Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board’s conclusion of the 2024 Article IV consultation with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the IMF published a Staff Report today (January 23) to elaborate on its assessment in the Concluding Statement released on January 10, 2025.
 
     In the Staff Report, the IMF reaffirms Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre and recognises that Hong Kong’s financial system remains resilient, supported by robust institutional frameworks, ample policy buffers, and the smooth functioning of the Linked Exchange Rate System (LERS). The IMF commends the HKSAR Government for prioritising policies to support economic recovery, manage financial stability risks, and address structural challenges. The IMF considers that the LERS remains an appropriate arrangement for the Hong Kong given its highly open economy with a large and globally integrated financial services industry, and recognises that the HKSAR Government’s direction and path of gradual medium-term fiscal consolidation are appropriate.
 
     The IMF Staff Mission visited Hong Kong from November 11 to 22, 2024. Discussions were held with HKSAR Government officials, financial regulators and private sector representatives. The Concluding Statement of the Mission’s assessment was published on January 10, 2025. The Staff Report was endorsed by the IMF Executive Board on January 14, 2025.
 
     The IMF’s press release on the Staff Report is attached in the Annex. The Staff Report can be accessed from the websites of the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (www.fstb.gov.hk) and the IMF (www.imf.org). read more

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 23) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of hig… read more

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Lantau North today (January 23) in which a man died.      At about 8.45am, a motorcycle driven by a 49-year-old non-ethnic Chinese man was tr… read more

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (January 23) announced the performance ratings of the registered lift and escalator contractors for the past 12 months (from January 2024 to December 2024) for public reference.
      
     According to the rating results, 32 registered lift contractors and 17 registered escalator contractors were awarded the Safety Star. Among these contractors, 18 registered lift contractors and 13 registered escalator contractors had not been found non-compliant with the safety and maintenance requirements as reported in the last two consecutive announcements of performance results, and were therefore given the highest rating of five Quality Stars. The EMSD conducted 30 078 inspections of lifts and escalators during the period.
      
     The rating results, conviction records, summaries of the warning letters and equipment failure records are available on the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/eng/pps/le_pub_mpr.shtml). read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, January 23, 2025 is 107.2 (same as yesterday’s index). read more