The Ministry of Finance announced today (July 17) its plan to issue Renminbi (RMB) sovereign bonds totalling RMB15 billion outside the Mainland this year, of which RMB5 billion will be issued in Hong Kong next week. Details will be announced later.
 
     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government welcomes the Ministry of Finance's issuance of RMB sovereign bonds in Hong Kong for the twelfth consecutive year. This demonstrates clearly the Central Government's staunch support in reinforcing further Hong Kong's position as the global offshore RMB business hub, and is conducive to promoting the sustainable development of the bond market in Hong Kong."

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

     The Ministry of Finance will issue Renminbi Sovereign Bonds through the Central Moneymarkets Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Please find attached the tender notice and the tender information memorandum of the Renminbi Sovereign Bonds to be issued by the Ministry of Finance. Please also find attached the tender-related information provided by the Issuing and Lodging Agent through the HKMA.

     The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for a five-year tenancy of Shop No. 301, Ground Floor, Passenger Clearance Building, 33 Shun Fai Road, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port, Lantau, Hong Kong.

     The premises should only be used for general retail purposes and/or services purposes excluding storage, sale or display of:

(1) dutiable goods as defined under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), unless the premises have been issued with a warehouse licence under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109);

(2) duty-paid goods as defined under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109); and

(3) goods, merchandise or commodities that are from time to time prohibited from import into Hong Kong under the laws of Hong Kong.

     The tender notice was uploaded today (July 17) to the Agency's website: www.gpa.gov.hk. Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency's website.

     Interested tenderers who wish to attend a site inspection should make a prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 3842 6915 on or before July 28 this year.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box situated on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on August 19 this year. Late tenders will not be accepted.

     The Government published a notice in the Gazette today (July 17) on the modifications to Development of Lok Ma Chau Loop Main Works Package 1. The works have been authorised by the Chief Executive in Council.

     Details of the works are set out in the Annex. The modifications involve revision of the proposed limit of works area and the associated resumption/clearance limit. The modification plan and modification resumption plan are available for public inspection at the following offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

North Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, North District Government Offices, 
3 Pik Fung Road, Fanling, New Territories 

Yuen Long Home Affairs Enquiry Centre, 
G/F, Yuen Long District Office Building, 
269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long, New Territories

District Lands Office, North
6/F, North District Government Offices,
3 Pik Fung Road, Fanling, New Territories 

District Lands Office, Yuen Long, 
9/F, Yuen Long Government Offices, 
2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long, New Territories  

     Further enquiries can be addressed to the West Development Office, Civil Engineering and Development Department, 25/F, Tsuen Wan Government Offices, 38 Sai Lau Kok Road, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, or can be made by telephone on 2417 6345.

     The Government published the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (Amendment Ordinance) in the Gazette today (July 17).

     The Amendment Ordinance seeks to increase the maternity leave (ML) under the Employment Ordinance (EO) (Cap. 57) by four weeks, which should be taken by the employee continuously after the 10 weeks' ML, if so entitled. The current statutory rate of maternity leave pay (MLP) (i.e. four-fifths of the employee's average daily wages) will be maintained for calculating the additional MLP in respect of the extension of the ML, subject to a cap of $80,000 per employee.

     The Amendment Ordinance also covers two technical amendments which include updating the definition of "miscarriage" under the EO from "before 28 weeks of pregnancy" to "before 24 weeks of pregnancy" to entitle a female employee whose child is incapable of survival after being born at or after 24 weeks of pregnancy to the ML if other conditions are met; and accepting a certificate of attendance issued by professionally trained persons as documentary proof for entitling an eligible employee to sickness allowance for any day on which the employee has attended a medical examination in relation to her pregnancy.

     "The Amendment Ordinance will come into operation on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare by notice published in the Gazette," a spokesman for the Government said.

     "Employers may apply to the Government for full reimbursement for the amount of additional MLP that is required to be paid and has been paid under the Amendment Ordinance, which will be done by way of an administrative scheme. The Government will announce the details in due course.

     "The Government is exploring the feasibility of earlier implementation of the Amendment Ordinance and would consult the Labour Advisory Board accordingly. We hope to implement the Amendment Ordinance towards the end of this year," the spokesman added.