Author Archives: hksar gov

     Hong Kong Customs seized about 3 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $1.9 million at Hong Kong International Airport on April 19.

     Customs officers inspected a parcel arriving in Hong Kong from Belgium on April 19 and seized the batch of suspected ketamine in three milk powder bottles inside the parcel.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday (May 8) arrested two men suspected to be connected with the case in Lok Fu.

     The arrested men, aged 26 and 30, have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (May 10).

     Customs will maintain close contact with Hongkong Post and the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through postal parcels or express courier channels.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

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     Hong Kong Customs today (May 9) arrested a sole proprietor of a money changer suspected of having applied a false trade description to the remittance service supplied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that a money changer in Mong Kok made a false claim to a customer that the money would be remitted to the bank accounts designated by the customer, but then failed to provide the service accordingly.

     After investigation, Customs today arrested a 55-year-old female sole proprietor of the money changer. 

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested woman has been released on bail.

     Customs officers also found that the money changer was suspected to have violated the requirements under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO) and failed to take all reasonable measures to mitigate money laundering and terrorist financing risks, and consequently its licensee may no longer be a fit and proper person to operate a money service.

     Customs officers issued a notice in writing to the money changer to suspend its money service operator licence on April 24 with immediate effect. Customs has also reminded the money changer to process the outstanding transactions and payments in an appropriate manner.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Customs reminds all licensed money service operators to comply with the requirements of the AMLO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for seven years. Consumers are reminded to procure service from licensed money service operators. The register of licensees is accessible from the website of Customs’ Money Service Operators Licensing System at eservices.customs.gov.hk/MSOS/wsrh/001s1?request_locale=en.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO or the AMLO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk). read more

     The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health said today (May 9) that no additional case of measles infection had been recorded as at 4pm today.        Regarding measles control measure… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold a public hearing on “Planning, provision and management of public parking spaces” (Chapter 1) of the Director of Audit’s Report No.72 at 9am tomorrow (May 10) in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex.
 
     Seven witnesses have been invited to appear before the above hearing to respond to points raised in the Report and answer questions asked by PAC members.
 
     The programme for the public hearing is as follows:

Date: May 10, 2019 (Friday)
Time: 9am  
Venue: Conference Room 1

Subject: Planning, provision and management of public parking spaces (Chapter 1 of the Director of Audit’s Report No.72)

Witnesses:
    
Mr Frank Chan Fan
Secretary for Transport and Housing

Ms Ivy Law
Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport)3

Ms Mable Chan
Commissioner for Transport

Mr Samson Lam
Assistant Commissioner/Planning
Transport Department

Ms Candy Kwok
Assistant Commissioner/Management and Paratransit
Transport Department

Mr Thomas Chan
Director of Lands

Mr Ivan Chung
Deputy Director of Planning/Territorial
Planning Department
     
     PAC is chaired by Mr Abraham Shek, and its Deputy Chairman is Mr Kenneth Leung. Other members include Mr Paul Tse, Mr Steven Ho, Mr Lam Cheuk-ting, Mr Shiu Ka-fai and Ms Tanya Chan. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announces that a tender of 2-year Exchange Fund Notes will be held on May 21, 2019 (Tuesday) for settlement on May 22, 2019 (Wednesday), as set out in the tentative issuance schedule announced on February 15, 2019.  This is to roll over an issue of 2-year Exchange Fund Notes maturing on the same day. 
      
     A total of HK$1,200 million 2-year Notes will be on offer, of which HK$5 million will be made available for offer to members of the Public who wish to submit non-competitive tender bids through Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (HKSCC).  If the Notes reserved for non-competitive tender are under-subscribed, the non-subscribed amount will be added to the portion of notes for competitive tender (initially set at HK$1,195 million).  The Notes will mature on May 24, 2021 and will carry interest at the rate of 1.70% per annum payable semi-annually in arrears.
      
     Members of the public who wish to submit non-competitive tender applications for Notes that are open to HKSCC may do so through Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for those who hold Investor Accounts of the Central Clearing and Settlement System (CCASS) at the HKSCC, directly through HKSCC, for submission to the HKMA for processing.  Competitive tender applications for the Notes must be submitted through any of the Eligible Market Makers on the current published list, which can be obtained from the HKMA at 55/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong (telephone 2878 1465), or from the HKMA’s website at www.hkma.gov.hk; Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof for both competitive and non-competitive tender.
      
     The tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Reuters screen (HKMAOOE), and Bloomberg.  Applicants who submitted non-competitive tender bids through HKSCC may also obtain the tender results from Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for applicants who hold Investor Accounts at HKSCC’s CCASS from the CCASS terminal for CCASS Broker/Custodian/Participants and CCASS Phone System.
 
Hong Kong Monetary Authority Exchange Fund Note Programme Tender Information
___________________________________________________________________
Tender information of 2-Year Exchange Fund Notes:
 

Issue Number	:	02Y2105
Stock code	:	4076 (EFN 1.70 2105)
Tender date and time	:	May 21, 2019 (Tuesday) 9.30am to 10.30am
Issue and Settlement Date	:	May 22, 2019 (Wednesday)
Amount on offer	:	HK$1,200 million (up to HK$5 million for non-competitive tender)
Commencement of/ Deadline for submission of non-competitive tender bids by retail investors through HKSCC	:	Please refer to requirements as set down by HKSCC
Maturity	:	Two years
Maturity Date	:	May 24, 2021 (Monday)
Interest Rate	:	1.70% p.a.
Interest Payment Dates	:	Nov 22, 2019 May 22, 2020 Nov 23, 2020 May 24, 2021
Tender amount	:	Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof for both competitive and non-competitive tender.  Members of the public who wish to apply for the Notes through non-competitive tenders that are open to HKSCC may do so through Stock Exchange Participants/ Brokers, or for those who hold Investors Accounts at HKSCC’s CCASS, directly through HKSCC.  Members of the public who wish to apply for the Notes through competitive tender may only do so through any of the Eligible Market Makers on the current published list.
Other details	:	Please see Information Memorandum published or approach Eligible Market Makers, HKSCC, or brokers who are Exchange Participants of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
Expected commencement date of dealing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong	:	May 23, 2019 (Thursday)

 
Price/Yield Table of the new EFN at tender for reference* only :
 

Yield-to Maturity	Price	Yield-to-Maturity	Price
0.700	101.99	1.700	100.01
0.750	101.89	1.750	99.92
0.800	101.79	1.800	99.82
0.850	101.69	1.850	99.72
0.900	101.59	1.900	99.63
0.950	101.49	1.950	99.53
1.000	101.39	2.000	99.43
1.050	101.29	2.050	99.34
1.100	101.19	2.100	99.24
1.150	101.09	2.150	99.15
1.200	100.99	2.200	99.05
1.250	100.89	2.250	98.95
1.300	100.80	2.300	98.86
1.350	100.70	2.350	98.76
1.400	100.60	2.400	98.67
1.450	100.50	2.450	98.57
1.500	100.40	2.500	98.48
1.550	100.31	2.550	98.38
1.600	100.21	2.600	98.29
1.650	100.11	2.650	98.19
1.700	100.01	2.700	98.10

 
*Disclaimer
The information provided here is for reference only. Although extreme care has been taken to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, the HKMA does not warrant that all, or any part of, the information provided is accurate in all respects.  You are encouraged to conduct your own enquiries to verify any particular piece of information provided on it.  The HKMA shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any use or reliance on any of the information provided here. read more