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 Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited relating to fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens, 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 login screens 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.

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

     â€‹Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

 
*"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.
 
———————————————————

     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning March 24, 2025:
 

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 China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited relating to fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens, 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 login screens 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.
 
 

     A spokesperson for the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) said today (March 18) that the Buildings Energy Efficiency (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be published in the Gazette on Friday (March 21).
      
     The spokesperson said, "The Amendment Bill seeks to enhance the buildings energy efficiency management regime of Hong Kong. It improves the energy efficiency of buildings to reduce the demand for power consumption and generation, which will not only reduce carbon emissions but also lessen the financial burden on the public for the increased use of clean fuels for electricity generation, thereby assisting Hong Kong to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050."
      
     The Amendment Bill contains five parts, namely regulating the energy efficiency standards of building services installations for all data centres in Hong Kong; requiring more types of buildings to conduct regular energy audits; shortening the intervals of energy audits; disclosing certain technical information in energy audit reports; and including more qualifications eligible for registration as Registered Energy Assessors. If the Amendment Bill is passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo) and implemented in full, it is estimated that an additional 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of about 150 000 three-person households, could be saved in 2035.
      
     The spokesperson added, "The proposed amendments to the Ordinance aims to achieve a win-win scenario of saving electricity cost for buildings, reducing carbon emission, and boosting the development of green economy."
      
     The EEB has extensively consulted relevant stakeholders on the legislative amendment proposals, which include trade associations, the property management sector, the construction industry, professional bodies, public services bodies, and the LegCo Panel on Environmental Affairs. The views received have been incorporated into the Amendment Bill as appropriate. Stakeholders generally support the proposals.
      
     The Amendment Bill will be introduced into the LegCo for first reading and commencement of the second reading debate on March 26. The Government will fully support the work of the LegCo in scrutinising the Amendment Bill and looks forward to the LegCo's support and passage of the Amendment Bill.

     The Secretariat of the Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme (CCFS) announced today (March 18) that the Advisory Committee on Countryside Conservation (ACCC) had approved six CCFS projects in the latest round of applications, including Nature Conservation Management Agreement projects and Cultural Rehabilitation projects, involving a total grant of around $51 million.
      
     The newly approved projects seek to subsidise local non-profit-making organisations to carry out diversified ecological and cultural conservation work in remote countryside areas, such as Lai Chi Wo, Mui Tsz Lam, Kap Tong, Kuk Po, Kat O and the Deep Bay wetlands. These include adopting ecologically friendly means to conduct farming and fishpond habitat management, thereby revitalising farmland and fish ponds, and increasing their ecological value. The projects will also revitalise traditional Hakka culture, thereby showcasing unique and precious cultural assets in remote countryside in Hong Kong, enhancing the ecotour experience for citizens and tourists, and increasing the public's awareness of conserving natural ecology and cultural and historic assets.
      
     A total of 56 projects involving a total subsidy amount of over $325 million have been approved under the 10 rounds of CCFS applications conducted so far, supporting local non-profit-making organisations' work in promoting different aspects of conservation and revitalisation, including natural ecology, non-graded built heritage, and cultural and historic assets. All CCFS applications are examined and considered by the ACCC, which is chaired by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology. Details of the approved projects are available on the CCFS webpage (www.eeb.gov.hk/en/conservation/ccfs/ccfs_approved_projects.html).