The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

 
*"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 November 6, 2023:
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 is 106.6 (same as yesterday's index).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     Rents for a total of 13 604 flats in the 14 non-standard blocks of four new public rental housing (PRH) estates under the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) will be set at the best rent level in their respective districts. The best rent level of a respective district is expressed in terms of dollars per square metre of internal floor area and determined with reference to the location and comparable value of the estates concerned.
 
     The best rent at $63.10 per square metre per month for the flats in Tuen Mun District will apply to 1 020 flats in Moon Tin House of Moon Tin Estate and 2 604 flats in Yip Sin House, Yip Tak House and Yip Tsz House of Yip Wong Estate.
 
     The best rent at $67.30 per square metre per month for the flats in Tung Chung District will apply to 5 200 flats in Chun Choi House, Chun Wa House, Chun Wing House, Chun Kit House and Chun Sau House of Chun Tung Estate and 4 780 flats in Cheung Yat House, Cheung Yuet House, Cheung Sing House, Cheung Fai House and Cheung Yiu House of Cheung Tung Estate.
 
      "Under this rent-fixing exercise, 100 per cent of the flats are set at a rent level below $2,500 per month," a spokesman for the HA said today (October 31), adding that PRH rents, which are inclusive of rates, management fees and maintenance costs, are heavily subsidised.
 
     "PRH applicants who are allocated new flats but cannot afford the rents may request refurbished flats at lower rents. They may also apply for assistance under the Rent Assistance Scheme for flats in older block types where applicable," the spokesman added.

     To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the career of renowned Cantonese opera actor Yuen Siu-fai in performing arts, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the screening programme "From the Heart – Celebrating the 70-year Career of Yuen Siu-fai". Five of his most accomplished films will be screened from November 22 (Wednesday) to November 26 (Sunday) at the HKFA Cinema to allow audiences to revisit Yuen's splendid trajectory from child star to renowned Cantonese opera artist.
　　
     Five selected films include "Story of Father and Son" (1954), "How Nazha Rescued His Mother from the Snake Mountain" (1960), "Torrents of Spring" (1960), "Seven Fights with Nine Tail Fox" (1964) and "The Legend of Lee Heung Kwan" (1990).
 
     "Story of Father and Son" tells the tale of a small boy played by Yuen, who relocates to the city from the countryside with his father, finding themselves being misfits in the new environment. The contrast between the class snobbery depicted in the film and the innocent face of child star Yuen invites audiences' sympathy for the character. In addition to featuring famous actors Pak Yin, Ng Cho-fan and Siu Yin Fei, Yuen's real-life brother, Yuen Siu-hoi, also acts in the film, playing Yuen's caring neighbour.
 
     With an adorable and charming screen presence as a child star, in "How Nazha Rescued His Mother from the Snake Mountain", Yuen brings the title character's boldness and stubbornness to life. His nimbleness and agility are also on prominent display in the fighting and spear-sparring scenes. "Torrents of Spring" portrays the love affair between Su Erning played by Tian Qing and Meiniang played by Jeanette Lin Tsui. Playing Lin's little brother in the film, Yuen shows his unforgettable acting with a full range of facial expressions for a character, who is by turn innocent and mature.
 
     "Seven Fights with Nine Tail Fox" tells the story of the Monkey King played by Yuen conquering three evil spirits, played by Yu So-chow, Josephine Siao Fong-fong and Connie Chan Po-chu, on the journey to the West with his master played by Kwan Hoi-shan. The lively and mischievous portrayal of the Monkey King by Yuen in the film, and his rare appearance in female attire that looks delicate and enchanting, are particularly worth noting.
 
     In support of the Cantonese Opera Day this year, the HKFA specially selects Cantonese opera film "The Legend of Lee Heung Kwan" which centres around the love story between famed courtesan Lee Heung-kwan and scholar Hou Chiu-chung for screening. Yuen, in his prime, portrays an agile and diplomatic character Yeung Lung-yau with his impeccable appearance and supreme skills in singing and movement. The duets between Hung Sin Nui's "Nui style" and Law Ka-bo's "Shrimp style" vocal performances are also a treat.
 
     The screenings of "Story of Father and Son" and "The Legend of Lee Heung Kwan" will be accompanied by a post-screening talk. Yuen and film researcher Sam Ho will be the speakers at the talk for the former, while Cantonese opera researcher Leonard Wong will be the speaker at the latter.
 
     All films are in Cantonese. "Torrents of Spring" and "Seven Fights with Nine Tail Fox" are with Chinese lyrics. "The Legend of Lee Heung Kwan" is with Chinese subtitles, while other films are without subtitles.
 
     Tickets priced at $45 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from tomorrow (November 1). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/pe-event-2023-ysf.html or call 2739 2139.
 
     This year, the Cantonese Opera Day presented by the LCSD will be held on November 26 (Sunday) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Space Museum. The programme will include Cantonese opera excerpts and Cantonese operatic song performances, Cantonese music performances, an exhibition, talks and demonstration sessions. Admission is free with tickets. Programme details and free ticket distribution arrangements will be announced later.

        

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 4 900 food samples tested were found to be satisfactory except for nine unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8 per cent.
   
     A CFS spokesman said about 1 200 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 3 700 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests.
   
     The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions.
   
     The samples comprised about 1 500 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 500 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 600 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 600 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 500 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1 200 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
   
     The nine unsatisfactory samples comprised a prepackaged almond milk sample and a prepackaged walnut milk sample detected with a non-permitted preservative; a prepackaged date sample detected with sulphur dioxide exceeding the legal limit and in breach of the food labelling regulations; a prepackaged scallop-flavoured noodle sample in breach of food labelling regulation; a baby snack sample suspected to be contaminated with aflatoxin; a chilled duck sample detected with sulfonamides exceeding the legal limit; a ready-to-eat raw oyster sample found with excessive Escherichia coli; a cream sample detected with total bacterial count exceeding the legal limit and a passion fruit sample detected with excessive pesticide residue.
  
     The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items and tracing the sources of the food items in question.
   
     The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.
   
     Separately, as the Japanese Government has commenced the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CSF will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information.