Effective Exchange Rate Index
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 is 106.3 (down 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more
Tag Archives: China
Inspection of aquatic products imported from Japan
In response to the Japanese Government’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
From noon on March 17 to noon today (March 18), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 162 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the “aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt” category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS’s thematic website titled “Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan” (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO’s website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 123 152 samples of food imported from Japan (including 80 845 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 28 428 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more
Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to The Bank of East Asia, Limited
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 Bank of East Asia, Limited relating to fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens, 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 websites or login screens 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. read more
Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited
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 fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens, 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 websites or login screens 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. read more
Exchange Fund Bills tender results
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
​Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
| Tender date | : | March 18, 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | Q2512 |
| Issue date | : | March 19, 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | June 18, 2025 |
| Amount applied | : | HK$163,552 MN |
| Amount allotted | : | HK$61,686 MN |
| Average yield accepted | : | 3.33 PCT |
| Highest yield accepted | : | 3.36 PCT |
| Pro rata ratio* | : | About 61 PCT |
| Average tender yield | : | 3.42 PCT |
| **************************** | ||
| Tender date | : | March 18, 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | H2541 |
| Issue date | : | March 19, 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | September 17, 2025 |
| Amount applied | : | HK$54,100 MN |
| Amount allotted | : | HK$14,000 MN |
| Average yield accepted | : | 3.34 PCT |
| Highest yield accepted | : | 3.36 PCT |
| Pro rata ratio* | : | About 69 PCT |
| Average tender yield | : | 3.44 PCT |
*”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 March 24, 2025:
| Tender date | : | March 25, 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | Q2513 |
| Issue date | : | March 26, 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | June 25, 2025 |
| Tenor | : | 91 Days |
| Amount on offer | : | HK$63,485 MN |
| **************************** | ||
| Tender date | : | March 25, 2025 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | H2542 |
| Issue date | : | March 26, 2025 |
| Maturity date | : | September 24, 2025 |
| Tenor | : | 182 Days |
| Amount on offer | : | HK$15,000 MN |