The Immigration Department (ImmD) today (May 3) reminded Hong Kong residents born in 1968 or 1969 to apply for a new smart identity card in person at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (SIDCC) on or before June 1. The SIDCCs will be open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 8am to 10pm (except public holidays).
 
      To avoid a last-minute rush, eligible applicants are advised to apply for the new smart identity card as early as possible. They may make an appointment booking via the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), the ImmD mobile application or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234. The ImmD appeals to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making an appointment booking through the Internet or mobile application in order to enjoy a faster service.
 
      Eligible applicants may also bring along up to two family members or friends aged 65 or above to replace their smart identity cards together during the same visit to an SIDCC. Applicants should bring along their existing smart identity cards when they proceed to SIDCCs to apply for the new smart identity card.
 
      If eligible applicants are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up period, they can apply within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.
 
      For details of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk or call the enquiry hotline 2824 6111.

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 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited on phishing email, 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 email concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the email 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 effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, May 3, 2019 is 103.9  (same as yesterday's index).

     X-Spatial Media Technology Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay seven employees' wages, totaling about $334,000, within seven days after the expiry of the wage period as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). The employer was fined $169,000 after pleading guilty at Shatin Magistrates' Courts today (May 3).

     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers that they have to pay wages to employees within the time limit stipulated in the EO," an LD spokesman said.

     "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.

     The Land Registry today (May 3) released its statistics for April 2019.
      
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in April was 9,911 (+54.2 per cent compared with March 2019 and +13.4 per cent compared with April 2018)

* The 12-month moving average for April was 6,357 (1.5 per cent above the 12-month moving average for March 2019 and 11.5 per cent below that for April 2018)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in April was $86.9 billion (+64.5 per cent compared with March 2019 and +11.6 per cent compared with April 2018)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 7,822 were for residential units (+49.5 per cent compared with March 2019 and +17.7 per cent compared with April 2018)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $70.1 billion (+52.8 per cent compared with March 2019 and +13.4 per cent compared with April 2018)

     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 and the Tenants Purchase Scheme 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 April was 444,632 (-4.6 per cent compared with March 2019 and +0.1 per cent compared with April 2018)

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