Effective Exchange Rate Index
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 is 104.4 (down 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more
Tag Archives: China
Registration of poll particulars to close on June 15
The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
Under the Particulars Relating to Candidates on Ballot Papers (Legislative Council and District Councils) Regulation (Cap. 541M), candidates in the Legislative Council and District Council elections may apply to have certain registered particulars printed on the ballot papers for easier identification by electors.
Bodies or persons wishing to register or amend their particulars with the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) in the 2025 registration cycle should hand in their applications by June 15. According to the Regulation, these particulars include the names, abbreviations of names and emblems of prescribed bodies, and the personal emblems of prescribed persons.
The public could inspect the prevailing register at the EAC’s website (www.eac.hk). Bodies or persons concerned are not required to make another application in respect of the specified particulars which have been included in the prevailing register.
“Applications can be submitted at any time during the year. Applications submitted on or before the statutory cut-off date of June 15 will be processed within the 2025 registration cycle, while applications submitted after June 15 will be processed in the 2026 registration cycle,” a spokesman for the EAC said today (May 20).
Application forms are available at the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) and all District Offices. They can also be downloaded from the EAC’s website.
The EAC will carefully consider all applications in accordance with the criteria and procedures stipulated in the Regulation. Details of all successful applications will be gazetted and open to public inspection at the REO during office hours. The public can also view the information on the EAC’s website.
For enquiries concerning the application procedures, please call the REO hotline at 2891 1001. read more
Exchange Fund Bills tender results
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
| Tender date | : | 20 May 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | Q2521 |
| Issue date | : | 21 May 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | 20 August 2025 |
| Amount applied | : | HK$223,183 MN |
| Amount allotted | : | HK$65,336 MN |
| Average yield accepted | : | 1.15 PCT |
| Highest yield accepted | : | 1.20 PCT |
| Pro rata ratio* | : | About 53 PCT |
| Average tender yield | : | 1.31 PCT |
| **************************** | ||
| Tender date | : | 20 May 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | H2550 |
| Issue date | : | 21 May 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | 19 November 2025 |
| Amount applied | : | HK$49,150 MN |
| Amount allotted | : | HK$15,000 MN |
| Average yield accepted | : | 1.55 PCT |
| Highest yield accepted | : | 1.59 PCT |
| Pro rata ratio* | : | About 10 PCT |
| Average tender yield | : | 1.81 PCT |
*”Pro rata ratio” refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant’s tendered amount at the “highest yield accepted” level.
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Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning May 26, 2025:
| Tender date | : | 27 May 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | Q2522 |
| Issue date | : | 28 May 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | 27 August 2025 |
| Tenor | : | 91 Days |
| Amount on offer | : | HK$65,978 MN |
| **************************** | ||
| Tender date | : | 27 May 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | H2551 |
| Issue date | : | 28 May 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | 26 November 2025 |
| Tenor | : | 182 Days |
| Amount on offer | : | HK$15,000 MN |
China National Peking Opera Company to perform new and classic Peking opera plays in Hong Kong in June (with photos)
Renowned Peking opera artists Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu will lead an elite cast from the China National Peking Opera Company to Hong Kong in June to present three performances for the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025 organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). The repertoire includes the new historical Peking opera, “Cession for Consolidation of the Song Regime”, alongside timeless classics “A Meeting of Heroes, Invoking the East Wind and The Huarong Pass” and “The Legend of the White Snake”. This programme is also the opening event of the 13th Chinese Opera Festival (COF) and one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month 2025.
“Cession for Consolidation of the Song Regime”
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Date and time: June 20 (Friday), 7.30pm
Two years in the making of “Cession for Consolidation of the Song Regime”, the production recounts the historical story of Qian Chu, King of Wuyue during the late Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, who deferred to historical tides and his allegiance to the rightful rule. The China National Peking Opera Company preserves traditions while embracing innovation, and has crafted this production with a firm grounding in the core aesthetics of Peking opera, employing its signature abstract and symbolic conventions to evoke a magnificent chapter showing a wise king who values his people, pursues peace and stability, demonstrating the communal spirit pertaining to the Chinese national identity. The stellar cast is led by Peking opera star duo Yu Kuizhi, known as “China’s No 1 laosheng (old male role)”, and Li Shengsu, celebrated qingyi (virtuous female) role artist of the Mei (Lanfang) School and joined by the Company’s finest established artists and promising young talents, to illustrate the spirit and historical roots of the Chinese nation through the artistry of Peking opera in the new era.
“A Meeting of Heroes, Invoking the East Wind and The Huarong Pass”
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Date and time: June 21 (Saturday), 7.30pm
“A Meeting of Heroes, Invoking the East Wind and The Huarong Pass” is a classic ensemble piece in Peking opera drawn from the “Battle of Red Cliff” in the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, showcasing the iconic scenes such as “Jiang Gan Stealing the Letter”, “Borrowing Arrows with Thatched Boats” and “Staging a Ruse”. As the saying goes, “There are no minor roles in the epic episodes” in this repertoire, the play features a rich cast of historical figures, blending singing, dialogue, acting, and martial arts. The plot is both witty and dramatic, with spectacular scenes that captivate the audience. Yu Kuizhi will lead a stunning cast of Peking opera masters to perform, which makes the play a must-see for opera enthusiasts.
“The Legend of the White Snake”
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Date and time: June 22 (Sunday), 7.30pm
Another classic, “The Legend of the White Snake”, a timeless love story between the immortal and the mortal, is still popular today. This production highlights the characters, visuals and technical artistry in major scenes – the excerpt “At the Lake” creates an idyllic moment and love emotions with misty waves during a boat trip; “Fighting on the Water” uses numerous wavering flags to simulate the water that floods the Jinshan Temple; and “On Broken Bridge” brings out Bai Suzhen (Lady White Snake)’s woes and heartbreak through exquisite vocal delivery. Meanwhile, the role of Bai will be shared by Li Shengsu and outstanding young performer Zhu Hong, embodying the mission to pass on, preserve and promote the artistry of Peking opera.
The China National Peking Opera Company was founded in 1955, with the Peking opera legend, Maestro Mei Lanfang, as its founding director. Over the past seven decades, the Company has brought together many talented professionals in Peking opera, and has upheld the legacy while diligently creating new works. It promotes the excellent traditional Chinese culture through Peking opera and fosters cultural exchanges between China and other countries. The above-mentioned performances offer audiences a perfect blend of contemporary creativity and traditional mastery, and showcase the Company’s 70th anniversary achievement in preserving and advancing the artistry of Peking opera.
The three performances will be held at the Grand Theatre of Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Lyrics and dialogue are with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $260, $360, $460 and $560 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Group booking discount and package booking discount are available for purchasing selected CCF stage programmes, the “Chinese Opera Film Shows” of the COF 2025 and the “Legacy and Vision: Conversations with Chinese Cultural Masters” lecture. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/chinese-opera-festival-2025-opening-programme/.
The programme will also feature a meet-the-artists session (in Putonghua and Cantonese) entitled “The Legacy and Development of Peking Opera” to be held at 7.30pm on June 19 (Thursday) at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The speakers include Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu, while Chinese opera researcher Hu Guangming will be the moderator. Also, a backstage tour (in Putonghua with Cantonese interpretation) will be held on June 21 (Saturday) at 3.30pm at the Backstage of the Grand Theatre of Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Admission is free and online registration is required for both activities (www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1839.html#tab_13_0). If the quotas for online registration are full, those who are interested may wait at the venue’s entrance for a standby quota on the day of the session. Any unclaimed spots will be released 10 minutes after the session begins on a first-come, first-served basis.
In addition, a demonstration performance of Peking opera will be held on June 22 (Sunday) at 3.30pm at the Foyer of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Zhang Xinxin and Wang Xuesong from the China National Peking Opera Company will perform extracts of “Chasing the Boat on the Autumn River”. Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome to watch the performance on-site.
The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public’s national identity and cultural confidence. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from both the Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2025 will be held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the COF, “Tan Dun WE-Festival”, film screenings, exhibitions, as well as community and school activities and more, the festival provides members of the public and visitors with more opportunities to enjoy distinctive programmes that showcase fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby facilitating patriotic education and contributing to the inheritance, transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture in Hong Kong. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2025, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.
Applications for voter registration and change of voter registration particulars to close on June 2
The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) today (May 20) reminds eligible persons/bodies who have not yet registered as electors/voters of geographical constituency (GC), functional constituency and/or Election Committee subsector to submit registration applications as early as possible on or before the statutory deadline of June 2 so that their registration particulars can be included in the final registers of electors/voters to be published this year, and they can vote in the relevant elections to be held this year.
Hong Kong permanent residents who hold an identity document, will reach 18 years of age by September 25 this year and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong are eligible to register as GC electors. Registered electors/voters do not need to register again. However, if there is any change in their residential address or other registration particulars, they should submit applications for change of particulars to the REO by the same statutory deadline of June 2.
A spokesperson for the REO said, “The REO encourages eligible persons to submit applications for new registration as GC electors or change of voter registration particulars through ‘iAM Smart’. They may also provide/update their mobile phone number and email address, and check their voter registration status through ‘iAM Smart’.”
Members of the public who are newly registered as GC electors or registered electors who need to update their residential address must submit to the REO an address proof. They should also provide their phone number and email address for the REO to facilitate contact.
“Under no circumstances would the REO require the provision of address proof with personal bank information. Members of the public shall remain vigilant in avoiding fraud,” the spokesperson added.
Apart from submitting applications through “iAM Smart”, members of the public could submit applications by using specified forms. Specified application forms for new registration and change of registration particulars are available on the Voter Registration website (vr.gov.hk) for download, or may be obtained at the District Offices, the management offices of public housing estates and the REO. Completed application forms may be submitted via the following channels on or before the statutory deadline of June 2:
- by email (form@reo.gov.hk) – application forms and supplementary documents should be attached to the email. The REO does not accept submission of documents by providing a hyperlink to cloud storage. Upon receipt of email applications, the REO will automatically send a confirmation email (see attachment for sample) to applicants. If applicants do not receive such confirmation, they may resubmit applications by email or through other channels, and they should check whether the size of the attachment files is too large which will lead to delivery failure;
- through the REO e-Form Upload Platform (www.reo-form.gov.hk) – after a successful submission, applicants should take note of the application number generated by the system for future reference;
- by post to the REO office, 29/F, Standard Chartered Tower, Millennium City 1, 388 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon – the date of the postmark will be taken as the date of submission for applications by post. Applicants should mail their application forms early to avoid missing the statutory deadline;
- by fax to 2891 1180; or
- in person to the REO office during office hours (i.e. 8.45am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays), 29/F of Standard Chartered Tower, Millennium City 1, 388 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon. The said office will remain open until 11.59pm on June 2.​
For enquiries, please visit the Voter Registration website or call the REO hotline at 2891 1001. read more