The Land Registry today (May 3) released its statistics for April 2024.
 
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in April was 9 880 (+97.1 per cent compared with March 2024 and +71.7 per cent compared with April 2023)
 
* The 12-month moving average for April was 4 646 (8.0 per cent above the 12-month moving average for March 2024 but 15.3 per cent below that for April 2023)
 
* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements of building units in April was $83.9 billion (+124.6 per cent compared with March 2024 and +31.7 per cent compared with April 2023)
 
* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 8 551 were for residential units (+115.3 per cent compared with March 2024 and +86.6 per cent compared with April 2023)
 
* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $77.5 billion (+157.7 per cent compared with March 2024 and +47.9 per cent compared with April 2023)
 
     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, the Tenants Purchase Scheme, etc, 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 391 628 (+6.6 per cent compared with March 2024 and +12.1 per cent compared with April 2023)
 
     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.

     The services provided by Mobile Library 8 have resumed after completion of urgent repairs to the mobile library van, a Leisure and Cultural Services Department spokesman announced today (May 3).
 
     The service points of Mobile Library 8 are Laguna City in Lam Tin, On Tai Estate on Anderson Road, Po Tat Estate in Sau Mau Ping, Tai Hang Tung Estate on Tai Hang Tung Road, Laguna Verde in Hung Hom, Choi Fook Estate in Kowloon Bay and Yau Lai Estate in Yau Tong.
 
     For enquiries about Mobile Library 8 services, please call 2926 3055.

     Two red tides have been sighted over the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (May 3).

     Staff of the Marine Department spotted the first red tide at Deep Water Bay on April 27. On April 29, staff of the Environmental Protection Department spotted another red tide at Rocky Bay Beach, Hong Kong Island. Both red tides have dissipated and no associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.

     A spokesman for the working group said, "Both red tides were formed by Noctiluca scintillans, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters and is non-toxic."

     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.

     Hong Kong Customs conducted a three-week joint enforcement operation with the Mainland and Macao Customs from April 9 to 30, during which inspection of goods across the three places and destined for North America, Europe and Asia as well as other countries and regions was stepped up, with a view to combating cross-boundary counterfeiting activities among the three places with goods destined for overseas countries. During the operation, Hong Kong Customs detected 19 cases and seized about 56 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with a total estimated market value of about $16.9 million.  

     Through intelligence analysis and in-depth investigations, Hong Kong Customs in the operation detected 15 cases at various local express couriers and logistics companies. Meanwhile, Customs officers inspected on April 15 and 16 two containers arriving in Hong Kong from Nansha, Guangdong, and containing suspected counterfeit goods at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound, leading to the detection of two more cases. 

     Moreover, Customs detected two further cases by intercepting two incoming trucks on April 12 and 28 at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and seized batches of suspected counterfeit goods from the vehicles. Two male truck drivers, aged 49 and 55, were arrested. Investigations of the cases are ongoing. The two arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     The suspected counterfeit goods seized by Hong Kong Customs in the operation included handbags, mobile phones and accessories, watches and footwear. The total estimated market value was about $16.9 million.

     Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with the Mainland Customs, Macao Customs and overseas law enforcement agencies to vigorously combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipment activities through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions. 

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied 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 counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

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 Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.