The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, July 4, 2019 is 105.3 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     The Land Registry today (July 4) released its statistics for the first half of 2019. 
                                                                                                     
Land registration
——————-
 
* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration for the first half of 2019 was 43,491 (+34.6 per cent compared with the second half of 2018 but -7.2 per cent compared with the first half of 2018).
 
* The total consideration for these agreements for the first half of 2019 was $397.50 billion (+17.7 per cent compared with the second half of 2018 but -1.5 per cent compared with the first half of 2018).
 
* The number of assignments of building units for the first half of 2019 was 44,625 (-15.0 per cent compared with the second half of 2018 and -15.5 per cent compared with the first half of 2018).
 
* The total consideration for these assignments for the first half of 2019 was $366.65 billion (-11.5 per cent compared with the second half of 2018 and -10.6 per cent compared with the first half of 2018).

Land search
————-

* The number of searches of land registers made by the public for the first half of 2019 was 2,576,255 (-0.3 per cent compared with the second half of 2018 and -3.9 per cent compared with the first half of 2018).

     The Environmental Protection Department today (July 4) released a list of completed and newly commenced statutory environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and non-statutory environmental studies for major development projects between April 1 and June 30, 2019.
 
     Updated information related to the EIA Ordinance is available on the EIA Ordinance website at www.epd.gov.hk/eia.
      
     Completed statutory EIAs and non-statutory environmental studies in the second quarter of 2019 include:
—————————————————————————————————————–
 
A. Statutory EIAs:
 
1. Yuen Long Effluent Polishing Plant
(Drainage Services Department)
 
B. Non-statutory Environmental Studies:
 
    Nil
 
     Newly commenced statutory EIAs and non-statutory environmental studies include:
————————————————————————————————————–
 
A. Statutory EIAs:
 
1. Relocation of Diamond Hill Fresh Water and Salt Water Service Reservoirs to Caverns (EIA Study Brief No. ESB-317/2019)
(Water Supplies Department)
 
2. Revised Austin Road Flyover (EIA Study Brief No. ESB-316/2019)
(West Kowloon Cultural District Authority)
 
3. Revised Trunk Road T4 in Sha Tin (EIA Study Brief No. ESB-315/2019)
(Civil Engineering and Development Department)
 
4. Provision of Crematorium, Funeral Parlour and Visitor Centre at Sandy Ridge Cemetery (EIA Study Brief No. ESB-314/2019)
(Food and Environmental Hygiene Department)
 
B. Non-statutory Environmental Studies:
 
    Nil

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, Cafeteria New Beach and Cafeteria Old Beach in Tuen Mun District resumed today (July 4). The lifesaving services at these beaches were suspended earlier due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty.

     The Government announced today (July 4) the launch of the fourth batch of Silver Bond for subscription by Hong Kong residents aged 65 or above.
 
     The target issuance size of the fourth batch of Silver Bond is HK$3 billion. It will have a tenor of three years. Bond holders will be paid interest once every six months at a rate linked to inflation in Hong Kong, subject to a minimum rate of 3 per cent. Only applications from Hong Kong residents aged 65 or above holding a Hong Kong identity card will be accepted, and there will be no secondary market for Silver Bond. Bond holders may sell their bonds before maturity to the Government at par together with accrued but unpaid interest.
 
     The subscription period of the Silver Bond will start from 9am on July 10 and end at 2pm on July 18. The Bond will be issued on July 29. Hong Kong residents aged 65 or above (i.e. those born in 1954 or before) may apply for the Bond through one of the 20 placing banks or 19 designated securities brokers.
 
     The Financial Secretary announces in the 2018-19 Budget that the Government will issue Silver Bond in 2018 and 2019 to further develop the local bond market.
 
     "The issuance of Silver Bond is intended to provide an investment product with steady returns for senior citizens and encourage financial institutions to tap into the immense potential of this 'silver market' by introducing a wider spectrum of appropriate products," a government spokesperson said.
 
     Details of the offering terms and subscription arrangements are available at the website (www.hkgb.gov.hk) of the Government Bond Programme.