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 Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited relating to fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or One-Time Password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites or login screens concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

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 China CITIC Bank International Limited relating to fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites or login screens concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

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 OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Government announced today (March 21) that the Financial Secretary has appointed, under the authority delegated by the Chief Executive, nine new members and reappointed 16 serving members to the Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal (SFAT) for a term of two years from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2027.
      
     The membership of the SFAT for the new term is as follows:
      
Chairmen
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Mr Michael John Hartmann
Mr Michael Victor Lunn
Mr Ian Charles McWalters
 
New appointees
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Mr Johnny Chan Kok-chung
Mr Arthur Chan Sung-lai
Ms Annie Chen Poonis
Professor Terence Chong Tai-leung
Professor Fong Yuk-fai
Dr Jia Hongrui
Mr Ernest Lee Chun-ho
Dr Leung Chuen-yan
Mr Wiley Pun Wang-fung
 
Reappointed members
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Dr Chordio Chan Siu-ping
Ms Florence Chan Yuen-shan
Ms Lorna Chen Xin
Mr Gary Cheung Wai-kwok
Ms Ivy Chua Suk-lin
Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun
Ms Sammy Koo Chi-sum
Dr Bankee Kwan Pak-hoo
Mr Lau Pak-wai
Ms Carol Lui Kit-fong
Mr Webster Ng Kam-wah
Mr Hamilton Ty Tang
Professor Tang Hei-wai
Dr Christopher To Wing
Mr Yip Chai-tuck
Mr Edward Yuen Siu-bun
 
     The Government also expressed gratitude to the outgoing members. They are Professor Chan Ka-lok, Professor Chan Koon-hung, Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung, Mr Kent Ho Ching-tak, Mr Peter Leung Ming-hym, Mrs Natalia Seng Sze Ka-mee and Ms Amelia Yau Yu-xin.
      
     "The SFAT provides an effective safeguard to ensure that the relevant regulatory decisions are reasonable and fair, thus enhancing the accountability of the regulatory bodies concerned. We are thankful to the outgoing members for their service, which has effectively conserved the proper regulation of the securities and futures industry in Hong Kong," a Government spokesman said.
      
     The SFAT is a statutory tribunal established under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) (SFO). According to the law, the SFAT is chaired by a judge or former judge for hearing appeals against specified decisions made under the SFO by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and the investor compensation company recognised by the SFC.

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published today (March 21) statistics of payment cards issued in Hong Kong for the fourth quarter of 2024.
      
     The payment card statistics (see Annex) include quarterly data on credit and debit cards issued in Hong Kong under the credit and/or debit card schemes of the eight payment card scheme operators (Note 1). The HKMA began to publish the payment card statistics on a quarterly basis in June 2010 to enhance transparency of the payment card industry in Hong Kong, in line with international practice.
      
     According to the quarterly statistics, the total number of credit cards in circulation (Note 2) was 20.94 million by the end of Q4/2024. The figure represents a 3.2 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a 6.4 per cent increase from the previous year. The number and value of credit card transactions (including retail sales and cash advances) (Note 3) are susceptible to seasonal factors and the general economic environment, making the trends more prone to fluctuation. The total number of credit card transactions was 339.27 million for Q4/2024, representing a 3.1 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a 11.9 per cent increase from the same period in 2023. The total value of credit card transactions was HK$271.4 billion for Q4/2024, representing a 9.1 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a 10.8 per cent increase from the same period in 2023. Of the total transaction value, HK$182.8 billion (67.4 per cent) was related to retail spending in Hong Kong, HK$79.3 billion (29.2 per cent) in retail spending overseas and HK$9.3 billion (3.4 per cent) in cash advances.
      
     The total number of debit cards in circulation is not available due to overlapping of debit card brands in a single card. Like the number and value of credit card transactions, the number and value of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales and bills payments (Note 4) are also affected by seasonal factors. On a quarterly basis, the total number of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales and bills payments increased by 2.7 per cent to 55.50 million while the total value increased by 6.6 per cent to HK$73.0 billion in Q4/2024. When compared to the same period in 2023, the total number increased by 14.1 per cent and the total value dropped by 0.2 per cent in Q4/2024.
 
Note 1: The payment card statistics are compiled from data on credit and debit cards issued in Hong Kong by both authorized institutions (AIs) and non-authorized institutions (non-AIs) under the credit and/or debit card schemes of the eight payment card scheme operators ("the card operators"). The card operators, in alphabetical order, are American Express International, Inc., Discover Financial Services (Hong Kong) Limited, EPS Company (Hong Kong) Limited (EPSCO), JCB International (Asia) Ltd, Joint Electronic Teller Services Ltd. (JETCO), MasterCard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd., UnionPay International Co. Ltd and Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited.

Note 2: A credit card issued in Hong Kong only carries one credit card brand. The total number of credit cards in circulation refers to the total number of credit cards (i.e. cards with a credit function) issued in Hong Kong under the credit card schemes of card operators (but excluding EPSCO and JETCO, which do not operate a credit card scheme). Some of these credit cards carry debit card functions, i.e. the credit card can be used for making purchases/payments or cash withdrawal at ATMs through directly debiting cardholders' bank accounts.

Note 3: The total number/value of credit card transactions refer to the total number/value of transactions made via credit card accounts of credit cards issued in Hong Kong under the credit card schemes of card operators (excluding EPSCO and JETCO). Starting from March 2015, a Hong Kong/overseas spending breakdown of credit card retail sales transactions is provided.

Note 4: The total number/value of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales/bill payments refers to the total number/value of those transactions made via debiting cardholders' bank accounts. Some of the eight card operators do not operate a debit card scheme. Care should be exercised in combining the credit card retail sales figures and the debit card retail sales/bills payment figures because of the possibility of double counting.