Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 6) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach in Islands District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

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

     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.
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Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning July 12, 2021 :
 

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) today (July 6) jointly launched a series of promotional messages via the Internet and social media platforms to raise public awareness of phishing attacks. 

     The HKMA started by uploading two social media posts (see Annex) with the theme "Protect your Personal Digital Keys; Beware of Fraudulent Links!" to inform the public that:
 

1. Internet banking login credentials, including usernames, login passwords and one-time passwords (OTPs), are as important in the digital world as the keys to their houses are in the physical one, and should be properly safeguarded; and
2. In accordance with the HKMA's supervisory requirements, banks will not send SMS or email messages with embedded hyperlinks directing customers to their websites or mobile applications to carry out transactions, nor will they ask customers to provide sensitive personal information, including login passwords and OTPs, via hyperlinks. So if members of the public receive SMS or email messages with embedded hyperlinks requesting them to input internet banking login credentials, these messages should not originate from banks. The public should think twice before clicking any hyperlinks purportedly sent by banks.

     Phishing frauds have increased significantly recently. Based on statistics reported to the HKMA, banks detected 169 cases of suspicious websites, mobile applications, and phishing SMS and emails in the first six months of 2021, up 145 per cent from 69 in the first half of 2020. 111 bank customers were affected by phishing attacks in the first half of 2021, involving an aggregate amount of $22 million, compared with no such reported cases in 2020.

     With the number of phishing attacks continuing to rise, the HKMA will work closely with the banking industry to raise public awareness of phishing scams. The HKMA and the banks will adopt the slogan "Protect your Personal Digital Keys; Beware of Fraudulent Links!" and disseminate this important message to the public through mass media, the Internet, emails, social media platforms and other channels. The banking industry will also strengthen collaboration with the Police in combating phishing frauds.

     The Land Registry today (July 6) released its statistics for the first half of 2021. 

Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration for the first half of 2021 was 50,336 (+24.1 per cent compared with the second half of 2020 and +53.7 per cent compared with the first half of 2020).

* The total consideration for these agreements for the first half of 2021 was $474.44 billion (+32.0 per cent compared with the second half of 2020 and +76.4 per cent compared with the first half of 2020).

* The number of assignments of building units for the first half of 2021 was 53,498 (-0.9 per cent compared with the second half of 2020 but +52.7 per cent compared with the first half of 2020).

* The total consideration for these assignments for the first half of 2021 was $411.56 billion (+0.8 per cent compared with the second half of 2020 and +64.7 per cent compared with the first half of 2020).

Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public for the first half of 2021 was 2,874,203 (+8.9 per cent compared with the second half of 2020 and +21.1 per cent compared with the first half of 2020).

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 6) announced that malachite green was found in a goldfish sample. Follow-up is in progress.

     A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned goldfish sample from a stall at Western Wholesale Food Market for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained malachite green at a level of 1.72 parts per billion."

     The spokesman said that the CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed the vendor to stop sale of the affected product. The CFS is also tracing the source and distribution of the product concerned.
 
     Malachite green is a type of industrial dye and has been used for treating infections in fish. Currently, malachite green has been prohibited for use in food-producing animals in many countries. According to the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap. 132AF), no food sold in Hong Kong is allowed to contain malachite green. Offenders will be prosecuted and will be liable to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.