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.

     ​The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, today (March 17) met with Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law, Mr Edwin Tong. Miss Law briefed Mr Tong on Hong Kong's in-depth integration of culture, tourism and sports. They also exchanged views on relevant policies promoted by both governments and explored future opportunities to deepen mutual international exchanges and co-operation in culture, sports and tourism. The atmosphere was cordial and harmonious.

     Miss Law said, "As an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, we actively promote diverse cultural exchange activities, such as the Hong Kong Super March, which brings together a series of world-class events in a creative and cultural atmosphere. This could attract Mainland and overseas tourists to come to Hong Kong and experience Hong Kong's unique cultural charm and vitality. In terms of tourism, we will propose innovative and diverse ways to attract more tourists, promote high-quality development of the tourism industry, and pursue the concept of 'tourism everywhere'."

     During the meeting, the two sides also talked about sports facilities in the two places. Miss Law said, "The official opening of Kai Tak Sports Park on March 1 provides Hong Kong with world-class facilities. We will make full use of these resource to host more major international events, including cohosting the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games together with Guangdong and Macao, with a view to further enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness in sports."

     â€‹"We are pleased to strengthen our collaboration with Singapore to promote exchanges and interactions in the areas of culture, sports and tourism, and to explore more opportunities to develop these areas as an industry to increase prosperity in the Asian region," she added.

      

     â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (March 17) that, as advised by the postal administration of Australia, mail delivery services to Queensland and New South Wales in Australia previously impacted by severe weather have returned to normal.

     The Labour Importation Scheme for the Transport Sector – Aviation Industry (Scheme) will be open for a third round of application tomorrow (March 18).

     As with the first two rounds of application, importation of labour is allowed for the 10 frontline non-supervisory job types facing the most acute manpower shortage, covering passenger services officers, ramp services agents, cabin workers, aircraft maintenance mechanics/technicians, tractor drivers, warehouse operators/cargo handlers, equipment/loader operators, customer services agents, aircraft tug drivers and maintenance technicians. Applicants of the Scheme must be registered business entities which possess a contract/licence/franchise/passenger handling permit with the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) to operate their business at Hong Kong International Airport. Applicants also have to pay the AAHK $400 per month for each worker imported, while the AAHK will contribute an annual lump sum in an amount of the same magnitude as the total amount paid by applicants. As driven by the Government and co-ordinated by the AAHK, the relevant payments have been used for subsidising the transport costs of the local frontline staff responsible for the airport's operation since May last year.  

     The application procedures and operational details of the Scheme are similar to those of the first two rounds of application. Applicants shall submit the completed application form together with other required documents to the AAHK between March 18 and March 31. An interdepartmental liaison group comprising representatives from the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), the Labour Department and the AAHK will consider the applications, and approval decisions will be made by the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics. The approval process will be completed in approximately two weeks from the end of the application period.

     The TLB and the AAHK will continue to engage in regular meetings with the stakeholder consultative group to listen to the views of stakeholders, including employers and labour representatives, on the Scheme. Information dissemination will also be enhanced through the consultative group in order to facilitate the smooth implementation and execution of the Scheme.

     The application forms and scheme details are uploaded onto the webpage of the TLB (www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/highlights/transport/labour_importation_scheme_aviation_industry.html). For enquiries, please contact the AAHK at 2188 6603.

     â€‹Premised on safeguarding the employment of local labour, the Scheme was introduced in July 2023 to allow the aviation industry to suitably import labour with a view to relieving the acute manpower shortage and supporting the continual development of Hong Kong's aviation industry. After two rounds of application, around 4 100 quotas have been used, of which around 4 000 imported workers have arrived to work in Hong Kong.     

     The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 81 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (March 17).

     This publication contains key findings on employment benefits in the present job as well as characteristics and working conditions of workers of the food and goods delivery digital platforms based on the Thematic Household Survey conducted from December 2023 to March 2024.

Employment benefits in the present job

     The survey results showed that among employees in the non-government sector at the time of enumeration, males and females shared similar proportions (at 51.1% and 48.9% respectively). The majority (87.5%) of them had signed a written employment contract. About half (48.3%) of employees in the non-government sector were entitled to employment benefits at a level higher than that stipulated in the Employment Ordinance, while more than half (56.9%) enjoyed extra items of employment benefits which were not required under the Employment Ordinance in their present job. Furthermore, about one-tenth (10.6%) enjoyed flexible work arrangement in their present job.

Characteristics and working conditions of workers of the food and goods delivery digital platforms

     Findings of the survey also showed that some 12 900 persons had engaged in the food and goods delivery digital platforms during the 12 months before enumeration (hereafter referred to as "platform workers"). About half (52.5%) were in younger age group (aged 15-39). Some platform workers engaged in more than one platform company. Around 18 100 work in the food and goods delivery digital platforms were taken up by the 12 900 platform workers during the 12 months before enumeration. Analysed by mode of work, the two most common roles performed by those platform workers were cyclist (29.1%) and walker (26.5%).

Other information

     The survey successfully enumerated target respondents in some 10 000 households in accordance with a scientific sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong.

     Detailed findings of the survey, together with the population coverage and concepts/definitions of key terms, are presented in the publication. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1130201&scode=453)

     Enquiries about the survey findings can be directed to the Social Surveys Section (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 0592 or email: thematic@censtatd.gov.hk).