The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     Following the recent introduction of premium discount promotional offer by the HKMC Annuity Plan under "HKMC Retire 3" (Note 1), the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) announced the launch of an enhanced fixed-rate mortgage plan under the Reverse Mortgage Programme (RMP), as well as product enhancements made to the RMP and the Policy Reverse Mortgage Programme (PRMP).
      
     RMP customers who apply for the enhanced fixed-rate mortgage plan and become AMIGOS By HKMC members (Note 2) can enjoy a monthly payout amount which is up to 30 per cent higher than that of the floating-rate mortgage plan, while the monthly mortgage insurance premium is only slightly increased by 0.25 per cent per annum (i.e. 1.5 per cent per annum). Applications for the new promotional offer will start from July 20, 2021.
 

     Furthermore, the RMP will introduce enhancement measures. The maximum amount of specified property value for payout calculation will be raised from $15 million to $25 million. The calculation mechanism of the specified property value will also be simplified (Note 3) to make it easier for borrowers to understand and enable them to enjoy higher monthly payouts. Meanwhile, the lump-sum payout purposes under the RMP and the PRMP will be expanded to include the repayment of personal loans so that customers have more flexibility in managing their finance.
      
     The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the HKMC, Mr Raymond Li, said, "'HKMC Retire 3' has been providing retirees with solutions to create lifelong payouts. The latest product enhancements and promotional offer can provide customers with more options and enable them to receive higher monthly payouts, thereby enhancing the quality of their retirement lives."
      
     For details, please visit the HKMC website (www.hkmc.com.hk). For enquiries, please call the RMP and PRMP Hotline at 2536 0136.

Note 1: "HKMC Retire 3" includes the RMP, the HKMC Annuity Plan, and the PRMP. Among these, the RMP and the PRMP are operated by HKMC Insurance Limited, while the HKMC Annuity Plan is underwritten by HKMC Annuity Limited. HKMC Insurance Limited and HKMC Annuity Limited are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the HKMC.

Note 2: AMIGOS By HKMC is a loyalty programme for "HKMC Retire 3" customers.

Note 3: For property with an appraised value of over $8 million, the specified property value will be revised to: the sum of $8 million and 50 per cent of the portion exceeding $8 million.

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 Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited relating to an unauthorised website and phishing instant message, which has 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 e-mails 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 message concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau 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 Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited relating to phishing instant messages, which has 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 e-mails 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 Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, visited Cathay Pacific City today (July 19). During the visit, they and the Chief Executive Officer of the Cathay Pacific Group, Mr Augustus Tang, and the Chief Customer and Commercial Officer of the Cathay Pacific Group, Mr Ronald Lam, jointly viewed the administering of the BioNTech vaccine to around 160 staff members of the group as arranged by the Government's outreach vaccination service.

     "I am grateful to Cathay Pacific for supporting the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. When the programme began, the aviation industry was already listed as a vaccination priority group and Cathay Pacific has actively supported the programme, and the vaccination rate of its locally based aircrew members has reached 80 per cent. However, we need more people's support to get vaccinated, not only to protect themselves and their families but also to enable society to return to normal life. I hope that more enterprises will join hands with the Government in promoting the 'Early Vaccination for All' campaign so as to help build an immune barrier in Hong Kong as soon as possible by significantly raising the vaccination rate," Mr Nip said.

     Mr Chan said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a significant impact on the aviation industry around the world, and the local airlines are also facing severe challenges. Vaccination is the most direct and effective way to help us ride out the epidemic. It not only protects ourselves, but also builds an immune barrier for our families and the community. Up till now, more than 70 per cent of the locally based air crew members of the local aviation sector as a whole have received at least one dose of a vaccine and the percentage amongst those of Cathay Pacific Airways is even higher. When we look at locally based pilots of the whole local aviation sector, the rate is as high as 90 per cent. The progress is encouraging. Nevertheless, it is equally important for everyone in various positions of the aviation sector to be vaccinated. I call on the aviation community to get vaccinated as soon as possible to contribute towards the recovery of the aviation industry and upholding Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub."

     Should enterprises and organisations have a sufficient number of employees who would like to get vaccinated and a suitable venue with sufficient space, they can make use of the outreach vaccination service so that their employees can be vaccinated in a more convenient way. Enterprises and groups can call the hotline for the outreach vaccination service at 3904 1490 from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6pm, for arrangements.

     There has been enthusiastic support for the outreach vaccination programme since it was launched by the Civil Service Bureau. The bureau has provided the outreach vaccination service to the Hong Kong Sports Institute, global professional services enterprises, property developers, financial institutions, the construction industry, public utilities, a property management company, universities, a theme park and a district organisation.

     Mr Nip and Mr Chan expressed their gratitude to the medical team and administrative support staff of the Community Vaccination Centre at Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre for providing the outreach service today.

          

     Hongkong Post announced today (July 19) that, as advised by the postal administration of Germany, due to flooding, mail delivery services (including Speedpost) to western Germany for areas with the postcodes listed below are subject to delay.