The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, August 29, 2019 is 107.3 (same as yesterday's index).

     The Mid-Autumn Festival this year falls on September 13 (Friday) and the full moon (Note) will occur shortly after midday the next day. If weather permits, a bright round moon will be observable at night during the Mid-Autumn Festival period.
 
     To assist moon watching by the public, the times of moonrise, transit, moonset and full moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival period are listed in the table below. At transit, the Moon passes the local meridian due south and its elevation is the highest of the night.
 

 
     For the latest weather conditions during the Mid-Autumn Festival period, please refer to the nine-day weather forecast issued by the Hong Kong Observatory (www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/currwx/fnd.htm) for the planning of moon-watching activities.
 
Note: At full moon, the Moon as seen from the Earth is completely illuminated with the Moon and the Sun located on the opposite sides of the Earth.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has announced that the lifesaving services at Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District resumed today (August 29). The lifesaving services at the beach were suspended earlier due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty.

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited on fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (August 29) announced that the next auction of personalised vehicle registration marks (PVRMs) will be held on September 29 (Sunday) at Meeting Room S421, L4, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

     "A total of 200 approved PVRMs will be put up for public auction. A list of the marks has been posted on the department’s website, www.td.gov.hk," a department spokesman said.

     The reserve price for each of these marks is $5,000. Applicants who have paid a deposit of $5,000 should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price). Otherwise, the PVRM concerned may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:

(i) Paddle bidding will be used at this auction;

(ii) The display of a PVRM on a motor vehicle should be in compliance with the requirements stipulated in Schedule 4 of the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations;

(iii) Any change to the arrangement of letters, numerals and blank spaces of a PVRM, i.e. single and two rows as auctioned, will not be allowed;

(iv) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through the Easy Pay System (EPS), or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of PVRM immediately after the bidding for the PVRM concerned.  Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted. For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed; and

(v) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the PVRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the PVRM within 12 months, allocation of the PVRM will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

     "Upon completion of the Memorandum of Sale of PVRM, the purchaser will be issued a receipt and a Certificate of Allocation of Personalised Registration Mark. The Certificate of Allocation will serve to prove the holdership of the PVRM. Potential buyers of vehicles bearing a PVRM should check the Certificate of Allocation with the sellers and pay attention to the details therein. For transfer of vehicle ownership, this certificate together with other required documents should be sent to the TD for processing," the spokesman said.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of PVRM, which is available at the department’s licensing offices or can be downloaded from its website, www.td.gov.hk.