The Lands Department announced today (November 30) that in respect of the tender for the site Lot No. 766 in Demarcation District No. 332 at South Lantau Road, Cheung Sha, Lantau Island, New Territories, which was awarded on October 30 to the successful tenderer, Fully Fortune Corporation Limited, on a 50-year land grant at a premium of $160 million, the tender amounts submitted by the unsuccessful tenderers in descending order are published on an anonymous basis as follows:

(1) $129 million
(2) $105 million
(3) $76 million
(4) $48 million
(5) $28 million

     The information disclosed in this press release is for information only.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (November 30) released the latest grading of water quality for nine gazetted beaches. Other beaches have been closed to swimmers from November 1 for the winter season.
        
     Seven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and two as Fair (Grade 2).
 
Grade 1 beaches are: 
 

 
Grade 2 beaches are:
 

 
* The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today that Clear Water Bay Second Beach will reopen on December 1. 
^ For Silver Mine Bay Beach, Stanley Main Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach, lifeguard services are suspended from December 1, 2018, to February 28, 2019.
# Deep Water Bay Beach and Middle Bay Beach remain closed until further notice due to the severe damage brought about by Typhoon Mangkhut earlier.
 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades 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 department's websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk and www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

     The Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office (PICO) announced today (November 30) the results of the third round applications to the Public Policy Research (PPR) Funding Scheme in 2018-19.
 
     The PPR Funding Scheme aims to promote public policy research and provide evidence-based research to facilitate public policy discussion. Applications are accepted throughout the year. For the third round exercise in 2018-19, PICO received 21 applications. On the advice of an assessment panel, PICO has decided to support five projects with a total funding of about $3 million.
 
     Applications to the PPR Funding Scheme are assessed by an assessment panel, chaired by and comprising experienced academics, who will take into account comments of reviewers who are academics and experts outside the panel in considering the applications. Each application is considered on its merits and relevance to public policy development in Hong Kong. A declaration of interests system is in place to ensure that the assessments are fair and impartial.
 
     Details of the funded projects have been uploaded to PICO's website (www.pico.gov.hk/en/PRFS).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
     
     According to statistics published today (November 30) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorised institutions grew by 0.2% in October 2018. Hong Kong-dollar deposits decreased by 0.5% during the month, as the decline in savings deposits exceeded the increase in demand and time deposits. Overall foreign-currency deposits picked up by 0.9% in October. Renminbi deposits in Hong Kong rose by 2.8% to RMB617.3 billion at the end of October. The total remittance of renminbi for cross-border trade settlement amounted to RMB335.8 billion in October, compared with RMB348.8 billion in September.
      
     Total loans and advances declined by 0.2% in October. Among the total, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) edged down by 0.1% from a month ago, while loans for use outside Hong Kong declined by 0.6%. The Hong Kong-dollar loan-to-deposit ratio edged up to 85.3% at the end of October from 85.0% at the end of September, as Hong Kong-dollar deposits decreased at a faster pace than Hong Kong-dollar loans.
      
     On a seasonally-adjusted basis, Hong Kong-dollar M1 declined by 0.9% in October and dropped by 4.7% year-on-year. Seasonally unadjusted Hong Kong-dollar M3 decreased by 0.4% during the month and fell by 2.1% from a year earlier.

     A red tide has been sighted, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (November 30).
 
     The red tide was spotted by staff of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) at the Yim Tin Tsai fish culture zone today.
 
     The red tide still persists and no associated death of fish has been reported.
 
     A spokesman for the working group said, "The red tide was formed by Prorocentrum balticum, which is not commonly found in Hong Kong waters and is non-toxic."
 
     The AFCD urged mariculturists at the Yim Tin Tsai, Yim Tin Tsai (East), Yung Shue Au and Lo Fu Wat fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
 
     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue monitoring red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.