The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, January 6, 2020 is 106.3 (up 0.2 against last Saturday's index).
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, January 4, 2020 was 106.1 (same as last Friday's index).
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold a public hearing on "Provision of consultancy, research and development and training services by the Hong Kong Productivity Council" (Chapter 2) of the Director of Audit's Report No.73 at 9am tomorrow (January 7) in Conference Room 3 of the LegCo Complex.
Eight witnesses have been invited to appear before the above hearing to respond to points raised in the Report and answer questions asked by PAC members.
The programme for the public hearing is as follows:
Date: January 7 (Tuesday)
Time: 9am
Venue: Conference Room 3
Subject:
Provision of consultancy, research and development and training services by the Hong Kong Productivity Council
(Chapter 2 of the Director of Audit's Report No.73)
Witnesses:
Mr Nicholas Yang
Secretary for Innovation and Technology
Ms Annie Choi
Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology
Ms Rebecca Pun
Commissioner for Innovation and Technology
Miss Kathy Chan
Assistant Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (Funding Schemes)
Mr Mohamed D Butt
Executive Director, Hong Kong Productivity Council
Dr Lawrence Cheung
Chief Innovation Officer, Hong Kong Productivity Council
Mr Edmond Lai
Chief Digital Officer, Hong Kong Productivity Council
Ms Vivian Lin
Chief Financial Officer, Hong Kong Productivity Council
PAC is chaired by Mr Abraham Shek, and its Deputy Chairman is Mr Kenneth Leung. Other members include Mr Paul Tse, Mr Steven Ho, Mr Lam Cheuk-ting, Mr Shiu Ka-fai and Ms Tanya Chan.
To mark the beginning of the new year, Hongkong Post announced today (January 6) that it will issue its first set of special stamps "Year of the Rat" on January 11. While on the day of "Spring Commences", i.e. the 11th day of the first month on the lunar calendar which falls on February 4, the "24 Solar Terms – Spring" special stamp issue will be launched to herald the vibrancy of spring. The issue dates of the two sets of special stamps contain six figures of the number "1". With the auspicious meanings it carries, Hongkong Post would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone all happiness, prosperity and every success in the year ahead.
The "Year of the Rat" stamp issue this time brings a wide range of philatelic products, including a silk stamp sheetlet, a prestigious first day cover, a presentation pack and red packets that highlight the festivity of the new year. As the ninth issue of the fourth Lunar New Year special stamp series, the "Year of the Rat" continues to feature different art forms, showcasing clay, embroidery, ceramic and glass crafts of rats in a set of four stamps and a stamp sheetlet.
The two Heartwarming Stamps (2020 Version) "Year of the Rat" mini-panes adopt the respective designs of the $2 and $4.90 mint stamps. On the same day, the "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – Pig/Rat" will also be launched as the eighth issue of the second series. The pig stamp is hot-foiled with silver, while the rat stamp is affixed with 22K gold-plated lace metal against a reddish-orange background with a lively and joyous pattern of prestigious peonies.
"24 Solar Terms – Spring" is the first special stamp issue themed on the 24 solar terms launched by Hongkong Post. A set of six stamps is presented in brilliant colours to depict the six solar terms of spring. Arranged in tête – bêche pairs, it is the first time for Hongkong Post to issue semicircular stamps.
Apart from the above stamp products, a newly designed 2020 souvenir cover will be put on sale at $1.50 at all philatelic offices, as well as Hongkong Post's online shopping mall "ShopThruPost" (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) starting from today.
For the convenience of customers who wish to place additional orders for these special stamps and associated philatelic products without the need to visit any post office, a new round of online advance order services is now available on the "ShopThruPost" platform within the period from today until the respective issue dates of the stamp issues.
Information about the special stamp issues and associated philatelic products is available on Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk and the Hongkong Post Mobile App.
The Land Registry today (January 6) released its statistics for 2019.
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration for 2019 was 74,804 (-5.5 per cent compared with 2018 and -10.8 per cent compared with 2017).
* The total consideration for these agreements for 2019 was $692.44 billion (-6.6 per cent compared with 2018 and -4.7 per cent compared with 2017).
* The number of assignments of building units for 2019 was 91,874 (-12.7 per cent compared with 2018 and -11.4 per cent compared with 2017).
* The total consideration for these assignments for 2019 was $764.65 billion (-7.2 per cent compared with 2018 but +11.9 per cent compared with 2017).
Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public for 2019 was 5,049,997 (-4.1 per cent compared with 2018 and -2.5 per cent compared with 2017).
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 Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited on fraudulent website, 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 website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website 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.