The Census and Statistics Department today (July 3) reminded the management of the companies which had received the questionnaire for the 2019 Annual Survey of Companies in Hong Kong with Parent Companies Located outside Hong Kong to complete and return the questionnaire to the department promptly if they have not done so.

     The survey is conducted annually by the department, on behalf of Invest Hong Kong, to collect up-to-date information useful to the Government in formulating strategies for cultivating a favourable environment for conducting business in Hong Kong and further developing support services for existing and prospective investors from outside Hong Kong. Such information will help Invest Hong Kong better understand the needs of foreign companies in Hong Kong and tailor its promotion, both locally and overseas, of Hong Kong as a leading destination for foreign direct investment.

     The survey covers companies in various economic sectors in Hong Kong with their parent companies located outside Hong Kong. A questionnaire has been sent earlier to the relevant companies.

     The survey is conducted under Part IIIA of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Chapter 316) and was notified in Government Notice No. 2816 in the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Gazette of April 27, 2018, as a voluntary statistical survey. The Ordinance stipulates that all collected information which may enable identification of individual companies should be kept in strict confidence and not be released to any unauthorised parties. Such data will solely be used for compiling statistics which will not enable information relating to individual companies to be revealed.

     The department would like to thank those companies which have already returned the questionnaires, and appeals for the co-operation of other companies which have been selected in the survey by returning the completed questionnaires promptly, as their opinions are vital to the survey.

     To assist these companies in providing the information as requested, an electronic template of the questionnaire is available upon request.

     Where applicable, staff of the department may phone or visit individual companies to offer assistance in completing the questionnaire. Whilst on duty, they will each carry an Enumerator Identity Card and a certificate for conducting the survey, which will be available for inspection.

     Enquiries regarding the survey can be directed to the Business Expectation Statistics Section of the department (Tel: 3579 2311 or email: regional-offices@censtatd.gov.hk). 

     The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) today (July 3) released Safety Investigation Preliminary Report 4/2019 on an accident in which a Robinson R44 II helicopter (registration mark B-KTK) sustained an in-flight breakup over Lam Kam Road in Tai Po on May 19, 2019.
      
     A spokesperson for the AAIA said that the preliminary report contains information relating to the accident collected up to the time of issue, and must be regarded as tentative.
      
     "The AAIA will continue to collect and study all relevant information in order to determine the circumstances and causes of the accident. Further in-depth investigation and analysis have to be conducted before any conclusion can be drawn," the spokesperson said.
      
     The full Safety Investigation Preliminary Report 4/2019 is available for download from the AAIA webpage (www.thb.gov.hk/aaia/eng/investigation_reports/index.htm).

     The Stamp Duty (Specification of Instruments) (Amendment) Notice 2019 will be gazetted on July 5. It seeks to expand e-Stamping services to cover instruments related to stock transactions with effect from December 16, 2019.

     Currently, e-Stamping services are restricted to instruments related to property transactions, namely agreements for sale, assignments and tenancy agreements in general. In order to expand the e-Stamping services to cover instruments related to stock transactions, the Government proposes to amend the Stamp Duty (Specification of Instruments) Notice (Cap 117 sub. leg. B) to allow applications for stamping of the contract notes and instruments of transfer of Hong Kong stock to be made by the public without presenting the original instruments. Upon receipt of the application and payment of stamp duty the system will generate stamp certificates electronically, thereby fulfilling the stamping requirement.

     "The proposal will help minimise the risk of losing or damaging the instruments and enhance convenience to applicants, who can submit electronic applications for stamping of instruments related to stock transactions anytime and anywhere," a Government spokesman said.

     At present, the stamping arrangements for off-exchange stock transactions are processed manually. After the implementation of the new arrangement, the public may choose to complete the stamping procedures electronically. For on-exchange stock transactions, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited will continue to collect the stamp duty on behalf of the Collector of Stamp Revenue.

     The Amendment Notice will be tabled at the Legislative Council at the first meeting of the 2019/20 legislative session for negative vetting. The proposed effective date for the Amendment Notice will be December 16, 2019, and the e-Stamping services will be expanded to cover instruments related to stock transactions with effect from the same date.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 is 105.2 (up 0.2 against yesterday's index).

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 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited on phishing emails, 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 emails concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the emails 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.