The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced the results of the residential mortgage survey for February 2020.
      
     The number of mortgage applications in February decreased month-on-month by 6.4 per cent to 8 536.  
      
     Mortgage loans approved in February decreased by 5 per cent compared with January to HK$23.7 billion.  Among these, mortgage loans financing primary market transactions decreased by 2.1 per cent to HK$4.5 billion and those financing secondary market transactions decreased by 1.9 per cent to HK$14.4 billion.  Mortgage loans for refinancing decreased by 15.5 per cent to HK$4.8 billion. 
      
     Mortgage loans drawn down during February decreased by 20.2 per cent compared with January to HK$18.7 billion. 
      
     The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to HIBOR increased from 80.2 per cent in January to 87.1 per cent in February.  The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to best lending rates decreased from 16.7 per cent in January to 10.2 per cent in February.
      
     The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased month-on-month by 0.4 per cent to HK$1,452.4 billion at end-February. 
      
     The mortgage delinquency ratio increased slightly to 0.03 per cent and the rescheduled loan ratio remained unchanged at nearly 0 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 April 6:
 

     Hong Kong Customs today (March 31) arrested a male proprietor of a matchmaking company suspected of having applied false trade descriptions to supplied matchmaking services, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that a proprietor of a matchmaking company made false claims to customers on the number of and gender ratio of registered members in the sale of its matchmaking services.

     After an in-depth investigation, Customs officers arrested a 27-year-old man today.

     An investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services from reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any person who in the course of any trade or business applies a false trade description to any goods or services 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 violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 is 108.7 (same as yesterday's index).

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Kwun Tong this morning (March 31) in which an 81-year-old woman died.

     At 7.31am, a medium goods vehicle (MGV) driven by a 51-year-old man was travelling along Kai Tin Road southbound. When approaching near Kai Tin Shopping Centre, it reportedly knocked down the 81-year-old woman who was crossing the road.

     The woman was trapped under the MGV and rescued by firemen. Sustaining serious head injuries, she was rushed to United Christian Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 8.54am.

     The MGV driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for further enquiries.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon East is underway.

     Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has any information is urged to contact the investigating officers on 2305 7500 or 2305 7570.