The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (April 12) the progress made in its handling of banking complaints received as at end-March 2019.  Banking complaints include cases concerning general banking services and conduct-related issues.
 
     In March 2019, 157 cases were received and the handling of 154 cases was completed.  As at end-March, the handling of 445 cases was in progress. 
 
     A table summarising the progress made in the handling of banking complaints by the HKMA is attached.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (April 12) the key analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund at the end of March 2019.
 
     Foreign assets, representing the external assets of the Exchange Fund, increased during the month by HK$25.9 billion to HK$3,603.3 billion.
 
     The Monetary Base, comprising Certificates of Indebtedness, Government‑issued currency notes and coins in circulation, the balance of the banking system and Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued, amounted to HK$1,639.4 billion.
 
     Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$254.9 billion.
 
     The analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund are released in accordance with the International Monetary Fund's Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) and are referred to as the Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank under SDDS (Annex).
 
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     At present, four press releases relating to the Exchange Fund's data are issued by the HKMA each month. Three of these releases are issued to disseminate monetary data in accordance with the International Monetary Fund's Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS). The fourth press release, on the Exchange Fund's Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account, is made in accordance with the HKMA's policy of maintaining a high level of transparency. For the month of April 2019, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, April 12, 2019 is 103.6 (up 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media session after attending the special meeting of the Legislative Council Finance Committee today (April 12):

Reporter: Mr Lee, are you saying that it is impossible for the Government to withdraw the bill and consult the public again on this extradition method because of the concerns of the Legal subsector of the Election Committee as well as people like James Tien who said you should actually withdraw it?

Secretary for Security: I understand there are different views in relation to the Government's proposal to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and also the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance. My colleagues and also colleagues in the DoJ (Department of Justice) have been working hard to prepare for the Bills Committee which is likely to be convened very soon. All these views, of course, are being examined by us to see how our eventual government proposal will be discussed and explained in the Bills Committee. I think we have to come back to the fundamental reason why we make our proposal now, is to deal with the suspect who is involved in a case in Taiwan in respect of which we do not have any law to deal with it. And also the Taiwan murder case has proven that the possibility of another very serious case will happen anytime, at any place, particularly when we have only signed long-term surrender agreements with 20 jurisdictions. So we must do these things to ensure that people who have committed serious offences do face the justice they deserve, and also at the same time to ensure that citizens of Hong Kong are protected from people who have committed serious crimes. So I really sincerely hope that everybody will look at this from a very rational point of view.

     It is important, of course, that we will ensure that any person who may be subject to surrender will have all the legal and human rights safeguards, and that is what the present Ordinance (Fugitive Offenders Ordinance) has contained and ensured that all the legal and human rights of a person are fully protected. The present Ordinance is actually made in such a way that we make full reference to the model treaty that is passed in the United Nations. So the present practice has already ensured that the required safeguards, including legal and human rights, are in accordance with the international practice. So what the Government is proposing is that we will do cases where we strongly believe that we must deal with, using the Ordinance which has been in operation smoothly and successfully in the past almost 22 years.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Government announced today (April 12) the re-appointment of Mr Tim Lui Tim-leung as the Chairman of the Education Commission (EC) for another term of two years from May 1, 2019, to April 30, 2021.
      
     Mr Lui has been the chairman of the EC since May 1, 2015.
      
     The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, said, "Mr Lui is full of enthusiasm for education. We are grateful for his visionary leadership and valuable contribution to the work of the EC.

     "Under Mr Lui's leadership, the EC has provided invaluable advice on various education policies and issues with a view to further enhancing the quality of education in Hong Kong. Mr Lui's re-appointment as the EC Chairman will help ensure the continuity and effective implementation of various education initiatives to safeguard quality education for the betterment of our students."