The Government announced today (March 4) that the Chief Executive (CE), in exercise of his authority under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485) (MPFSO), has reappointed Mrs Ayesha Macpherson Lau as the Chairman and the Non-Executive Director (NED) of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA).
 
     At the same time, the Financial Secretary, in exercise of the authority under the MPFSO delegated to him by the CE, has appointed Mr Chau Siu-chung and Dr Wingco Lo Kam-wing, and reappointed Mr Dominic Pang Yat-ting, Mr Bill Tang Ka-piu, Dr Levin Wang Lei and Ms Fanny Wong Lai-kwan as NEDs of the MPFA.
 
     The above appointments will be effective from March 17, 2025, till March 16, 2027, lasting for a term of two years.
 
     Announcing the appointments, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, "Mrs Lau was first appointed as an NED of the MPFA in 2017 and assumed the chairmanship in 2021. During her present tenure, she has steered the MPFA executive team in developing and launching the eMPF Platform, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) System and creating room for fee reductions. We trust that under Mrs Lau's leadership, the MPFA will continue to discharge its statutory functions for the betterment of our MPF System."
 
     Mr Hui added, "Taking this opportunity, I welcome Mr Chau Siu-chung and Dr Wingco Lo Kam-wing to the MPFA Management Board. We are confident that with their respective knowledge and experience in the labour and business sectors, the MPFA will continue to enhance the role of the MPF System in retirement protection to safeguard the interests of our scheme members."
 
     Mr Hui also thanked the outgoing NEDs, Mr Lam Chun-sing and Mr Karson Choi Ka-tsan, for their dedicated service and valuable advice to the MPFA over the past few years.
 
     The MPFA is a statutory body established under the MPFSO in September 1998 for the regulation and supervision of the MPF System. The new membership of the MPFA is as follows:
 
Chairman and Non-Executive Director
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Mrs Ayesha Macpherson Lau
 
Non-Executive Directors
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Mr Chau Siu-chung
Miss Queenie Fiona Lau
Dr Wingco Lo Kam-wing
Mr Dominic Pang Yat-ting
Mr Bill Tang Ka-piu
Dr Levin Wang Lei
Ms Fanny Wong Lai-kwan
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) as alternate)
Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare as alternate)
 
Executive Directors
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Mr Cheng Yan-chee
Ms Cynthia Hui Wai-yee
Mr Wallace Lau Ka-ki
Mr Eric Cheng Siu-fun
Mr Kenneth Chan Siu-yum

     The Land Registry today (March 4) released its statistics for February 2025.

Land registration
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*   The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in February was 4 307 (-12.8 per cent compared with January 2025 but +35.1 per cent compared with February 2024)

*   The 12-month moving average for February was 5 803 (1.6 per cent above the 12-month moving average for January 2025 and 26.1 per cent above that for February 2024)

*   The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements of building units in February was $28.3 billion (-23.0 per cent compared with January 2025 but +25.3 per cent compared with February 2024)

*   Among the sale and purchase agreements, 3 200 were for residential units (-11.7 per cent compared with January 2025 but +34.7 per cent compared with February 2024)

*   The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $23.0 billion (-13.9 per cent compared with January 2025 but +20.5 per cent compared with February 2024)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme, the Tenants Purchase Scheme, etc, unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.

Land search
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*   The number of searches of land registers made by the public in February was 338 037 (+1.1 per cent compared with January 2025 and +22.1 per cent compared with February 2024)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.

     The monthly mean temperature for February 2025 was 17.3 degrees, close to the normal of 17.1 degrees. The total rainfall recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters in the month was 26.1 millimetres, about 33 per cent below the normal of 38.9 millimetres. The accumulated rainfall in the first two months of the year was 30.3 millimetres, about 42 per cent of the normal of 72.1 millimetres for the same period.

     Under the influence of a relatively humid easterly airstream and with a band of clouds covering the coast of Guangdong, the weather of Hong Kong was mainly cloudy on the first two days of the month, with a few rain patches on the morning of February 1 and coastal mist the next morning. A cold front moved across the coastal areas and brought one or two rain patches on the morning of February 3. Under the influence of the associated northeast monsoon, it was generally fine in the following two days, with a cold morning on February 4. As a band of clouds gradually covered southern China, it became cloudier on the afternoon of February 5 and the next day.
      
     An intense winter monsoon gradually affected the coast of Guangdong on February 7, and brought cold and dry weather to Hong Kong in the following three days. The temperatures at the Observatory dropped to a minimum of 11.5 degrees on the morning of February 8, the lowest of the month, and relative humidity in most parts of the territory fell below 40 per cent on February 8 and 9. With the band of clouds associated with the broad area of low pressure over the southern part of the South China Sea edging closer to the coastal areas on the afternoon of February 11, it was mainly cloudy with some rain patches in the following four days. More than 10 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over most parts of the territory on February 12. There were also fog patches on that day, and the visibility at Waglan Island once fell to around 200 metres.
      
     While it was mainly cloudy with one or two light rain patches on the morning of February 16, it became fine and warm during the day as the band of clouds covering the coast of Guangdong thinned out gradually. Under the influence of the northeast monsoon, the weather remained generally fine on February 17 and 18. Affected by a band of clouds covering the coast of southern China, the weather turned cloudier in the following five days with one or two rain patches on February 22 and 23.
      
     With a replenishment of the monsoon reaching the coast of southern China on February 23, the next morning was rather cool, and the weather turned fine and dry in the afternoon. Affected by a rain band and clouds associated with upper-air disturbances, the weather became mainly cloudy with one or two rain patches on February 25 and 26. With the departure of the upper-air disturbances and the setting in of a maritime airstream, it was mainly fine during the day on February 27 and 28. The weather was warm during the day on February 28 with the temperatures at the Observatory rising to a maximum of 25.4 degrees in the afternoon, the highest of the month.
      
     There was no tropical cyclone over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in February 2025.
      
     Details of issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in the month are summarised in Table 1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for February are tabulated in Table 2.

Attention TV and radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (March 4) that due to the sighting of a suspected red tide, the red flag has been hoisted at Deep Water Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach until further notice.

Attention TV and radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (March 4) that due to the sighting of a suspected red tide, the red flag has been hoisted at Deep Water Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach until further notice.