The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, May 26, 2022 is 99.6 (up 0.6 against yesterday's index).

     The Education Bureau (EDB) reminded parents today (May 26) that the results of the Central Allocation for Primary One Admission (POA) 2022 will be sent to parents by post from next Wednesday to Thursday (June 1 to June 2).

     "A total of 22 898 children took part in Primary One Central Allocation. Among them, 17 843 children were allocated to schools of their first three choices," a spokesman for the bureau said.

     "Taking into account discretionary places and the number of children allocated to schools of their first three choices in the Central Allocation, the overall satisfaction rate is 88.8 per cent."

     The Central Allocation of POA is composed of two parts. Ten per cent of the places for the Central Allocation, which are not restricted by school nets, are under Part A and parents may choose up to three schools in any school net. The remaining 90 per cent of the places for the Central Allocation are under Part B and parents are required to select schools in the school net/Choice of Schools List in respect of the applicant child. Of the places allocated to children in the Central Allocation, 2 511 are under Part A and 20 387 are under Part B.

     Parents who completed a Choice of Schools Form for the Central Allocation on January 22 or January 23 this year will receive the Primary One Registration Form delivered by post from June 1 to June 2 through the Local CourierPost service provided by Hongkong Post. If an attempt of door delivery by Hongkong Post fails, or buildings concerned have residents who have positive test results for COVID-19 in the past 14 days, a Mail Collection Notification Card will be left for parents to collect it from the designated post office starting from the afternoon of the following working day. If parents have not received the Primary One Registration Form or the Mail Collection Notification Card issued by Hongkong Post by June 3, they could collect the Primary One Registration Form at the designated collection centre from June 4 to June 5 (please refer to the EDB's Primary One Admission System webpage for details then). In addition, if parents have provided a mobile phone number on the Choice of Schools Form and indicated their consent to receive the Central Allocation results via the mobile phone number, they will also receive the results of their applicant children via SMS message on June 1.

     In light of the development of the COVID-19 epidemic situation, the EDB will assign timeslots for parents to register with the allocated school on June 7 (Tuesday) or June 8 (Wednesday) according to the last digit of the applicant child's POA application number so as to reduce the gathering of parents. Parents are requested to complete the registration formalities within the specified date and time as listed on the Arrangements on Registration attached to the Primary One Registration Form. Parents who cannot proceed with the registration within the specified date and time can register on June 9 (Thursday) instead, from 9am to noon or 2pm to 4pm.  
 
     "As the Vaccine Pass arrangement has been implemented from February 24, 2022, except for exempted persons, all school staff, persons providing on-campus services and visitors have to present their vaccination record for the purpose of the Vaccine Pass and use the 'LeaveHomeSafe' mobile application to scan the venue QR code before they are allowed to enter schools," the spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman reminded parents, who cannot register their child with the school on the above dates due to matters of grave importance, that they should notify the person in charge of registration of the school concerned in advance to make alternative arrangements; otherwise, they would be deemed to have given up the school place allocated.

     Due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on cross-boundary travel, parents of applicant children in the Mainland or overseas may not be able to register with their respective allocated schools in person. In view of this, the EDB has made special arrangements for these parents. They could register with their allocated school by fax, email or post, or authorise a representative to register with the school on their behalf on the specified registration dates. The EDB has already informed all parents of applicant children concerned about the special arrangements.

     Should parents decide to give up the place allocated because of special circumstances, such as moving to another school net far from the school allocated, they should not register their child with the school allocated. Under such circumstances, they are advised to go to the EDB's School Places Allocation Section, Office 2, 2/F, Manulife Financial Centre, 223 Wai Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, to make necessary arrangements. They should bring along the Primary One Registration Form, the original and copies of documents showing proof of the new address, such as a rental contract, rates demand notes, or water or electricity bills bearing the name of the parent or the guardian of the child.

     Any parent who finds it necessary to transfer his/her child to another school after registration is strongly advised to obtain an assurance of acceptance from that school before retrieving the Primary One Registration Form from the original school because retrieval of the registration form means cancellation of the allocated school place.
 
     Should the territory be affected by adverse weather or other special circumstances during the period for the announcement of results or on any day(s) designated for registration, parents should pay attention to announcements on radio and television for special arrangements for Central Allocation or registration.

     Parents wishing to obtain general information regarding POA procedures can call the 24-hour enquiry service of the EDB at 2891 0088. Further enquiries can be made to the School Places Allocation Section at 2832 7610 (for Hong Kong Island and Islands), 2832 7620 (for Kowloon), 2832 7635 (for New Territories West), 2832 7659 (for New Territories East) and 2832 7700/2832 7740 (for general enquiries) during office hours, as well as from 9am to 4.30pm on June 4 and June 5.

     Invest Hong Kong (​InvestHK) today (May 26) launched a comprehensive investment guidebook in collaboration with PwC aimed at foreign companies setting up or planning to set up in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) via Hong Kong, as part of the department's continuous GBA promotion drive.

     The guidebook, "A practical guide for setting up in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area via Hong Kong", offers practical advice to foreign companies amid the fast-developing landscape of the GBA, a main economic driver of China with GDP of over US$1.9 trillion and an affluent consumer market of over 86 million people.

     The guide presents the latest developments in the GBA – particularly in the areas of innovation and technology, financial services, business and professional services, lifestyle and creative industries, and aviation. It outlines the dynamic landscape of the GBA and the winning strategies to succeed in the region via setting up in Hong Kong. It sets out tips on government policies and advice on facilitation measures, supported by case studies with insights from Arup, King & Wood Mallesons, Siemens, Standard Chartered Bank, and more.

     The Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Mr Stephen Phillips, said, "Hong Kong is well positioned to play a pivotal role as a unique gateway for international businesses to access the GBA and the Mainland market at large. The scale and scope of the opportunities are too significant for business around the world to ignore and Hong Kong is a fantastic entry point to the GBA. Apart from being a renowned international financial, trade and logistics centre, Hong Kong stands out as an international aviation hub, a hotbed for international innovation and technology, a regional intellectual property trading centre, and a destination for cultural and art exchanges." Mr Phillips went on to say, "InvestHK will be collaborating with our counterparts across the GBA to showcase the myriad opportunities to the global business community."

     The PwC South China and Hong Kong Tax Leader, Mr Charles Lee, said, "China's national policies have enabled Hong Kong to become a two-way springboard for international and Mainland businesses looking to raise capital and enter the Mainland and international markets respectively. We advise enterprises to have a 'GBA mindset' to strategically pool and nurture talents in the region to enhance productivity and creativity; develop GBA strategies to tap into new market potential; realise location advantages in the GBA to build a robust supply chain; and make use of institutional policies to expedite market access."

     InvestHK encourages businesses to add this guidebook to their toolbox of winning strategies for the GBA, leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantages as a gateway between the international market and the GBA.
                                                                                        
     The full report can be downloaded from the InvestHK website via the following link: gba.investhk.gov.hk/en/resource-centre/booklet-practical-guide-setting-gba-hong-kong.html.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 26) announced that the test results of 33 rice dumpling samples collected under a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on rice dumplings (second phase) were all satisfactory.

     "The CFS announced the results of 67 samples collected under the seasonal food surveillance project on rice dumplings (first phase) in mid-May which were all satisfactory. As the Tuen Ng Festival is around the corner, the CFS has completed the second phase of the surveillance project on rice dumplings and the results of 33 samples were all satisfactory. In conclusion, samples of rice dumplings from different retail outlets (including online retailers and online food delivery platforms) and food premises (including restaurants and food factories) were collected for chemical, microbiological and nutrition content analyses during the two phases. The chemical analyses included tests for colouring matters, preservatives, metallic contamination, mineral oil, antioxidants, sweeteners and pesticide residues. The microbiological analyses covered pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella, coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms, Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus. In addition, nutrition contents such as protein, total fat, sodium and sugars of the samples were also tested to check whether the test results complied with their declared values on the nutrition labels," a spokesman for the CFS said.

     The spokesman reminded members of the public to observe the following food safety tips in purchasing, preparing, storing and consuming rice dumplings:

Buying rice dumplings
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* Buy rice dumplings from reliable outlets;
* When purchasing non-prepackaged rice dumplings, choose those that are securely wrapped in wrapping leaves; and
* When purchasing prepackaged rice dumplings, check the expiry date and whether the packaging is intact.
 
Home-made rice dumplings
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* Buy wrapping leaves from reliable suppliers and avoid leaves that are unnaturally bright green or with chemical smells;
* Wash hands and utensils thoroughly before and after handling food; and
* Handle raw and cooked food separately to avoid cross-contamination.
 
Storing and preparing rice dumplings
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* Consume rice dumplings as soon as possible and avoid prolonged storage;
* Both the glutinous rice and the stuffing should be well covered until the rice dumplings are unwrapped. Do not come into direct contact with the strings upon cooking to prevent contamination at all times.
* Store rice dumplings at 4 degrees Celsius or below, or store them properly according to the instructions on the package if they are not consumed or cooked immediately;
* Keep cooked rice dumplings that are not consumed immediately in a covered container and put them in the upper compartment of the refrigerator. Keep raw food in the lower compartment to prevent cross-contamination;
* Reheat rice dumplings thoroughly until the core temperature reaches 75 degrees Celsius or above before consumption;
* Do not reheat rice dumplings more than once; and
* Consume reheated rice dumplings as soon as possible.
 
Consuming rice dumplings
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* Wash hands with running water and liquid soap, and rub for at least 20 seconds before consumption; and
* Reduce seasonings such as soy sauce or granulated sugar during consumption.
 
     The spokesman said, "Rice dumplings in general are relatively high in energy, fat and salt. During the festival, people should maintain a balanced diet, and consume rice dumplings moderately, with due consideration of their health condition. People are recommended to share rice dumplings with their family members and friends, as this not only enhances the festive atmosphere, but also allows them to taste rice dumplings of different flavours and avoid over-consumption. People are also advised to make use of nutrition labels on prepackaged food to compare their nutritional contents for healthier food choices."

     The spokesman also reminded food manufacturers to purchase food ingredients from reliable suppliers, adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice for preparation of food products and comply with legal requirements when using food additives.

  

     Hongkong Post announced today (May 26) that a stamp sheetlet and associated philatelic products on the theme of "The 120th Anniversary of Ta Kung Pao" will be released for sale on June 17 (Friday).

     Ta Kung Pao was founded in 1902 and has a history of 120 years. It is currently the oldest Chinese newspaper in operation in Hong Kong. To commemorate the occasion, Hongkong Post will issue a stamp sheetlet with the theme "The 120th Anniversary of Ta Kung Pao".

     The elaborately designed stamp sheetlet of "The 120th Anniversary of Ta Kung Pao" is composed of two parts, with the upper part showing the site of Ta Kung Pao within the French Concession in Tianjin in the past, and the lower part showing the cityscape of Hong Kong in the present. It highlights the long history of Ta Kung Pao and the important role the newspaper has played in the country's development in modern history and in the new era, in promoting national education and guiding readers to learn from history and understand the truth, thereby nurturing their patriotism and helping them to strive with the spirit of strengthening and serving the country.

     Official first day covers for "The 120th Anniversary of Ta Kung Pao" will be put on sale at all post offices from June 2, and on Hongkong Post's online shopping mall "ShopThruPost" (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk). The stamp sheetlet and associated philatelic products will be on sale at all post offices and "ShopThruPost" from June 17, while serviced first day covers affixed with the stamp sheetlet will be available at philatelic offices only.

     A hand-back date-stamping service will be provided on June 17 at all post offices for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address. To avoid people gathering at the post offices and to observe social distancing, collection points will be set up at all post offices on the same day for submission of the covers requesting hand-back date-stamping service. Customers will be advised on the collection schedule upon acceptance of the covers. 

     Information about the stamp sheetlet and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) and the "ShopThruPost" mobile app.