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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), in collaboration with the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) and the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), hosted the second Financial Leadership Training Program (Program) in Hong Kong. Building upon the success of its inaugural Program last year, this year's Program took place from August 26 to 29. More than 40 senior representatives from central banks, ministries of finance and related government agencies in the ASEAN+3 member economies as well as international organisations participated in the Program.

     The Program, designed to enhance participants' capabilities in safeguarding regional macroeconomic and financial stability, provided a platform for attendees to engage in wide-ranging discussions on issues pertinent to the region, enhance their leadership skills, and deepen their professional knowledge. During the Program, participants exchanged views with industry leaders, regulators and academia representatives on topical issues including local currency usage, recent market and regulatory developments in green and sustainable finance, as well as fintech, artificial intelligence and financial digitalisation.
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     Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA Mr Darryl Chan, said, "We are delighted to see the continued success of the Financial Leadership Training Program, which underscores our ongoing commitment to foster strong relationships with our Asian counterparts. I look forward to expanding our collaboration with neighbouring economies on areas of shared interest."

     AMRO is an international organisation that aims to contribute to the macroeconomic and financial resilience and stability in the ASEAN+3 region. ADBI is a Tokyo-based think tank of the Asian Development Bank, providing policy research, capacity building, training, and outreach to assist developing countries in Asia and the Pacific.

  

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, August 29, 2024 is 103.8 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index). 

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on August 28 to noon today (August 29), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 122 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 80 290 samples of food imported from Japan (including 51 367 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 18 450 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The 2024 Paris Olympic Games Mainland Olympians delegation arrived in Hong Kong today (August 29) to start a three-day visit.
 
     Led by the Director of the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC), Mr Gao Zhidan, and Deputy Director of the GASC Mr Zhou Jinqiang, the Olympians delegation arrived in Hong Kong around noon. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government held a welcome ceremony at Hong Kong International Airport to receive the delegation. They were greeted by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; the Secretary General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Wang Songmiao; the President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Mr Timothy Fok, and other guests.
 
     Members of the delegation will attend a welcome reception and banquet hosted by the HKSAR Government this evening. The public will be able to see them up close at three public events, namely a gala show at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, as well as two sports demonstrations at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium and the Victoria Park Swimming Pool, scheduled for tomorrow and the day after, respectively.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Committee on Home-School Co-operation:
 
     The Committee on Home-School Co-operation (CHSC) will release the online version (in Chinese and English) of the Primary School Profiles 2024 on September 2 (next Monday). All kindergartens and kindergarten-cum-child care centres in the territory will distribute the printed version of the Profiles to parents with children at the K3 level of the current school year.
 
     The Profiles cover basic information of more than 500 local primary schools including school facilities, teaching staff information, class structure, performance assessment, school life, life-wide learning, school mission and school characteristics. The information is provided and verified by individual schools, showing their situations as at April 2024.
 
     The Profiles provide essential school information and a "Message from CHSC Chairman", which states the key points when choosing schools, to help parents choose a suitable school for their children.
 
     Schools can update the online version of the Profiles whenever necessary so that parents can obtain the most up-to-date school information.
 
     The Profiles are divided by districts. Parents of children who will study at the Primary One level in September 2025 will receive a copy of either the Chinese or English printed version of the Profiles for their districts of residence through their respective kindergartens or kindergarten-cum-child care centres. For children not attending kindergartens or kindergarten-cum-child care centres, parents may obtain a copy of the respective district from the School Places Allocation Section of the Education Bureau (EDB). 
 
     The public can access the online version of the Profiles by visiting the Primary School Profiles webpage at www.chsc.hk/primary/en. Copies of the printed version will be available for public reference at District Offices, public libraries and Regional Education Offices of the EDB.
 
     For enquiries about the Profiles, please call the EDB's Regional Education Offices (Hong Kong: 2863 4646; Kowloon: 3698 4108; New Territories East: 2639 4876; and New Territories West: 2437 7272) or the CHSC Secretariat at 3698 4376.