Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 4) detected a counterfeit goods smuggling case at River Trade Terminal, Tuen Mun, and seized about 38 000 pieces of goods suspected to be involved in the case. The goods had an estimated market value of about $2.5 million.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a 40-foot container arriving in Hong Kong from Huangpu, Guangdong, destined for Turkey. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized a batch of suspected counterfeit and smuggled goods including handbags, suitcases, wallets and accessories in the container. 

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trade mark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

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

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) announces a sentinel event today (May 5):
 
     A male cancer patient was admitted to an oncology ward in QMH on May 4 afternoon due to fever. The patient was in a stable mood with no abnormality observed upon clinical assessment since his admission. Appropriate treatment had been provided.
 
     A ward staff last observed the patient at around 9.30pm last night (May 4). The patient was awake and emotionally stable. Thirty minutes later, the patient was found unconscious inside the patient's bathroom with the shower hose around his neck. Medical staff performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately and informed the patient's family members. The patient was certified dead at around 10.45pm.
 
     QMH is deeply saddened by the incident and expresses condolences to the family members and will offer necessary assistance. The hospital is very concerned about the incident and has inspected all related facilities in the hospital and will arrange the necessary follow-up. The incident has also been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. A root cause analysis investigation will be conducted to look into the incident. The investigation report will be submitted to the Head Office in eight weeks. The case has been referred to the coroner for follow-up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) announces today (May 5) that, the pilot scheme for fixed-rate mortgages will start receiving applications from May 7 (Thursday). In response to the change in market interest rates, mortgage interest rates under the pilot scheme are lowered, as compared to the levels previously announced in the 2020-21 Budget (Budget). The interest rates per annum for 10, 15 and 20 years of the Fixed-rate Mortgage Pilot Scheme are as follows:

 
     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, "The objective of the Fixed-rate Mortgage Pilot Scheme announced in the Budget is to provide an alternative financing option to homebuyers for mitigating their risks arising from interest rate volatility, thereby promoting the development of the mortgage market in the long run."
 
     Mortgages under the pilot scheme will be offered through banks, and the following banks will receive applications: Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Chong Hing Bank Limited, Dah Sing Bank, Limited, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited, Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and The Bank of East Asia, Limited. Some other banks have also indicated their interest in joining.   
 
     The aggregate loan amount of the Fixed-rate Mortgage Pilot Scheme is HK$1 billion, subject to a maximum loan amount of each private residential mortgage of HK$10 million. At the end of the fixed-rate period, the borrowers may either re-fix the mortgage rate under fixed-rate mortgages or convert the mortgage to a floating rate loan (Note). As the borrowers will be insulated from interest rate movement under the fixed-rate period which is 10 years or longer, the HKMC has obtained agreement from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority that they will not be required to meet the stress testing against interest rate rise, but the current debt-to-income ratio will still be applicable. 
 
     The pilot scheme will be effective for around six months, until October 31, 2020.

Note: The floating rate is Prime Rate minus 2.35 per cent. 

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

     Exchange Fund Bills Tender Results:
 

 
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Hong Kong Monetary Authority Tenders to be held in the week beginning May 11:
 

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.