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Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in July 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for July 2026 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (September 17) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

     In July 2026, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 31.6% and 23.6% respectively over July 2025.      
     Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.

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Unemployment and underemployment statistics for June – August 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Unemployment and underemployment statistics for June – August 2026      
     Comparing June – August 2026 with May – July 2026, the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) increased across most major economic sectors, with more distinct increase observed in the food and beverage service activities sector. As to the underemployment rate, increases were mainly seen in the food and beverage service activities sector and construction sector.

     Total employment increased by around 4 400 from 3 647 600 in May – July 2026 to 3 652 000 in June – August 2026. Over the same period, the labour force also increased by around 12 600 from 3 793 300 to 3 805 900.     ​
CommentaryIssued at HKT 16:30

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Statistics on Code on Access to Information for second quarter of 2026 announced

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Statistics on Code on Access to Information for second quarter of 2026 announced 
     The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of June 2026 amounted to 327 611. Of these, 19 460 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 7 462 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny the existence of information. As at June 30, 2026, 1 367 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.

     Among the 299 322 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 295 561 requests (98.7 per cent) were met, either in full (292 019 requests) or in part (3 542 requests), and 3 761 requests (1.3 per cent) were refused.Issued at HKT 16:00

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Government posts land resumption notices for two urban renewal projects in To Kwa Wan

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Government posts land resumption notices for two urban renewal projects in To Kwa Wan(i) Ming Lun Street/Ma Tau Kok Road in To Kwa Wan (about 11 430 square metres); and
(ii) To Kwa Wan Road/Ma Tau Kok Road in To Kwa Wan (about 8 759 square metres).      
     If statutory claims made by the affected owners and tenants under the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124) cannot be settled by agreement, the owners and tenants may apply to the Lands Tribunal for adjudication. Professional fees reasonably incurred by the claimants in making such claims may be reimbursed by the Government.
Issued at HKT 14:58

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Government posts land resumption notices for redevelopment of Sha Tau Kok Control Point and associated works

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Government posts land resumption notices for redevelopment of Sha Tau Kok Control Point and associated works      
     Twenty-five private lots with a total area of about 10 510 square metres in Sha Tau Kok will be resumed by the Government. The said land will revert to the Government upon the expiry of a period of three months from the date of affixing the notices (i.e. December 18).
      
     The Government will maintain close liaison with the relevant land owners and affected parties, and properly handle compensation matters.
      
     The Sha Tau Kok Control Point will be redeveloped under a cross-river construction approach and will adopt the “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode to enhance passenger clearance efficiency and experience. The design capacity of the redeveloped Sha Tau Kok Control Point will be increased to 40 000 passenger trips per day. To tie in with the “East-in-East-out, West-in-West-out” planning strategy for cross-boundary goods traffic, it will become a passenger clearance-only control point with the cargo clearance function being cancelled. 
Issued at HKT 12:36

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Adjustment of Base Rate

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced today (September 17) that the Base Rate has been set at 4.25 per cent with immediate effect according to a pre-set formula.
 
The Base Rate is the interest rate forming the foundation upon which the Discount Rates for repurchase transactions through the Discount Window are computed. The Base Rate is currently set at either 50 basis points above the lower end of the prevailing target range for the US federal funds rate or the average of the five-day moving averages of the overnight and one-month Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rates (HIBORs), whichever is the higher.
 
Following the 25-basis point upward adjustment in the target range for the US federal funds rate on September 16 (US time), 50 basis points above the lower end of the prevailing target range for the US federal funds rate is 4.25 per cent, while the average of the five-day moving averages of the overnight and one-month HIBORs is 2.50 per cent. The Base Rate is therefore set at 4.25 per cent according to the pre-set formula.

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Jobless rate rises to 3.8%

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 3.7% in the May to July period to 3.8% in three months from June to August, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

The underemployment rate also rose from 1.7% to 1.9% during the same period.

The number of unemployed persons (not seasonally adjusted) increased by around 8,200 to 153,900 in the June to August period, while the labour force rose by around 12,600 to 3,805,900.

Looking ahead, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said the continued expansion of the local economy is expected to underpin overall labour market conditions, though employment situations across various industries will continue to hinge on their respective business conditions.

He added that the potential impacts of evolving external uncertainties on corporate hiring sentiments still warrant attention.

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Govt to resume land in To Kwa Wan

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Lands Department today posted land resumption notices in accordance with the Lands Resumption Ordinance to resume land in To Kwa Wan for two urban renewal projects. Affected interests will be reverted to the Government on December 18.

The two project sites are located at Ming Lun Street/Ma Tau Kok Road with an area of 11,430 sq m, and To Kwa Wan Road/Ma Tau Kok Road with an area of 8,759 sq m.

They will be redeveloped for residential use with retail/commercial facilities as well as ancillary parking facilities. The projects will also provide an open-air waterfront plaza, a waterfront promenade, and government, institution or community facilities.

A total of 934 property interests will be resumed by the Government. Apart from statutory compensation, eligible owners of domestic properties will also be offered an ex-gratia home purchase allowance or a supplementary allowance. Eligible domestic tenants will be offered rehousing or an ex-gratia allowance.

If statutory claims made by the affected owners and tenants under the Lands Resumption Ordinance cannot be settled by agreement, the owners and tenants may apply to the Lands Tribunal for adjudication. Professional fees reasonably incurred by the claimants in making such claims may be reimbursed by the Government.

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Govt to resume Sha Tau Kok sites

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Lands Department today posted land resumption notices to facilitate the redevelopment of Sha Tau Kok Control Point and associated works.

The land resumption includes 25 private lots totalling 10,510 sq m at Sha Tau Kok. The sites will revert to the Government on December 18.

The redeveloped Sha Tau Kok Control Point will become a passenger clearance-only control point and adopt the “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode. Its design capacity will be increased to 40,000 passenger trips per day.

The Government said it will liaise with affected parties regarding compensation.

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Base rate raised to 4.25%

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Monetary Authority today announced that it has increased the base to 4.25 % with immediate effect.

The increase followed the 25-basis point upward shift in the target range for the US federal funds rate on September 16.

The base rate is the interest rate forming the foundation upon which the Discount Rates for repurchase transactions through the Discount Window are computed.

It is currently set at either 50 basis points above the lower end of the prevailing target range for the US federal funds rate or the average of the five-day moving averages of the overnight and one-month Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rates, whichever is the higher.