacancies), and associate professionals (8 390 vacancies). Job vacancies figures by major occupation category are shown in Table 3.
 
Seasonally adjusted statistics
 
For discerning the latest trend in employment and vacancies in the private sector, it is useful to look at changes over a three-month period in the respective seasonally adjusted figures. Compared with December 2024, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by less than 0.05% and decreased by 7.3% respectively in March 2025. The changes over three-month periods in the seasonally adjusted series of employment and vacancies are shown in Table 4.
 
Other information
 
The above employment and vacancies statistics were obtained from the Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies and the Quarterly Employment Survey of Construction Sites conducted by the C&SD. In the former survey, some economic activities (e.g. those dominated by self-employment, including taxi operators and hawkers) are not covered. Therefore, the respective employment and vacancies figures relate only to those selected industries included in the survey. In the latter survey on construction sites, employment and vacancies figures relate to manual workers only.
 
A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the following reports:
“Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies Statistics, March 2025”
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452″Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 2025″
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050004&scode=452 
Users can browse and download these publications at the website of the C&SD.
 
Enquiries on more detailed employment and vacancies statistics can be directed to the Employment Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076 or email: employment@censtatd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:30

Approved Kwun Tong (North) Outline Zoning Plan referred back for amendmentIssued at HKT 16:00

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Appointment of non-permanent judge from another common law jurisdiction of the Court of Final Appeal 
The Chief Executive has, on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission and with the endorsement of the Legislative Council, made the following appointment:
 
Non-permanent judge from another common law jurisdiction of the Court of Final Appeal
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(for a term of three years commencing June 23, 2025)
The Honourable Sir William Gillow Gibbes Austen Young
Issued at HKT 16:00

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HKMA and PBoC launch Payment Connect 
Payment Connect refers to the linkage between the Mainland’s Internet Banking Payment System (IBPS) (Note 1) and Hong Kong’s Faster Payment System (FPS) (Note 2), which supports secure, efficient and convenient real-time cross-boundary payment for residents and institutions in both places. By simply inputting the recipient’s mobile number or account number, residents in both places can make instant small-value cross-boundary remittances.
 
     Mr Yue said, “Payment Connect is one of the key initiatives in strengthening co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The connection between the faster payment systems in both places enhances the efficiency of cross-boundary payments, supporting trade activities and personnel exchange. This development will further promote Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre and offshore Renminbi business hub. Payment Connect will cater to the daily needs of residents in both places for cross-boundary remittances and payments. It also signifies another milestone for the FPS in expanding cross-boundary payment.”
 
Six institutions each from the Mainland and Hong Kong (Annex) will participate in the Payment Connect upon its launch. They will roll out the service gradually and more institutions will join over time.Issued at HKT 15:56

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Temporary closure of Island East Swimming PoolIssued at HKT 15:45

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