MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) today (June 9) announced that a total of 55 440 applications have been received for 332 new private driving instructor’s (PDI) licences. As applications of all groups and quotas exceed the number of licences to be issued, a ballot will be held on June 19 to determine the order of processing the applications.

     The TD has gradually sent SMS by the registered sender ID “#TDDSS” from May 14 to all applicants to acknowledge receipt and inform them of their application number. Applicants who have yet to receive such an SMS should call 2783 8890 or 2804 2600 for enquiries on or before June 17. The ballot results will be uploaded to the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) on the same day after the ballot on June 19. SMS under the same ID will then be sent to applicants with their ballot order number.

     The TD will verify applicants’ eligibility according to the ballot sequence and inform eligible applicants by post in batches to take the driving instructor’s test, which is expected to commence as early as July. Ineligible applicants will be notified in writing. If all licences are issued, the remaining applications will not be processed. For enquiries, please call the TD’s hotline at 2804 2600.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following appeal today (June 9) regarding the condition of a patient who requires an urgent heart and lung transplant.

A 13-year-old girl who requires an urgent heart and lung transplant is currently in critical condition at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Hong Kong Children’s Hospital. In response to an urgent appeal from her parents, the HA appeals to members of the public to actively support organ donation and consider donating the heart and lungs of their deceased relatives to give new life to others.

Given the critical condition of the patient, in addition to proactively searching for suitable heart and lungs locally, the HA will also seek assistance from the Chinese Mainland through relevant procedures as soon as possible. When a patient willing to donate organs has passed away and no suitable patient is identified on the Chinese Mainland, the cross-boundary organ donation and matching mechanism will facilitate a transplant in Hong Kong to bring hope to a critically ill patient.

The spokesperson emphasised that when suitable heart and lungs are found, the HA will strictly follow the relevant organ transplant regulations and make an application with the authorities to ensure that all procedures comply with relevant standards and regulatory requirements. The HA will arrange the transplant operation with an aim to save the patient’s life as soon as possible.

For critically ill patients with organ failure, an organ transplant is often the only hope for extending life. When deceased patients and their families make the selfless decision to donate organs for patients in need of organ transplantation, it not only gives critically ill patients the hope of life but also eases their families’ hardships. The HA appeals to the public to extend their compassion, blessings, and care to those still fighting for their lives.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 9) the major results of the 2024/25 Household Expenditure Survey (HES).

     It is an established practice in Hong Kong to conduct an HES once every five years to collect up-to-date information on the expenditure patterns of households. The survey results serve as an important data source for updating the expenditure weights of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and can also be used to study the consumption behaviour of households in Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​Business receipts in value terms of almost all major service industries showed increases of varying magnitudes in the first quarter of 2026 when compared with the first quarter of 2025, according to the provisional figures of business receipts indices released today (June 9) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).

     Comparing the first quarter of 2026 with the first quarter of 2025, double-digit increases were recorded in business receipts indices of the import/export trade (+33.3%), insurance (+31.0%), financing (except banking) (+19.5%), wholesale (+17.4%), retail (+12.1%) and banking (+11.7%) industries. On the other hand, the warehousing and storage industry recorded a decrease of 2.0% in business receipts index during the same period.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) made pay offers to the staff side of the four civil service central consultative councils today (June 9), under which the pay for civil servants in the upper, middle and lower salary bands and the directorate will be increased at the same rate of 2 per cent for 2026-27, effective retrospectively from April 1, 2026.

     “The Hong Kong economy has recorded substantial growth over the past year alongside a mild rise in living expenses and an overall upward pay trend in the market. The fiscal position of the Government has improved in 2025-26. That said, the Government needs to be prudent in managing public finances to cater for future developments as well as unexpected needs arising from changes in the geopolitical situation. After holistically considering and balancing all relevant factors, including the economic outlook, the increase in the cost of living in the past year, the Government’s overall fiscal position and the principle of prudent financial management, the positive net pay trend indicators in every salary band, the claims from the staff side and civil service morale, the Chief Executive in Council (CE in Council) made the offers to increase the pay at the same rate of 2 per cent across the board,” a CSB spokesman said.

     “After the CE in Council considers the response from the staff side on the pay offers and makes a decision on the 2026-27 civil service pay adjustment, the Government will submit the pay adjustment proposal to the Legislative Council Finance Committee for consideration as soon as possible,” the spokesman added.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region