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

     Result of the tenders of the People's Bank of China RMB Bills held on November 19, 2021:
 

     In accordance with Annex II to the Basic Law, the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (CERC) is responsible for reviewing and confirming the eligibility of candidates for membership of the Legislative Council (LegCo). The CERC will decide whether the person concerned can meet the legal requirements and conditions of upholding the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC.
 
     By the close of the nomination period of the 2021 LegCo General Election on November 12, a total of 154 nomination forms were received by the respective Returning Officers (ROs). The CERC has finished reviewing the nominations of all candidates and determined that 153 nominations are valid. One candidate for the Medical and Health Services functional constituency (FC) is determined as invalidly nominated as he is a prescribed public officer under section 39 (5)(f) of the Legislative Council Ordinance, and is thus disqualified from being nominated as a candidate pursuant to section 39(1)(a)(ii) of the Ordinance.
 
Candidates for geographical constituencies
 
     By the close of the nomination period on November 12, the respective ROs received a total of 35 nominations involving 10 geographical constituencies (GCs). The CERC considered that all of the 35 GC candidates meet the legal requirements and conditions for upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC, and determined their nominations as valid.
 
Candidates for FCs
 
     The respective ROs received a total of 68 nominations involving 28 FCs.  One candidate for the Medical and Health Services FC, Mr Lau Tsz-chun, holds office (whether permanent or temporary) and is employed in a government department or bureau, i.e. he is a prescribed public officer as defined under the Ordinance and is not qualified for being nominated as a candidate. His nomination is determined to be invalid. The CERC considered that the remaining 67 FC candidates can all meet the legal requirements and conditions on upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC, and determined their nominations as valid.
 
Candidates for the Election Committee Constituency
 
     A total of 51 nomination forms were received by the ROs. The CERC considered that these 51 candidates for the Election Committee Constituency can all meet the legal requirements and conditions on upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC, and their nominations are determined as valid.
 
     The ROs concerned have informed all candidates of the decision of the CERC, and for the candidate concerned the reason why his nomination is determined as invalid. The CERC will publish a notice in the Gazette today (November 19), with names, addresses and candidate numbers of the 153 candidates who were determined to be validly nominated in fulfilment of the legal requirement.

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has from today (November 19) onwards deployed LeaveHomeSafe Ambassadors to its public markets with high patronage to promote and encourage the use of the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application, and offer technical support to those in need, with a view to facilitating patrons' admission to markets for shopping.

     Members of the public are now required to use the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code before they are allowed to enter the FEHD's indoor facilities (including public markets, hawker bazaars and cooked food markets). From today till the end of November, LeaveHomeSafe Ambassadors will be deployed to public markets with high patronage rates (including Java Road Market in North Point, Tai Shing Street Market in Wong Tai Sin, To Kwa Wan Market in Kowloon City and Tai Po Hui Market) to promote the use of the "LeaveHomeSafe" app. They will also assist the public to use the app to scan the venue QR code, and help those in need to complete the visitor registration form and perform verification accordingly.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "It is hoped that through their expertise and experience in registration, briefing and interpersonal skills, the LeaveHomeSafe Ambassadors can help the public to get used to the new arrangement as soon as possible."

     Management of the FEHD visited To Kwa Wan Market and Hung Hom Market this morning to encourage LeaveHomeSafe Ambassadors to keep up their good work, thank them for assisting the public to gain admission into public markets, and listen to the views of the public and trade representatives. In addition, various District Environmental Hygiene Offices of the FEHD will continue to maintain close communication with local personalities and trade representatives through the Market Management Consultative Committee.

     The spokesman added, "The FEHD understands that it takes time for the public to get used to the new measures. With the LeaveHomeSafe Ambassadors' active assistance to those in need, the flow of visitors can be sped up and more entrances of public markets can be opened, thus assisting the public to visit public markets. The FEHD will continue to monitor the situation, enhance the implementation details at an appropriate time, make appropriate deployment, allocate more resources and manpower, and more, so as to facilitate patrons' admission to public markets for shopping as far as possible."

  

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, assured participants of a webinar today (November 19) that the business environment of Hong Kong remains favourable and vibrant, saying that with the implementation of the National Security Law and improvements to the electoral system, Hong Kong is back on the right track of "one country, two systems", with developments characterised by safety, security and stability.
 
     Speaking at a webinar of the 2021 World Alliance Forum, Mr Yau illustrated Hong Kong's recent achievements, including being ranked the world's sixth largest merchandise trading economy in terms of total merchandise trade value last year; being ranked the third largest recipient of foreign direct investment in 2020 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report; and first in Asia and second worldwide in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2021.
 
     In addition, total merchandise trade value has hit a record high of close to US$1 trillion in the first nine months of this year. In the first year since the implementation of the National Security Law, IPO funds raised in Hong Kong increased by more than 50 per cent compared to the previous 12 months. The number of business operations in Hong Kong with parent companies outside Hong Kong, and the number of start-ups in Hong Kong this year also reached record highs.
 
     "Facts speak louder than words. These achievements signify unequivocal affirmation of Hong Kong as one of the most competitive economies in the world," Mr Yau said.
 
     Mr Yau also updated participants on Hong Kong's vibrant innovation and technology ecosystem. He said that Hong Kong is seeing significant growth in research and development activities, more talent engaged in the industry, more start-ups, and more venture capital investment, citing the growth of 12 unicorns in Hong Kong.
 
     He added that Hong Kong is particularly keen on developing biotechnology. Having reformed the listing requirement three years ago to allow pre-revenue biotechnology enterprises to raise funds through listing in Hong Kong, Hong Kong is now already the largest biotech fundraising hub in Asia, second only to the Nasdaq in the world. Hong Kong is also the first in the world regarding clinical data being recognised by authoritative medicine regulatory authorities in Mainland China, the United States and the European Union concurrently.

     Organised by the Alliance Forum Foundation, the World Alliance Forum is an annual international conference held in San Francisco with a focus on commercialisation and industrialisation of new technologies in healthcare fields.

  

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (November 19) launched a free online dance video, "Orbit of The Bowl", marking this year's finale of the "Dance on Screen" Series. The video is now available at the department's Edutainment Channel.
 
     "Orbit of The Bowl" is a multimedia artistic creation performed by singing bowl artist Tsang Man-tung and dancer Natalie Mak. Through the sound of the singing bowl, dance and images, the about 10-minute long video explores the concept that life is part of the trajectory of the soul, which moves as if in an orbit with neither a beginning nor end. As the body moves with the sounds and the heart follows the movements until one enters a mindful state, one could discover the countless treasures of life.
 
     Over the past years, Tsang has rolled out various theatrical meditative productions including "The Heart Sutra", "Vipassana-Silent Walk" and "Silence in the Woods". The "Orbit of The Bowl" is Tsang's second short video after "The Light of Metempsychosis", in which he further explores the possibilities of multimedia creation.
 
     To watch the video, please visit the LCSD's Edutainment Channel at www.lcsd.gov.hk/edutainment/en/performing_arts/page_645.html. For programme enquiries or more information, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/multi_arts/programs_1221.html.
 
​    Another free online dance video, "Missing", from the "Dance on Screen" Series by local arts group Beyond Dance Theater is also available at the Edutainment Channel from now until December 10 (Friday). For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/dance/programs_1238.html.