The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary announced today (May 14) that in line with the re-opening of court registries and offices in a staggered and progressive manner starting from May 6, registries and accounts offices of the Magistrates' Courts, the Coroner's Court and the Obscene Articles Tribunal will re-open on May 19 (Tuesday), while those of the Small Claims Tribunal and the Labour Tribunal will re-open on May 21 (Thursday).

     The opening hours of the registries and accounts offices will be from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm (Monday to Friday, except public holidays).

     For court users of the Labour Tribunal whose appointment to meet a Tribunal Officer was affected by the closure of the registry, they need not go to the Labour Tribunal upon the re-opening of the registry. They should attend the registry on the date of the rescheduled appointment as communicated to them by post and by telephone.

     The Information Centre of the Small Claims Tribunal will re-open at normal operating hours on May 25 (Monday).

     It is anticipated that in the initial period there will be a significant number of people wishing to do filing and other business at these court registries and accounts offices. While the Judiciary may take measures to increase the capacity of the registries and accounts offices during the initial period and regulate the flow of people, parties and legal representatives are urged not to do filing and other business in the first few days of the re-opening of the registries and accounts offices, unless they are really urgent and must be done in the first few days of re-opening.

Preventive and crowd management measures
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     The Judiciary will continue to put in place appropriate preventive and crowd management measures. These measures include requiring all people entering Judiciary premises to undergo body temperature checks and wear face masks, and putting in place necessary queuing, ticketing and triage systems, designated entry and exit points, and admission control to limit the number of court users entering and remaining on Judiciary premises.
 
     To maintain social distancing, a chessboard seating arrangement will continue to be adopted in courtrooms and court lobbies with seating capacity reduced to half. Broadcasting of proceedings will be arranged on a needs basis. Capacity limits are set for areas such as court registries and accounts offices to avoid crowding.

     Parties, legal representatives and other court users who are subject to any quarantine requirement or medical surveillance should not come to the Judiciary premises. They should as soon as practicable apply to the court for permission of absence or inform the court with reasons for absence as appropriate.

     Information on detailed arrangements will be uploaded onto the Judiciary website. Court users are strongly advised to check the updated information on the Judiciary website, and follow the advice of the Judiciary staff and security personnel when they attend for court business. The co-operation of court users is necessary and is appreciated.

     For general enquiries, the following hotlines are operated from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm (Monday to Friday, except public holidays):
 

• General Information: 2869 0869
• Court of Final Appeal: 2123 0123
• High Court: 2523 2212
• Probate: 2840 1683
• District Court: 2845 5696
• Family Court: 2840 1218
• Lands Tribunal: 2771 3034
• Labour Tribunal: 2625 0020
• Small Claims Tribunal: 2877 4068
• Magistrates' Courts: 2677 8373
• Bailiff Section: 2802 7510
• Court Language Section: 2388 1364

     The Judiciary will continue to post updated information, including Daily Cause Lists, all arrangements in relation to Judiciary business and advice to court users, on the Judiciary website (www.judiciary.hk). Court users are advised to check the website for updated information as necessary.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, May 14, 2020 is 108.8 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

        The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, visited Cyberport today (May 14) to learn more about its latest and future development, particularly in the financial technology (FinTech) area. Also joining the visit was the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Ms Michelle Li.
 
        Accompanied by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Dr George Lam, Mr Sit and Mr Hui started their visit at Smart-Space FinTech. The Chief Executive Officer of Cyberport, Mr Peter Yan, gave an overview of Cyberport's development, including the development of Cyberport as a FinTech community with some 400 FinTech companies and start-ups. Cyberport has launched the Cyberport Financial Practitioners FinTech Training Programme to promote the digital transformation of the industry, with the first batch of training programmes starting from March this year.
 
        They also visited ZhongAn Technologies International Group Limited and Roborn Technology Limited. ZhongAn joined the Cyberport community through the Easy Landing Scheme in 2018 to tap the Hong Kong market. One of its subsidiaries has been granted a virtual banking license, the other is authorised as a virtual insurer. Roborn Technology, a Cyberport incubatee specialising in robotics, developed an epidemic prevention smart robot earlier on to detect body temperatures.
 
        Mr Sit and Mr Hui then met with representatives of four start-ups to better understand the challenges and opportunities they are facing. They are Find Solution AI, which focuses on artificial intelligence; Bull.B, which is a digital solution provider; AQUMON, which provides digital financial advisory services in the area of FinTech; and OneDegree, which is a Cyberport incubatee and one of the virtual insurers licensed.
 
        Mr Sit said that Cyberport has achieved remarkable results in driving FinTech development in recent years. The four companies authorised as virtual insurers are from the Cyberport community. Two out of the eight virtual banking licencees are members of the Cyberport community. The Government has earmarked $5.5 billion for the Cyberport Expansion Project for developing emerging digital technology areas with potential, such as InsurTech, RegTech and LawTech, thereby providing more opportunities for young people to pursue a career in innovation and technology (I&T) and further promoting the overall I&T development in Hong Kong to drive economic development and improve people's livelihood.
 
        Mr Hui said that over the years, Hong Kong has witnessed strong growth of the FinTech sector from a relatively small niche to a sizeable and vibrant community. Hong Kong's maturing ecosystem, pioneering infrastructure, increasing receptiveness and adoption, conducive and forward-looking regulatory environment, coupled with traditional strengths in financial services, have elevated Hong Kong to one of the major FinTech hubs in Asia. Looking ahead, the Government will continue to work with all relevant sectors to promote and facilitate FinTech development using a multi-pronged approach under promotion, regulation, facilitation, talents and funding.
 
        As Hong Kong's digital technology flagship, Cyberport is currently home to some 1 500 start-ups and technology companies. The accumulated funding raised by Cyberport start-ups has exceeded $12.6 billion. Four of its start-ups have reached unicorn status.

        

     The Government announced today (May 14) the re-appointment of the incumbent Chairman and 13 non-official members, as well as the appointment of five new non-official members to the Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation (ACBHC) for a term of two years with effect from May 15, 2020.

     The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, said, "The ACBHC is an important advisor to the Government on built heritage conservation. Over the years, the committee has made valuable contributions on this front. The re-appointment of Professor Lau Chi-pang as the Chairman and 13 non-official members will provide continuity and retain experience for the ACBHC, while the five new non-official members will bring in fresh ideas to the work of the committee. I look forward to continually working with the committee on issues relating to built heritage conservation in Hong Kong."
      
     Mr Wong also expressed gratitude to the five outgoing non-official members for their dedicated service and contributions to the ACBHC. 

     The ACBHC was established in 2016 to advise the Government on the operation of the Built Heritage Conservation Fund. The committee assesses new applications and monitors existing projects under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme, monitors the operation of the Financial Assistance for Maintenance Scheme on Built Heritage, and advises on the two Funding Schemes on Public Engagement Projects and Thematic Research. The new term of the committee comprises members from different fields and professions including architecture, historical research, social enterprise, engineering, surveying, town planning, finance and business, as well as private practitioner of built heritage conservation and the art and cultural sector in the community.
          
     The membership list of the ACBHC with effect from May 15, 2020, is set out below:

Chairman
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Professor Lau Chi-pang
 
Non-official Members
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Mr David Chak Wing-pong
Mr Calvin Chiu Kit-man
Mr Vincent Ho Kui-yip
Professor Ho Pui-yin
Ms Renee Hue Yi-yan
Professor Desmond Hui Cheuk-kuen
Ms Samantha Kong Wing-man
Mr Jeffrey Kwok Pak-wai
Dr Jane Lee Ching-yee
Mr Lee Tsz-leung
Mrs Miranda Leung Chan Che-ming
Ms Sharon Liu Chung-gay
Dr Eunice Mak Hoi-cheung
Ms Yanice Mak Wing-yan
Mr Douglas So Cheung-tak
Professor Billy So Kee-long
Ms Chloe Suen Yin-wah
Mr Plato Yip Kwong-to
 
Official Members
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Commissioner for Heritage, Development Bureau
Assistant Director of Architectural Services (Property Services)
Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Heritage and Museums)

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

     Result of the tenders of the People's Bank of China RMB Bills held on May 14, 2020: