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 Fusion Bank Limited on fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     A Government spokesman said today (September 2) that the vetting work of the Retail Sector Subsidy Scheme (RSSS) under the first round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (the Fund) and the Subsidy Scheme for Beauty Parlours, Massage Establishments and Party Rooms (BMP) under the second round of the Fund has been completed, with over $6 billion of subsidies approved under the two schemes.

     The Secretariat of the Fund (the Secretariat) has completed vetting all of the approximately 93 000 RSSS applications and reviewed some 12 500 appeal cases. The RSSS has been concluded, with about $5.5 billion of subsidies approved for nearly 69 000 eligible retailers.

     In addition, the Secretariat has also completed vetting some 14 000 BMP applications. About 13 000 applications have been approved so far, involving over $610 million in subsidies. The Secretariat is now processing hundreds of appeal cases. More applications may be approved after review. Upon the completion of the vetting work of the BMP, its telephone hotline (1836 188) will cease operation at 6pm on September 15 (Tuesday). If applicants have any questions on the scheme, they may send an email to enquiry@bmpsubsidy.hk.

     During the vetting and appeal reviewing process, the Secretariat has discovered individual suspected fraudulent cases and has already referred those cases to the Police for follow-up as appropriate. The Secretariat will fully assist in the relevant investigation.

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 Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited on suspicious mobile applications (Apps), which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the Apps concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the Apps should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
      
     In light of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on economic activities and the cash flow difficulties faced by some corporates, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), together with the Banking Sector SME Lending Coordination Mechanism (Mechanism), today (September 2) announced that the Pre-approved Principal Payment Holiday Scheme (Scheme) has been extended for a further six months to April 2021. All loan principal payments of eligible customers falling due between November 2020 and April 2021 will be deferred by six months except for repayments of trade loans, which will be deferred by 90 days. The HKMA has written to all participating banks requesting them to implement the new arrangement.

     As customers are already familiar with the Scheme and with banks adopting work-from-home arrangements in response to the pandemic, banks will not issue individual notifications to eligible customers regarding the extension of the Scheme. Corporate customers in need of relief are requested to contact their banks.  Banks will handle each eligible customer’s case on a "pre-approved" basis. Banks may request customers (especially those who have been granted multiple extensions of payment holidays) to provide up-to-date business and financial information to better understand their needs when processing their cases.

     The Scheme covers all corporate customers that have an annual sales turnover below HK$800 million and that have no seriously overdue loan payments.   For enquiries about the Scheme, please contact the HKMA via the dedicated email account (ppphs@hkma.gov.hk) or enquiry hotline (2878 1199)。
 
Background
 
     The Banking Sector SME Lending Coordination Mechanism was established by the HKMA in October 2019. Participants include 11 banks that are most active in SME lending. The Hong Kong Association of Banks and the HKMC Insurance Limited are also represented in the Mechanism. Since its establishment, the Mechanism has rolled out several rounds of relief measures for corporate customers, including the Scheme, loan tenor extensions, and the conversion of trade financing lines into temporary overdraft facilities. At the end of July 2020, banks had granted over 43,000 applications for loan tenor extension and other forms of relief, involving an aggregate amount of over HK$530 billion.
      
     One hundred and four banks participate in the Pre-approved Principal Payment Holiday Scheme, which took effect in May. The Scheme covers more than 130,000 eligible corporate customers, with over 15,000 of them enrolled into the Scheme. All corporate loans including mortgages, vehicle loans and trade facilities are covered by the Scheme. The HKMA has also reminded banks to be sympathetic to customers who are not eligible for the Scheme and to help tide them over this difficult time as long as it is consistent with prudent risk management principles to do so. 
      
     The HKMA together with the Mechanism announced at the beginning of the last month a 90-day repayment deferment for trade facilities under the Scheme.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 1) raided a suspected illicit cigarette storehouse in Yuen Long and seized about 960 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $2.6 million and a duty potential of about $1.8 million.

     During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in Yuen Long yesterday, Customs officers seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes from a stone hut and a light goods vehicle (LGV). Three men suspected to be in connection with the case, aged between 23 and 58, were arrested and the LGV has been detained.

     â€‹Investigation is ongoing.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).