The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     To promote the development of bond markets in Hong Kong and Macao, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) today (September 16) jointly announced the establishment of a direct linkage between the Central Moneymarkets Unit (CMU) of the HKMA and the central securities depository (CSD) operated by Macao Central Securities Depository and Clearing Limited (MCSD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the AMCM.
      
     Under the direct linkage arrangement, investors in Hong Kong, through their accounts at the CMU, will be able to clear, settle and hold bonds lodged with the CSD in Macao; while investors in Macao, through their accounts in the CSD in Macao, will also be able to clear, settle and hold bonds lodged with the CMU. This arrangement will mark a new milestone in the financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao, signifying far-reaching implications for the synergistic development of the core cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
      
     The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, "The HKMA, in recent years, has gradually established connectivity with various neighbouring financial markets to strengthen regional co-operation, and to bring in more opportunities for all sorts of financial services, in particular the Renminbi business. This also provides domestic and overseas investors with a greater variety of investment products, so as to further strengthen Hong Kong's competitiveness as an international financial centre. On this basis, fostering connectivity between the bond market infrastructures in Hong Kong and Macao is a major manifestation of the synergistic development of the financial markets in the GBA, and will develop CMU into an international CSD in Asia, leveraging its role as a super-connector."
      
     The Chairman of the AMCM, Mr Benjamin Chan, said, "The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government has been promoting appropriate economic diversification and fostering diversity within the financial ecosystem, with bond market serving as the crucial cornerstone. This could provide another financing channel to support major national strategic deployments, including the development of the GBA. Besides, based on the historical ties between Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries, connecting with the bond market infrastructure in Hong Kong will enable Macao to further leverage its role as a gateway between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. It will also strengthen Macao's function as the financial services platform serving China and Portuguese‑speaking countries, and achieve mutual market access among the financial markets and financial market infrastructures in the GBA."
      
     The official launch date and detailed arrangements for the direct linkage will be announced in due course.
 
About HKMA

     The HKMA is Hong Kong's central banking institution. The HKMA's main functions are: (i) maintaining currency stability within the framework of the Linked Exchange Rate System; (ii) promoting the stability and integrity of the financial system, including the banking system; (iii) helping to maintain Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre, including the maintenance and development of Hong Kong's financial infrastructure; and (iv) managing the Exchange Fund.

     The CMU, owned and operated by the HKMA, provides secure and efficient clearing, settlement and custodian services for Hong Kong's multi-currency debt securities and those in international markets. Over the years, the CMU has continuously established linkages with regional and international central securities depositories to expand its issuer and investor reach globally. With the launch of Bond Connect scheme in 2017, the CMU has become a pivotal financial market infrastructure serving both onshore and offshore market participants.
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     Please visit www.cmu.org.hk for more information about the CMU.
 
About AMCM

     The AMCM is Macao's central banking and integrated financial regulatory institution. Its main functions include: (i) assisting the Chief Executive of Macao SAR in formulating and implementing monetary, financial, exchange rate and insurance policies; (ii) overseeing the monetary, financial, foreign exchange and insurance markets in accordance with relevant statutory regulations to ensure their smooth operations, as well as supervising and regulating the entities operating in the respective markets; (iii) maintaining the internal stability and external solvency of the domestic currency to ensure its full convertibility; (iv) managing foreign exchange reserves and the fiscal reserve; and (v) maintaining the stability of the financial system. With the support of the Central Government, the AMCM constructed the CSD and set up the MCSD as its wholly owned subsidiary in December 2021. The MCSD is responsible for the operation of the CSD. Currently, the MCSD mainly provides securities registration, clearing, settlement, depository and other related services. The MCSD aims to provide financial-market infrastructure services to support the efficient and safe operations of the Macao bond market, which is expected to become an investment and financing platform that is widely recognised by local and international issuers, investors and other participants.
      
     Please visit www.mcsd.com.mo for more information about the MCSD.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) today (September 16) reminded parents who wish to apply for a Primary One (P1) place for their child in any government or aided school in September 2025 to submit their applications for discretionary places under the Primary One Admission (POA) System via the POA e-platform (ePOA) starting from this Thursday (September 19), or in paper form starting from next Monday (September 23).
 
Submission of applications for discretionary places
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     An EDB spokesman said, "Parents intending to apply for a P1 place of a particular government or aided primary school for their child at the Discretionary Places Admission stage under the POA System via ePOA should first register as ePOA (epoa.edb.gov.hk) users and bind their account to "iAM Smart+", and submit their applications via ePOA between September 19 and 27. For details, please refer to the Parent's Guides on the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/poa_eplatform/index.html). If parents choose to submit paper application forms, they should submit the completed application form together with all supporting documents directly to the school during school office hours between September 23 and 27. Parents who are unable to submit the application form in person may authorise in writing a representative to bring along the above-mentioned documents to the school on their behalf."
 
     "Irrespective of whether the application is submitted via ePOA or in paper form, parents should submit only one application for their child. If parents have applied to more than one government or aided primary school, their application for a POA discretionary place would be rendered void. In addition, parents should not submit duplicate applications via ePOA and in paper form for the same child," the spokesman added.
 
     The spokesman reminded parents that schools would process the applications in accordance with the established procedures and criteria at the Discretionary Places Admission stage. As such, there is no need for parents to prepare portfolios for their child.
 
     In addition, children who have accepted the offer of P1 places in Direct Subsidy Scheme primary schools would not be allocated P1 places in government or aided primary schools through the POA System.
 
Application for Central Allocation only
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     If parents are applying only for the POA Central Allocation for their child, they should submit the application to the EDB via ePOA or in paper form on or before January 17, 2025. For submission in paper form, they should return the completed application form and supporting documents to the School Places Allocation Section (Primary One Admission) of the EDB at Podium Floor, West Block, Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre, 19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong.
 
Residential address
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     "When completing the POA Application Form, parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If a false address is given by parents to secure a P1 place for their child under the POA System, the application would be rendered void and the P1 place allocated would be withdrawn. If a false instrument has been used or a false statutory declaration has been made in the application, the offender is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 14 years or imprisonment for two years and to a fine respectively under the Crimes Ordinance. Suspected cases of using a false address for POA applications may be reported to the School Places Allocation Section by calling its hotline at 2832 7700," the EDB spokesman emphasised.
 

     A woman who went missing in Tin Sum has been located.

     Fu Tsz-kei, aged 25, went missing after she left her residence in Sun Tin Wai Estate on February 20 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on May 20.

    The woman was located at Lok Ma Chau Control Point on September 14 night. She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman today (September 16) announced that 14 general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) will provide public holiday GOPC services on the day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (September 18) (see table below). Patients may book an appointment either through the telephone appointment system or the "Book GOPC" function of the HA Go mobile app.

     The spokesman reminded members of the public that they should stay vigilant about personal and environmental hygiene during the public holiday to avoid spreading diseases. Members of the public who develop respiratory symptoms should wear a mask and seek medical advice promptly. Apart from GOPCs of the HA, patients may also consider consulting private family doctors. To choose a suitable family doctor and related clinic services, the public can browse the Primary Care Directory of the Health Bureau at www.pcdirectory.gov.hk.

GOPC service arrangements on the day following Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (September 18)

Service hours:
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm

     The Innovation and Technology Commission today (September 16) launched the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme (NIAS) to provide funding support for enterprises in industries of strategic importance to set up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong. Eligible enterprises are welcome to apply.

     "To promote the downstream development of new industrialisation, the Chief Executive announced the $10 billion New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme in his Policy Address last year. It is hoped that the scheme can encourage enterprises to make use of innovation and technology to achieve smart production and enhance competitiveness," a spokesman for the Commission said.

     Under the NIAS, the Government will provide funding support on a 1 (Government): 2 (enterprise) matching basis for enterprises engaging in industries of strategic importance (i.e. life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies) to set up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong. For each project, the minimum total project cost is $300 million. The enterprise has to contribute no less than $200 million and the Government will cover a maximum of one-third of the total approved project cost or $200 million, whichever is lower. Each enterprise may have a maximum of two projects approved, receiving up to $200 million in total under the NIAS.

     In addition, the Government will encourage enterprises with approved projects under the NIAS to carry out research or increase their scale of research in Hong Kong by providing additional funding for them to engage research talent, as well as facilitate such enterprises in employing non-local talent required for setting up or operation of new production facilities in Hong Kong.

     The NIAS is open for application throughout the year. Details are available at the Innovation and Technology Fund website (www.itf.gov.hk). For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the NIAS (Tel: 3655 5678; email: nias@itc.gov.hk).