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 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited relating to fraudulent websites and phishing instant messages, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites or instant messages concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, at the Asia+ Festival 2024 programme parade today (August 20):
 
Dear Consuls General, guests, friends from the cultural, media and tourism sectors,
 
     Welcome to the programme parade of the Asia+ Festival 2024.
      
     Under the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is actively developing into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. To this end, the first Asia+ Festival was launched last year and attracted over 62 000 participants. It was recognised as one of the items in the list of "People’s Livelihood and People-to-people Connectivity Projects" in the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation hosted by President Xi in 2023.
      
     Building on this inaugural success, we host the second Asia+ Festival this year, with distinguished artists from nearly 30 countries from Asia, the Middle East and the Belt and Road regions. There will be more than 100 performances and activities, anticipating drawing over 100 000 participants. We are grateful to the Consulates General and overseas cultural organisations in Hong Kong for their unfailing support. This year’s programme offers a rich and diverse spectrum of dynamic multimedia dance performances, concerts by internationally acclaimed master pianist and superstar vocalist, imaginative participatory multimedia music programme, and a new "Middle Eastern Series" with performances that blend the styles of the Middle East and the West. We will also engage with local communities by exploring new venues and organising outreach activities, at the same time, to offer visitors a taste of the multicultural vibrancy and vitality of our city.
      
     The logo of the Asia+ Festival symbolises the window to the world, Hong Kong’s advantage to connect itself with other parts of Asia and the world, where the city serves as a platform to various countries and regions for sustainable collaborations. I invite you to join us and experience together the charm of various cultures and peoples in Hong Kong. Thank you.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Haven of Hope Hospital (HHH) made the following announcement today (August 20):
      
     Eight male patients (aged between 55 and 92) in an infirmary ward of HHH have been presenting with fever or respiratory symptoms and have tested positive for COVID-19 since August 6. All the patients are being treated under cohort isolation and are in stable condition. Moreover, five staff members in the ward who had respiratory symptoms since August 15, and tested positive for COVID-19, are in stable condition.
      
     Admission to the ward has been suspended since August 17, and restricted visiting has been imposed. Thorough cleaning and disinfection measures have been conducted in the ward. Infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines.
      
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the patients. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 is 104.5 (same as 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 19 to noon today (August 20), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 234 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 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 77 596 samples of food imported from Japan (including 49 766 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 17 998 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.