Gas Sales and Market Performance - CR Gas achieved a total gas sales volume of approximately 20.901 billion cubic meters in the first half of 2024[9] - Total natural gas sales volume increased by 5.3% year-on-year to 20.9 billion cubic meters, with revenue rising 7.7% to HK52.08billion[18][19]−Industrialgassalesreached9.66billioncubicmeters,up3.752.08 billion in the first half of 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.7%[36][38] - The overall gross profit margin of the Group was 18.6%, an increase of 0.4 percentage points compared to the same period last year[36][38] - The proportion of revenue from gas connection business decreased from 8.8% in 2023 to 5.8% in the first half of 2024[36][38] - The Group's operating cash flow in the first half of 2024 was HK4.25billion,maintaininghigh−qualitymanagement[36][39]−Revenueincreasedby7.752,075.59 million in 2024 compared to HK48,369.60millionin2023[97]−Grossprofitroseby9.79,671.18 million in 2024 from HK8,818.87millionin2023[97]−Profitattributabletotheownersofthecompanydecreasedby2.53,456.74 million in 2024 from HK3,545.26millionin2023[97]−Netcashfromoperatingactivities(aftertaxpayments)declinedby10.64,252.98 million in 2024 from HK4,756.32millionin2023[97]−BasicEPSdecreasedby2.6139,687.37 million in 2024 from HK137,871.09millionin2023[99]−Bankbalancesandcashincreasedby15.911,568.36 million in 2024 from HK9,978.47millionin2023[99]−Totalborrowingsroseby6.228,161.15 million in 2024 from HK26,528.72millionin2023[99]−Grossprofitmarginimprovedto18.652,075.59 million, up 7.66% compared to HK48,369.60millioninthesameperiodof2023[111]−GrossprofitrosetoHK9,671.18 million in 2024, a 9.67% increase from HK8,818.87millionin2023[111]−Profitbeforetaxationgrewby2.225,716.43 million in 2024, compared to HK5,592.07millionin2023[111]−ProfitfortheperiodslightlydecreasedtoHK4,493.42 million in 2024, down 1.41% from HK4,557.55millionin2023[111]−Totalcomprehensiveincomefortheperiodincreasedby20.184,001.83 million in 2024, compared to HK3,329.99millionin2023[111]−Earningspershare(Basic)for2024stoodatHK1.52, a slight decrease from HK1.56in2023[116]−Thecompany′sshareofresultsfromjointventuresincreasedby44.73286.26 million in 2024, compared to HK197.78millionin2023[111]−Exchangedifferencesarisingontranslationimprovedsignificantly,withalossofHK492.67 million in 2024 compared to a loss of HK1,226.47millionin2023[111]−Netmovementinfairvaluereserve(non−recycling)turnedpositiveatHK1.08 million in 2024, compared to a negative HK1.09millionin2023[111]−Profitattributabletoownersofthecompanydecreasedby2.503,456.74 million in 2024, compared to HK3,545.26millionin2023[111]−Non−currentassetsincreasedtoHK103,213,990,000 from HK102,417,286,000,reflectinggrowthinproperty,plant,andequipment[118]−CurrentliabilitiesrosetoHK57,056,620,000 from HK51,108,934,000,drivenbyhigherbankandotherborrowings[118]−TotalequitygrewtoHK64,904,354,000 from HK63,383,682,000,withequityattributabletoownersincreasingtoHK41,616,168,000[120] - Bank and other borrowings under non-current liabilities decreased to HK11,592,572,000fromHK17,279,384,000[120] - Net current liabilities worsened to HK(20,583,243,000)fromHK(15,655,135,000)[118] - Total comprehensive income for the period was HK3,127,803,000,withdividendspaidamountingtoHK2,283,866,000[123] - Reserves increased to HK41,384,767,000fromHK40,540,830,000, reflecting retained profits and other adjustments[120] - Investment properties decreased slightly to HK888,658,000fromHK913,030,000[118] - Loans to a joint venture stood at HK1,896,389,000,showingaminordeclinefromHK1,909,907,000[118] - Deposits for acquisition of assets reduced to HK300,724,000fromHK413,073,000[118] - Exchange differences arising on translation resulted in a loss of HK1,025,978,000[127]−TotalcomprehensiveincomefortheperiodwasHK2,518,688,000[127] - Dividends paid amounted to HK2,126,341,000forthesixmonthsended30June2024,comparedtoHK2,041,394,000 in the same period last year[128][129] - Net cash from operating activities was HK4,252,981,000forthesixmonthsended30June2024,downfromHK4,756,323,000 in the same period last year[133] - Proceeds from redemption of other deposits were HK20,732,105,000,upfromHK19,670,681,000 in the same period last year[133] - Payments for acquisition of property, plant and equipment were HK2,265,949,000,comparedtoHK2,105,301,000 in the same period last year[133] - Net cash used in investing activities was HK3,861,284,000,upfromHK3,357,131,000 in the same period last year[133] - Proceeds from new bank and other loans were HK21,806,890,000,comparedtoHK18,969,893,000 in the same period last year[133] - Repayments of bank and other loans were HK16,352,769,000,significantlyhigherthanHK2,647,796,000 in the same period last year[133] - Net cash from financing activities was HK835,665,000,downfromHK10,964,476,000 in the same period last year[133] - Net increase in cash and cash equivalents for 2024 was HK1,227,362,000,comparedtoHK12,363,668,000 in 2023[135] - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period for 2024 were HK11,127,977,000,downfromHK18,600,688,000 in 2023[136] - The Group's current liabilities exceeded its current assets by approximately HK20,583,243,000asof30June2024[142]−TheGrouphascapitalcommitmentsofapproximatelyHK127,738,000 as of 30 June 2024[142] - Total bank and other borrowings, and medium-term notes amounted to approximately HK28,161,145,000asof30June2024,withHK16,020,738,000 classified as current liabilities[142] - Unutilised banking facilities stood at HK37,579,135,000asof30June2024[142]−TheGroup′sbankbalancesandcashintheconsolidatedstatementoffinancialpositionwereHK11,568,360,000 for 2024, down from HK18,600,688,000in2023[136]−TheeffectofforeignexchangeratechangesresultedinanetdecreaseofHK77,853,000 in 2024, compared to a net decrease of HK200,459,000in2023[135]−TheGroup′scashandcashequivalentsatthebeginningoftheperiodwereHK9,978,468,000 for 2024, up from HK6,437,479,000in2023[135]−DepositswithbankswithmorethanthreemonthstomaturitywhenplacedamountedtoHK440,383,000 for 2024, with no comparable figure for 2023[136] - Revenue from external sales reached HKD 52.08 billion, with the largest contribution from gas fuel and related products at HKD 45.92 billion[149] - Segment results showed a profit before taxation of HKD 5.72 billion, with the gas fuel and related products segment contributing HKD 4.65 billion[149] - Gas connection segment revenue was HKD 3.02 billion, contributing HKD 1.12 billion to segment results[149] - Comprehensive services segment generated HKD 1.77 billion in revenue, with segment results of HKD 761.12 million[149] - Design and construction services segment revenue was HKD 335.50 million, contributing HKD 33.96 million to segment results[149] - Gas stations segment revenue was HKD 1.04 billion, with segment results of HKD 93.89 million[149] - Share of results from joint ventures and associates amounted to HKD 286.26 million and HKD 158.90 million respectively[149] - Unallocated income and expenses were HKD 567.93 million and HKD 1.43 billion respectively[149] - Finance costs, excluding interest on lease liabilities, totaled HKD 539.54 million[149] - The Group's operating segments include gas fuel sales, gas connection, comprehensive services, design and construction services, and gas stations[145] - Total revenue for the six months ended 30 June 2023 was HK48,369,601thousand,withexternalsalescontributingHK41,236,701 thousand from gas fuel and related products[151] - Segment results for the period were HK5,879,439thousand,withthelargestcontributionfromgasfuelandrelatedproductsatHK3,509,041 thousand[151] - Share of results from joint ventures and associates amounted to HK197,782thousandandHK230,292 thousand, respectively[151] - Unallocated income and expenses were HK1,143,112thousandandHK(1,433,073) thousand, respectively, impacting the overall profit before taxation of HK5,592,066thousand[151]−Segmentassetsasof30June2024totaledHK139,687,367 thousand, with the largest portion attributed to the sale and distribution of gas fuel and related products at HK84,716,768thousand[155]−Segmentliabilitiesasof30June2024wereHK74,783,013 thousand, with the sale and distribution of gas fuel and related products accounting for HK18,528,181thousand[155]−Currenttaxforthesixmonthsended30June2024wasHK1,357,984 thousand, primarily from PRC Enterprise Income Tax[159] - Deferred taxation for the same period resulted in a credit of HK(134,977)thousand,reducingthetotaltaxexpensetoHK1,223,007 thousand[159] - No provision for Hong Kong Profits Tax was made as the company and its subsidiaries in Hong Kong had no assessable profits for the period[160] - Net profit attributable to owners of the company for the six months ended 30 June 2024 was HK3,456,742,000,comparedtoHK3,545,256,000 in the same period last year[166] - The company declared an interim dividend of 25 HK cents per share for the six months ended 30 June 2024, totaling HK567,054,000,anincreasefrom15HKcentspershare(HK340,232,000) in the same period last year[163][164] - Total depreciation and amortization expenses for the six months ended 30 June 2024 were HK1,901,466,000,includingHK1,548,538,000 for property, plant and equipment, and HK203,590,000forright−of−useassets[162]−ThecompanyincurredHK2,513,240,000 in construction in progress costs for the six months ended 30 June 2024, compared to HK1,965,553,000inthesameperiodlastyear[171][174]−Additionstoprepaidlandleasepaymentsandotherright−of−useassetstotaledHK47,130,000 and HK77,673,000respectivelyforthesixmonthsended30June2024[172][175]−InterestexpensesonbankandotherborrowingsincreasedtoHK522,932,000 for the six months ended 30 June 2024 from HK399,895,000inthesameperiodlastyear[162]−Thecompanyprovidedunsecuredloanstoajointventureataninterestrateof5−yearLoanPrimeRatefloatingdownward2011,192,821,000 as of June 30, 2024, from HK11,435,927,000onDecember31,2023,withanimpairmentofHK446,444,000[178] - Amounts due from joint ventures increased significantly to HK1,012,318,000asofJune30,2024,comparedtoHK433,893,000 on December 31, 2023[178] - Amounts due from associates rose to HK290,694,000asofJune30,2024,fromHK150,100,000 on December 31, 2023[178] - Trade payables decreased to HK13,382,458,000asofJune30,2024,fromHK14,435,105,000 on December 31, 2023[183] - Receipts in advance dropped to HK8,973,043,000asofJune30,2024,fromHK10,134,560,000 on December 31, 2023[183] - Other payables and accruals increased to HK7,983,966,000asofJune30,2024,fromHK6,786,984,000 on December 31, 2023[183] - The ageing analysis of trade receivables shows that 0-90 days receivables decreased to HK7,151,121,000asofJune30,2024,fromHK7,599,525,000 on December 31, 2023[181] - Over 365 days receivables increased to HK2,314,724,000asofJune30,2024,fromHK2,141