Effective Exchange Rate Index
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 is 103 (up 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more
Author Archives: hksar gov
Inspection of aquatic products imported from Japan
In response to the Japanese Government’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is conducting comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
From noon on June 16 to noon today (June 17), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 235 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the “aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt” category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS’s thematic website titled “Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan” (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO’s website (www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 144 314 samples of food imported from Japan (including 94 829 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 32 990 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more
Exchange Fund Bills tender results
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
| Tender date | : | June 17, 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | Q2525 |
| Issue date | : | June 18, 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | September 17, 2025 |
| Amount applied | : | HK$174,550 MN |
| Amount allotted | : | HK$61,909 MN |
| Average yield accepted | : | 0.78 PCT |
| Highest yield accepted | : | 0.83 PCT |
| Pro rata ratio* | : | About 96 PCT |
| Average tender yield | : | 0.92 PCT |
| **************************** | ||
| Tender date | : | June 17, 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | H2554 |
| Issue date | : | June 18, 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | December 17, 2025 |
| Amount applied | : | HK$49,880 MN |
| Amount allotted | : | HK$13,000 MN |
| Average yield accepted | : | 1.32 PCT |
| Highest yield accepted | : | 1.35 PCT |
| Pro rata ratio* | : | About 62 PCT |
| Average tender yield | : | 1.53 PCT |
*”Pro rata ratio” refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant’s tendered amount at the “highest yield accepted” level.
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Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning June 23, 2025:
| Tender date | : | June 24, 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | Q2526 |
| Issue date | : | June 25, 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | September 24, 2025 |
| Tenor | : | 91 Days |
| Amount on offer | : | HK$63,690 MN |
| **************************** | ||
| Tender date | : | June 24, 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | H2555 |
| Issue date | : | June 25, 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | December 24, 2025 |
| Tenor | : | 182 Days |
| Amount on offer | : | HK$19,800 MN |
Security Bureau reminds public to be vigilant against suspicious calls purportedly made by Security Bureau staff
The Security Bureau today (June 17) alerted members of the public to stay vigilant against suspicious calls purportedly made by Security Bureau staff, alleging that the citizen was suspected of breaking the law and require… read more
Chinese Culture Festival 2025’s “Encountering Chinese Culture” Carnival to be held in Sha Tin on June 22 (with photos)
The Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will hold the “Encountering Chinese Culture” Carnival on June 22 (Sunday) at Sha Tin Town Hall and New Town Plaza. Through stage performances rich in Chinese cultural characteristics, “Vibrant ICH” performances, booth activities and more, the Carnival will bring fine traditional Chinese culture and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items into the community for public enjoyment and raise people’s awareness of and interest in Chinese culture as well as ICH. Members of the public are invited to join for free. “Vibrant ICH” performances and booth activities are also programmes of Hong Kong ICH Month 2025.
The Carnival will kick off with a fire dragon dance by the Pok Fu Lam Village Fire Dragon Association at 2pm at the Entrance Arena at L1, Phase 1 of New Town Plaza, followed by a number of performances by outstanding arts groups and ICH practitioners from the Mainland and Hong Kong. Audience members can preview highlighted excerpts from some of this year’s CCF programmes, including the Museum Series: “The Sounds from Cultural Relics”, the “Ancient Styles ‧ Modern Chants” Classical Literature × Contemporary Dance and the “Taisheng and Huayin Lao Qiang: Big Uncle, Second Uncle are All His Uncles” Concert with collaboration from the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association.
Coinciding with the Hong Kong ICH Month organised by the LCSD’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO) is held in June, a series of “Vibrant ICH” song and dance performances as well as a puppetry show will be presented in the Carnival at the Entrance Arena of New Town Plaza. The Gannan Art and Creative Institute of Jiangxi Province will present multiple ICH performances, including Xingguo folk songs, a Gannan tea-plucking opera as well as Hakka folk songs and dances. Hong Kong puppeteer Wong Fai will perform the puppet show “Journey to the West – Flaming Mountain”, while two members of the Sai Kung Hakka Folk Song Group will present local Hakka songs.
The Carnival specially features multiple “Vibrant ICH” interactive experiential booth activities at the Exhibition Gallery and Foyer of Sha Tin Town Hall as well as the West Wing at L1, Phase 1 of New Town Plaza, showcasing various ICH-related craftsmanship, including Chinese brush making, Hong Kong cheongsam making, puppetry, fishing net plaiting, movable-type printing, patterned band weaving and gold leaf decoration. Members of the public can watch demonstrations and participate in workshops to explore the essence of ICH.
The “Mobile ICH” vehicle from the ICHO and a “Library-on-Wheels” from the Hong Kong Public Libraries will arrive at the Plaza of Sha Tin Town Hall on that day. The “Mobile ICH” will introduce Hong Kong’s ICH items through on-board exhibitions and interactive devices, while the “Library-on-Wheels” will offer a selection of Chinese culture-themed collections for the public to borrow on-site. Story ambassadors will host engaging storytelling sessions at the West Wing at L1, Phase 1 of New Town Plaza to promote reading. The Carnival will also hold “ICH Story-telling” sessions at the Foyer of Sha Tin Town Hall, using illustrated books on ICH to help participants of all ages learn about ICH items in Hong Kong.
A trainee’s ensemble from the Music Office of the LCSD will perform on pipa, erhu and dizi at the Entrance Arena of New Town Plaza. The ensemble will also stage Chinese instrumental performances at the Foyer of Sha Tin Town Hall.
In addition, the “Mystery of Chinese Writing” Roving Exhibition will be held on the same day at the Exhibition Gallery of Sha Tin Town Hall. The exhibition will use simple writings and images of artefacts to showcase the development and cultural connotations of Chinese characters. The Ganzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Media and Tourism will also set up Jiangxi ICH booths and a photo exhibition at the Plaza and Exhibition Gallery of Sha Tin Town Hall, introducing the “Genesis and Spirit – Treasures of Nature · Extraordinary Hakka: Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition of Jiangxi” currently being held in Hong Kong Central Library along with other aspects of Jiangxi culture.
For the venue and time of each carnival activity, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/encountering-chinese-culture/.
The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public’s national identity and cultural confidence. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from the Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2025 is held from June to September. Through over 280 performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, the festival provides members of the public and visitors with more opportunities to enjoy distinctive programmes that showcase fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby facilitating patriotic education and contributing to the inheritance, transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture in Hong Kong. For details, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.
Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 is presented by the CSTB and organised by the ICHO of the LCSD with ICH June as the strategic partner. Delightful programmes include 80 ICH performances, 60 interactive experiential booths and 20 “ICH Highlight Tours”, covering over 100 ICH items and bringing together over 50 ICH practitioners, including representative bearers of the national ICH. For details, please visit www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2025.html.
