Author Archives: hksar gov

     Hong Kong Customs conducted an operation on June 5 to combat the sale of counterfeit electric power tools online. During the operation, 93 items of suspected counterfeit electric power tools, including cordless driver drills, dedicated batteries and electric saws, were seized with an estimated market value of about $60,000. One man was arrested.

     Customs earlier received information from a trademark owner alleging that suspected counterfeit dedicated batteries for electric power tools were offered for sale through an online platform.

     After an in-depth investigation with the assistance of the trademark owner, Customs officers took action on June 5 and arranged a test purchase with the seller in Tsuen Wan. Seven suspected counterfeit dedicated batteries for electric power tools and a suspected counterfeit driver drill were seized. A 23-year-old man was arrested.

     Customs officers further seized a batch of suspected counterfeit electric power tools including cordless driver drills, dedicated batteries and electric saws at a residential unit of the arrested man in Tsuen Wan.

     As compared with the genuine products, the suspected counterfeit dedicated batteries seized in the case were found to show a different place of manufacture. Also, no lot numbers were shown.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops and avoid conducting transactions at suspicious websites. They should check with the trademark owners or authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

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

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     The Government announced today (June 8) that to further enhance the support for the travel industry, the Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme will be enhanced and the Training Programme Subsidy Scheme for tourist guides … read more

     The online registration period for the CuMask+™ ended last Saturday (June 6). Hong Kong residents who have not obtained the CuMask+™ through online registration may collect the masks at post offices and ot… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announces today (June 8) that a tender of 10-year Government Bonds (Bonds) through the re-opening of existing 15-year Government Bond issue 15GB3007 under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme will be held on June 17 (Wednesday), for settlement on June 18 (Thursday).
 
     An additional amount of HK$1.7 billion of the outstanding 15-year Bonds (issue no. 15GB3007) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on July 16, 2030 and will carry interest at the rate of 2.13 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrears. The Indicative Pricings of the Bonds on June 8 is 113.69 with an annualised yield of 0.725 per cent.
 
     Under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme, tender is open only to Recognized Dealers which are appointed as Primary Dealers. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the current published list, which can be obtained from the Government Bond Programme’s website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof.
 
     Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Government Bond Programme’s website, the Reuters screen (HKGBINDEX), and Bloomberg (GBHK <GO>) not later than 3pm on the tender day.
 
HKSAR Government Institutional Bond Issuance Programme Tender Information
——————————————————————————————
Tender information of re-opening of 15-year Government Bonds under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme:
 

Issue Number	:	15GB3007 (Re-open)
Stock code	:	4227 (HKGB 2.13 3007)
Tender Date and Time	:	June 17, 2020 (Wednesday) 9.30am to 10.30am
Issue and Settlement Date for tender amount	:	June 18, 2020 (Thursday)
Amount on Offer	:	HK$1.7 billion
Maturity	:	10 years
Remaining Maturity	:	Approximately 10.08 years
Maturity Date	:	July 16, 2030
Interest Rate	:	2.13 per cent p.a. payable semi-annually in arrears
Interest Payment Dates	:	July 16, 2020 January 18, 2021 July 16, 2021 January 17, 2022 July 18, 2022 January 16, 2023 July 17, 2023 January 16, 2024 July 16, 2024 January 16, 2025 July 16, 2025 January 16, 2026 July 16, 2026 January 18, 2027 July 16, 2027 January 17, 2028 July 17, 2028 January 16, 2029 July 16, 2029 January 16, 2030 July 16, 2030
Method of Tender	:	Competitive tender
Tender Amount	:	Each competitive tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof. Any tender applications for the Bonds must be submitted through a Primary Dealer on the current published list.   The accrued interest to be paid by successful bidders on the issue date (June 18, 2020) for the tender amount is HK$449.34 per minimum denomination of HK$50,000.   (The accrued interest to be paid for tender amount exceeding HK$50,000 may not be exactly equal to the figures calculated from the accrued interest per minimum denomination of HK$50,000 due to rounding).
Other details	:	Please see Information Memorandum available on the Government Bond Programme’s website at www.hkgb.gov.hk or approach Primary Dealers.
Expected commencement date of dealing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited	:	The tender amount is fully fungible with the existing 15GB3007 (Stock code: 4227) listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

 
Price/Yield Table of the re-opening Government Bonds at tender for reference* only:

Yield-to-Maturity	Price	Yield-to-Maturity	Price
-0.275	124.60	0.725	113.64
-0.225	124.02	0.775	113.13
-0.175	123.45	0.825	112.61
-0.125	122.88	0.875	112.10
-0.075	122.31	0.925	111.59
-0.025	121.75	0.975	111.08
0.025	121.19	1.025	110.58
0.075	120.63	1.075	110.08
0.125	120.07	1.125	109.58
0.175	119.52	1.175	109.09
0.225	118.97	1.225	108.59
0.275	118.43	1.275	108.10
0.325	117.88	1.325	107.61
0.375	117.34	1.375	107.13
0.425	116.81	1.425	106.64
0.475	116.27	1.475	106.16
0.525	115.74	1.525	105.69
0.575	115.21	1.575	105.21
0.625	114.69	1.625	104.74
0.675	114.16	1.675	104.27
0.725	113.64	1.725	103.80

 
* Disclaimer
 
The information provided here is for reference only. Although extreme care has been taken to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, the HKMA does not warrant that all, or any part of, the information provided is accurate in all respects. You are encouraged to conduct your own enquiries to verify any particular piece of information provided on it. The HKMA shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any use or reliance on any of the information provided here. read more

     Hong Kong Customs seized about 160 kilograms of suspected scheduled totoaba fish maws with an estimated market value of about $25 million at Hong Kong International Airport on June 4. The seizure broke the past records of totoaba fish maw seizures by both weight and value counted in a single case. It also surpassed the total seizure amount marked in Customs’ records. This is the first seizure of fresh totoaba fish maws made by Customs while the totoaba fish maws seized in the past cases were all dried.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected an air consignment, declared to be carrying fresh fish, arriving in Hong Kong from the United States on that day. Upon inspection, Customs officers found 20 styrofoam boxes labelled with Mexico as the origin. The batch of suspected scheduled fresh Totoaba macdonaldi fish maws mix-loaded with frozen fish fillets was found in 15 styrofoam boxes.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers arrested two men, aged 36 and 40, suspected to be connected with the case at a warehouse in Yuen Long on June 5.

     Customs officers then carried out further investigation and further arrested three men, aged between 38 and 57, suspected to be connected with the case at the same warehouse and in Fanling on June 6.

     Investigation is ongoing and the five arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs has detected nine cases involving totoaba fish maws with a total seizure of about 37kg since records began in 2002.

     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.

     With the recent reduction in air passenger traffic, Customs has been stepping up enforcement against trafficking activities of prohibited and controlled items through air cargo, postal parcel and express courier channels.

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

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