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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued today (May 15) a tentative issuance schedule for Exchange Fund Bills and Notes (EFBNs) for the coming quarter of July to September 2025. The schedule contains information on the tentative tender dates, issue sizes and issue dates of individual issues, representing rollover of maturing issues and taking into account planned adjustments to the maturity spectrum of the EFBN portfolio.

     The quarterly schedule is issued in the second month of each quarter (i.e. February, May, August and November), covering the EFBN tenders in the following quarter.

     It should be noted that the tender dates, issue sizes and issue dates projected in the advance issuance schedule are tentative. The details of new issues of Exchange Fund Bills are to be confirmed and announced at least four business days prior to the respective tender dates. The details of new issues of Exchange Fund Notes are to be confirmed and announced seven business days prior to their respective tender dates. The HKMA may make changes in the light of prevailing market conditions.

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority published today (May 15) the credit card lending survey results for the first quarter of 2025.

     Following an increase of 7.9 per cent in the previous quarter as driven by festive spending and salaries tax payment, total card receivables decreased by 5.8 per cent in the first quarter to HK$152.8 billion at end-March 2025.

     The combined delinquent and rescheduled ratio was 0.42 per cent at end-March 2025, compared with 0.40 per cent at the previous quarter-end. The quarterly charge-off ratio was 0.61 per cent, compared with 0.57 per cent in the previous quarter and remained at a low level.

The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

     The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) will hold a public forum on May 19 (Monday) on the provisional recommendations on the boundaries and names of geographical constituencies for the 2025 Legislative Council General Election. Members of the public are welcome to express their views.

     The forum will be held from 7pm to 9pm at Multi-purpose Hall, 3/F, City Gallery, 3 Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong. The public consultation for the provisional recommendations commenced on May 2 and will last for 30 days to end on May 31.

     Written representations can be submitted to the EAC Secretariat by post at 8/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, by fax (2511 1682) or email (eacenq@eac.hk) on or before May 31. For written representations submitted by post, the postmark date will be taken as the submission date. Late representations will not be considered.

     Maps showing the proposed boundaries and names of geographical constituencies can be viewed on the EAC's website (www.eac.hk/en/elections/legco/2025lc_boundaries.html), or inspected at the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of all district offices, the Registration and Electoral Office (REO), philatelic offices of Hongkong Post, management offices of public housing estates, and major and district public libraries.

     For enquiries, please call the REO hotline at 2891 1001.

     Hong Kong Customs conducted a joint anti-illicit cigarette publicity campaign with members of the Kwai Tsing District Council, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health and the Housing Department (HD) at Cheung Hong Estate and Cheung Ching Estate in Tsing Yi today (May 15).

     Customs officers promoted anti-illicit cigarette messages to residents, traders and security personnel at the Estates, including the Government's proposal to make amendments to the existing legislation to increase penalties for illicit cigarette-related offences, and also encouraged them to report suspected illicit cigarette trading activities to Customs. 

     If public rental housing units are found to be involved in illicit cigarette crimes, Customs will notify the HD for follow-up action after the conclusion of court proceedings. Customs reminds members of the public, especially young people, not to buy or sell illicit cigarettes or distribute illicit cigarette leaflets to avoid creating a criminal record that could affect their future.

     Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at the source, as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling, to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities. Also, Customs will strengthen publicity and education to remind the public not to take part in unlawful acts related to illicit cigarettes.

     In accordance with the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years. Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002). 

     In accordance with the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), no person shall distribute any smoking product advertisement (including any promotion leaflets). Any person who contravenes the regulation is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000. Members of the public may report any suspected activities of illicit cigarette leaflets distribution to TACO's hotline 2961 8823.

      

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 15) that due to maintenance works, Jockey Club Yan Oi Tong Swimming Pool in Tuen Mun District will be temporarily closed from May 19 until further notice.