Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cocaine worth about $15 million at airport (with photo)Issued at HKT 16:45
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Provisional statistics of retail sales for April 2025
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (June 2).
The value of total retail sales in April 2025, provisionally estimated at $28.9 billion, decreased by 2.3% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in March 2025 decreased by 3.5% compared with a year earlier. For the first 4 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales decreased by 5.6% compared with the same period in 2024.
Of the total retail sales value in April 2025, online sales accounted for 8.1%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $2.3 billion, decreased by 3.5% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of online retail sales in March 2025 decreased by 0.5% compared with a year earlier. For the first 4 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales decreased by 2.2% 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 April 2025 decreased by 3.3% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in March 2025 decreased by 4.7% compared with a year earlier. For the first 4 months of 2025 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales decreased by 7.2% 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 April 2025 with April 2024, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets decreased by 2.4%. This was followed by sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (-1.7% in value); wearing apparel (-5.6%); motor vehicles and parts (-53.4%); fuels (-12.5%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-5.1%); furniture and fixtures (-16.7%); and optical shops (-0.2%).
On the other hand, the value of sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified increased by 13.4% in April 2025 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of medicines and cosmetics (+7.2% in value); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+3.0%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (+1.6%); commodities in department stores (+2.1%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+11.7%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (+3.8%).
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 4.2% in the three months ending April 2025 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales increased by 7.1%.
Commentary
A government spokesman said that retail sales performance showed signs of stabilisation in recent months. The value of total retail sales recorded a modest year-on-year decline of 2.3% in April 2025. The decline narrowed further in April compared with the previous months despite the effect of the late arrival of the Easter holidays this year (in mid-April this year but in the junction of March and April last year) when more residents made outbound trips during the month.
Looking ahead, the spokesman said that the Government’s proactive promotion of tourism and mega events will help stimulate the consumption market. Increase in employment earnings and sustained steady growth of the Mainland economy will also bolster consumption sentiment. These factors will be supportive to the retail sector, though ongoing changes in consumption patterns and competition among businesses amid the uncertain macroeconomic environment will still pose challenges.
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 March 2025 as well as the provisional figures for April 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 4 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.
Table 2 presents the revised figures on value of online retail sales for March 2025 as well as the provisional figures for April 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 4 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 March 2025 as well as the provisional figures for April 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 4 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 establishments 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 establishments 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 establishments through the Monthly Survey of Retail Sales (MRS). Local retail establishments 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).
Temporary suspension of LCSD’s Mobile Libraries 5, 6 and 12 services
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Temporary suspension of LCSD’s Mobile Libraries 5, 6 and 12 servicesIssued at HKT 15:00
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Revised office hours announced for Extension Section and Foreign Domestic Helpers Section at Immigration Headquarters
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Revised office hours announced for Extension Section and Foreign Domestic Helpers Section at Immigration HeadquartersIssued at HKT 12:40
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LCSD’s “Hong Kong Artists” Series: Piano Recital by Anson Wong to be staged in July (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCSD’s “Hong Kong Artists” Series: Piano Recital by Anson Wong to be staged in July Issued at HKT 11:00
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Occupational safety and health training courses open for applications
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Occupational safety and health training courses open for applications
The training courses cover a wide range of topics, including:
Unless otherwise specified, the courses will mainly be conducted in Cantonese at the LD’s Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre, 13/F, KOLOUR Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan. Enrolment is free.
Employers who wish to arrange for their employees to attend the courses can log in to the application website (www.oshtc.labour.gov.hk/wpas/?lang=enIssued at HKT 11:00
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12e édition du Prix de la francophonie pour jeunes chercheurs
Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie
L’Agence universitaire de la francophonie (AUF) lance la douzième édition du Prix de la francophonie pour jeunes chercheurs. Ce prix est ouvert tous les deux ans et couvre les deux champs disciplinaires suivants : sciences et technologies et sciences humaines et sociales.
Le Prix de la francophonie pour jeunes chercheurs vise à valoriser le mérite et la qualité des travaux de recherche de quatre chercheur(se)s francophones tout en prenant en compte la diversité de l’espace universitaire francophone, notamment celle des pays en développement. Ce prix distingue des chercheur(se)s qui se sont illustrés dans leur domaine et obtenu une reconnaissance scientifique pour les avancées significatives réalisées.
Qui peut candidater ?
Les candidatures doivent être portées et présentées par un dirigeant (recteur, président, directeur général, …) des institutions d’enseignement supérieur et de recherche membres de l’AUF.
Critères d’éligibilité :
Le Prix de la francophonie pour jeunes chercheurs s’adresse à des candidats :
- âgés de 40 ans au plus à la date de clôture de l’appel de candidature. Seule l’année de naissance est prise en compte sans autre considération de mois ou de jour ;
- titulaires d’un doctorat (fournir la photocopie du doctorat et/ou du procès-verbal de soutenance de thèse) ;
- pouvant justifier d’une activité de recherche importante et innovante ;
- rattachés à des établissements membres de l’AUF (voir la liste des établissements d’enseignement supérieur et de recherche de l’AUF).
Dossier de candidature :
Pour être recevable, le dossier de candidature doit comporter :
- le formulaire de candidature en ligne dûment renseigné ;
- une lettre de motivation (selon modalités fixées par le règlement) ;
- un curriculum vitae du candidat (selon modalités fixées par le règlement) ;
- la photocopie du doctorat et/ou du procès-verbal de soutenance de thèse (en français) ;
- une attestation du plus haut responsable de l’établissement de rattachement du candidat (selon le modèle à télécharger sur le site de l’AUF)
- un document structuré en trois sections (selon modalités fixées par le règlement) ;
- une attestation sur l’encadrement de la recherche (direction de laboratoires et d’équipes, thèses encadrées, participation à des comités de lecture, etc.),
- les lettres de recommandation (3 max, en français).
Pour plus d’informations, consultez le règlement de l’appel à candidature.
Dépôt des dossiers de candidatures : avant le 27 juin 2025 (18h GMT) en remplissant le formulaire en ligne sur la plateforme de l’AUF.
L’annonce et la remise du Prix jeunes chercheurs 2025 se fera lors du grand évènement 2025 de l’AUF à Dakar, au Sénégal, entre les 3 et 7 novembre 2025, dans le cadre de la Semaine mondiale de la francophonie scientifique. Les quatre personnalités lauréates seront mises à l’honneur lors de l’évènement et recevront une certification officielle, auront une prise de parole pour expliquer leurs actions et recevront une dotation monétaire de 5.000 euros chacune, afin de l’encourager à poursuivre leurs activités.
Pour toute précision ou informations supplémentaires, écrivez à activites-instances@auf.org.
Contact en Nouvelle-Calédonie : Virginie Thomas Garrel, service de la coopération régionale et des relations extérieures (SCRRE) : virginie.garrel@gouv.nc
Missing man in Wong Tai Sin located
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Missing man in Wong Tai Sin located
A man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin has been located.
Li Yiu-ming, aged 65, went missing after he left his residence in Ching Hong House, Tsz Ching Estate in the afternoon on May 28. His family made a report to Police on May 29.Issued at HKT 7:51
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Fencing test event concludes
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The 15th National Games Fencing test event held at Kai Tak Arena, Kai Tak Sports Park on May 31 and June 1 has concluded, the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) said.
The test event, which was also the Challenge Cups Fencing Championships, consisted of the men’s and women’s épée, foil and sabre competitions featuring the open and veteran divisions. Over 500 athletes competed in all six event categories.
The test covered a wide array of areas, including event operations and procedures, competition organisation, venue setup, sports and prize presentations, information systems, medical services, volunteer services and broadcast arrangements.
NGCO Head Yeung Tak-keung said that this test event is the first fencing event ever held at Kai Tak Sports Park. Both venue facilities and competition arrangements have achieved the expected results.
Since last November, Hong Kong has completed test events for all eight National Games competition events.
The General Administration of Sport of China recently announced the Games’ schedule and the competition events in Hong Kong will be held from October 31 to November 20. The NGCO is making thorough preparations for the events.
Click here for information on the 15th National Games.
Services scheme applications open
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme has opened a new round of funding for non-profit-distributing organisations, with applications being accepted from today until August 31.
Eligible professional bodies, trade and industrial organisations and research institutes may apply.
With a total allocation of $200 million, the scheme offers subsidies to non-profit-making industry-led projects that increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong’s professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities, and enhance the sector’s standards and external competitiveness.
The scheme is open to a wide range of professional services including accounting, legal and dispute resolution, architecture, engineering, healthcare, information and communications technology, design as well as technical testing and analysis. Applications are welcome from both sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects.
The maximum grant for each approved project is $3 million or 90% of the total eligible project cost, whichever is lower.
As of early May 2025, more than 120 projects had been funded, covering project deliverables in Hong Kong and elsewhere.
The Government has also set aside $50 million to launch the Professionals Participation Subsidy Programme under the scheme.
The programme aims to subsidise Hong Kong’s major professional bodies to participate in activities organised by the Government and the Trade Development Council with a view to promoting Hong Kong’s competitive edge and professional services to the Mainland and overseas markets.
The scheme and the programme both accept applications all year round, with submissions processed on a quarterly basis.
A briefing session will be held this month for organisations interested in applying for funding via the scheme. Contact the secretariat on 3655 5418 or by email for enquiries.