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 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited relating to a fraudulent website and phishing instant messages, 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 website or instant messages 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:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited relating to phishing instant messages, 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 instant messages 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:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, 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 website or login screen 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 Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be gazetted on March 7 to implement the measure announced in the 2025-26 Budget to increase the air passenger departure tax (APDT) from $120 per passenger to $200 with effect from October 1, 2025. The new tax rate will be applicable to air tickets purchased on or after October 1, 2025. It is estimated that government revenue will increase by about $1.6 billion annually.

     Under the Air Passenger Departure Tax Ordinance (Cap. 140) (APDT Ordinance), certain classes of people are exempted from payment of the APDT, including passengers under 12 years of age, direct transit passengers, connecting flight passengers, passengers who arrive at and depart from Hong Kong by aircraft on the same day, and passengers who arrive at Hong Kong International Airport by vehicle via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge or by ship and subsequently depart from Hong Kong by aircraft while remaining within the restricted area at all times before departure.

     A Government spokesman said, "The APDT was last increased more than 20 years ago in 2003-04. The proposed increase constitutes only a very small portion of the overall travelling cost for the general public and travellers to Hong Kong. The impact on air passengers is expected to be minimal."

     Meanwhile, under the APDT Ordinance, airlines and helicopter company collect the APDT from air passengers on behalf of the Government, and process applications for exemptions and refunds. The Government pays an administration fee to them in return. The Bill also proposes amending the APDT Ordinance to streamline the financial arrangement of the Government for handling the administration fee. 
 
     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first reading and the commencement of the second reading debate on March 19.

     The Rating (Exemption) Order 2025 will be gazetted on March 7 to implement the one-off rates concessions proposed in the 2025-26 Budget to relieve the financial burden of the general public.

     The Budget proposes to waive the rates for the first quarter of 2025-26, subject to a concession cap of $500 for each domestic and non-domestic tenement. The proposal will benefit about 3.55 million properties, reducing government revenue by about $1.7 billion.

     The Order will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on March 19.