MD announcement
Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals: The Marine Department today (March 13) reminded … read more
Tag Archives: China
Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (March 13) the key analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund at the end of February 2020.
Foreign assets, representing the external assets of the Exchange Fund, increased during the month by HK$10.5 billion to HK$3,652.7 billion.
The Monetary Base, comprising Certificates of Indebtedness, Government‑issued currency notes and coins in circulation, the balance of the banking system and Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued, amounted to HK$1,686.6 billion.
Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$253.6 billion.
The analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund are released in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) and are referred to as the Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank under SDDS (Annex).
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At present, four press releases relating to the Exchange Fund’s data are issued by the HKMA each month. Three of these releases are issued to disseminate monetary data in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS). The fourth press release, on the Exchange Fund’s Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account, is made in accordance with the HKMA’s policy of maintaining a high level of transparency. For the month of March 2020, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
| March 6 (Issued) |
SDDS International Reserves (Hong Kong’s Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures) |
| March 13 |
SDDS Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank (Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund) |
| March 31 |
SDDS Template on International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity |
| March 31 |
Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account |
Public urged to keep up anti-mosquito efforts
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (March 13) that the monthly territory-wide ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus decreased from 0.2 per cent in January to 0.1 per cent in February, indicat… read more
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 13) released the latest grading of water quality for eight gazetted beaches (see Note).
Seven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and one as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Golden Beach |
Grade 2 beach is:
| Silver Mine Bay Beach |
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Note: To tie in with the response level under the “Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance” having been raised to the Emergency Response Level and to encourage people to avoid gathering, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced that all beaches will continue to be temporarily closed until further notice. read more
Draft Wang Tau Hom and Tung Tau Outline Zoning Plan approved
The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Wang Tau Hom and Tung Tau Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
“The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and redevelopment within the Wang Tau Hom and Tung Tau area,” a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 13).
The planning scheme area (the Area), covering an area of about 184 hectares, is located in Central Kowloon within Wong Tai Sin District. It is bounded by Junction Road/Chuk Yuen Road and Lion Rock Tunnel Road to the west, Choi Hung Road and Shatin Pass Road to the east, and Tung Tau Tsuen Road/Tung Tsing Road and Prince Edward Road East to the south.
A large portion of the Area has already been developed. The predominant land use is residential with about 67.31 hectares of land zoned “Residential (Group A)”, which is intended primarily for high-density developments.
About 0.71 hectares of land are zoned “Commercial” for commercial developments at Lok Fu Shopping Centre Phase II.
About 21.23 hectares of land are zoned “Government, Institution or Community” for the provision of government, institution or community (GIC) facilities serving the needs of the local residents and/or a wider district, region or the territory. Major existing GIC facilities including Wang Tau Hom Jockey Club Clinic, Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital, the swimming pool complex and indoor games hall at Morse Park, various religious institutions, service reservoirs and primary and secondary schools.
About 27.38 hectares are zoned “Open Space” for the provision of outdoor open-air public spaces for active and/or passive recreational uses serving the needs of local residents as well as the general public. A further 39.1 hectares, mainly covering the Lion Rock hill slopes, are zoned “Green Belt” for the conservation of the existing natural environment.
About 2.82 hectares of land are zoned “Other Specified Uses” (“OU”) and include the “OU(Cemetery)” zone at Junction Road and other “OU” sites designated for petrol filling stations at Prince Edward Road East.
The approved Wang Tau Hom and Tung Tau OZP No. S/K8/23 is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Kowloon District Planning Office, and the Wong Tai Sin District Office.
Copies of the approved plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed at the Town Planning Board’s website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb). read more