Tag Archives: China

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Result of the tender of the People’s Bank of China RMB Bills held on December 23, 2020

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     Result of the tender of the People’s Bank of China RMB Bills held on December 23, 2020:
 

Tender Result
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Tender Date : December 23, 2020
     
Bills available for Tender : Six-month RMB Bills
     
Issuer : The People’s Bank of China
     
Issue Number : BCHKFP20025
     
Issue Date : December 28, 2020
     
Maturity Date : June 28, 2021 (or the closest coupon payment date)
     
Application Amount : RMB 29,640 million
     
Issue Amount : RMB 10,000 million
     
Average accepted Coupon Rate : 2.56 %
     
Highest accepted Coupon Rate    
(Bills’ Coupon) : 2.70 %
     
Lowest accepted Coupon Rate : 1.95 %
     
Allocation Ratio : Approximately 49.25 %
     
     
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January 2021 adjustment in ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department today (December 23) announced an adjustment to the auto-LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations from January 1 to January 31, 2021, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contracts of the dedicated LPG filling stations.
 
     A department spokesman said that the adjustment on January 1, 2021, reflects the movement of the LPG international price in December 2020. The adjusted auto-LPG ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations will range from $3.07 to $3.63 per litre, representing an increase of $0.09 per litre.
 
     The spokesman said that the auto-LPG ceiling prices were adjusted according to a specified pricing formula. The formula comprises two elements – the LPG international price and the LPG operating price. The LPG international price is the LPG international price of the preceding month. The LPG operating price is adjusted on the first day of February every year according to the movement in the Composite Consumer Price Index in the previous year.
 
     The auto-LPG ceiling prices for respective dedicated LPG filling stations in January 2021 are as follows:
 

Location of
Dedicated
LPG Filling Station
Auto-LPG
Ceiling
Price in
January 2021
(HK$/litre)
Auto-LPG
Ceiling
Price in
December 2020
(HK$/litre)
Fung Yip Street, Chai Wan 3.63 3.54
Ngo Cheung Road, West Kowloon 3.63 3.54
Sham Mong Road, Mei Foo 3.29 3.20
Yip Wong Road, Tuen Mun 3.29 3.20
Marsh Road, Wan Chai 3.28 3.19
Fung Mat Road, Sheung Wan 3.21 3.12
Wai Lok Street, Kwun Tong 3.21 3.12
Yuen Chau Tsai, Tai Po 3.21 3.12
Cheung Yip Street, Kowloon Bay 3.26 3.17
Kwai On Road, Kwai Chung 3.26 3.17
Hang Yiu Street, Ma On Shan 3.07 2.98
Tak Yip Street, Yuen Long 3.07 2.98

     The spokesman said that the details of the LPG international price and the auto-LPG ceiling price of each dedicated LPG filling station have been uploaded to the department website www.emsd.gov.hk. They are also posted at dedicated LPG filling stations to enable the trades to monitor the price adjustment.
 
     Details of the pricing adjustment mechanism for dedicated LPG filling stations can also be viewed under the “What’s New” section of the department website at www.emsd.gov.hk/en/what_s_new/current/index.html. read more

Virtual InnoCarnival 2020 launched to share joy of innovation and technology (with photos)

     Organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Virtual InnoCarnival 2020 was launched today (December 23) to run until December 31. Under the theme “Collaborate.Innovate.Beyond Imagination”, the event showcases an array of the latest local innovations and research achievements in collaboration with around 50 programme partners. It also features a series of InnoTech workshops and webinars. Members of the public are welcome to join.

     In his speech for the launch of the event, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said that the Government has allocated over $100 billion over the past three years to support various policy initiatives for promoting the development of innovation and technology (I&T) infrastructure and an I&T ecosystem, pushing forward Hong Kong’s I&T development on all fronts and at full steam. The Government will continue to invest in the future to improve the quality of life and to create more quality employment opportunities for the young generation. It will also continue to strengthen the support for nurturing and attracting talent, expanding the I&T talent pool for local I&T development to further flourish.

     The Virtual InnoCarnival 2020 offers a one-stop online platform to showcase over 170 I&T outcomes from local universities, research and development (R&D) organisations, government departments, non-government organisations and technology enterprises, enabling the public to appreciate the contribution of the local I&T industry to society on various fronts, igniting people’s interest in I&T and further promoting an I&T culture in the community.

     A special feature of the online platform, the Knowledge Hub, introduces 37 local R&D projects funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund which have won awards at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva and other international accolades, giving visitors a glimpse of the remarkable local research achievements.

     During the carnival, 72 InnoTech workshops covering a wide range of topics and around 40 I&T webinars given by industry professionals, as well as creativity competitions and games, will be held online to enhance public awareness of the importance of I&T in daily life and to nurture youngsters’ creativity.

     All the activities of the Virtual InnoCarnival 2020 are free. Some of them require pre-registration. For details and registration arrangements, please visit the campaign website (innocarnival.hk) or contact the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (Tel: 2561 6149; email: innocarnival@hkfyg.org.hk).

Photo  Photo  Photo  Photo  
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HKO wins at WMO’s first international weather apps competition (with photo)

     The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced on December 15 that the mobile application “MyObservatory” developed by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) won in the “Public weather forecasts and information – information content” category and earned an honourable mention in the “Specialised apps award – weather warnings” category at the WMO International Weather Apps Awards 2020 (WIWAA).

     The WMO is a specialised agency in weather and climate under the United Nations. The WMO WIWAA was organised for the first time in this year to recognise well-designed mobile applications for providing reliable weather and climate information. The competition received more than 110 entries from all over the world.

     “MyObservatory” is the official weather mobile application developed by the HKO, and has been downloaded more than 8 million times. “MyObservatory” provides a range of personalised weather information services, including location-based rainfall and lightning forecasts, which provides rainfall and lightning forecasts in users’ or designated locations based on artificial intelligence technologies, and the trial “Dr Tin” Chatbot Service, which provides a convenient and interactive means for users to enquire about weather information.

     For details of the WIWAA, please refer to the website of the WMO:
public.wmo.int/en/media/news/wmo-announces-winners-of-weather-apps-awards-and-calendar-competition.

Photo  
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Buildings Department extends special work arrangements to January 6, 2021

     To align with the Government’s announcement on December 21 that the special work arrangements for government employees will be extended until January 6, 2021, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (December 23) that it will continue to provide emergency and essential public services during this period. The services will be mainly handling public reports on building safety and unauthorised building works in progress, processing critical statutory submissions for new developments and applications for registration of building professionals and contractors, providing advisory services for licensing authorities, implementing Operation Building Bright 2.0, and conducting the special operation to inspect the fire safety of old domestic and composite buildings.

     Submission of the following applications and documents in person should be through:

(1) A drop-in box located at G/F, BD Headquarters, North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, for receiving documents from members of the public from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Friday. The BD will issue receipts/acknowledgements of submissions in due course;

(2) A tender/quotation box located at the ground floor of BD Headquarters for receiving tender/quotation documents from 8.30am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday; and

(3) The receipt and dispatch counter at the office of the BD’s New Buildings Division on 7/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong, for collection of statutory applications and related documents and forms for new building works from 9.30am to 3.30pm from Monday to Friday. Applicants will collect the processed plans and related documents from the receipt and dispatch counter by appointment.

     Under the special work arrangements, the handling time of the BD’s services may be longer than usual. There will be continued communication between BD officers and members of the public/the sector regarding their cases and applications through email and telephone contact.

     The Building Information Centre at 2/F, BD Headquarters (a hotline on 3842 5375 has been set up to handle enquiries on requests for inspection and viewing of building records), the receipt counter and general enquiry counter at G/F, BD Headquarters, and all meeting rooms of the BD will not be open to the public until further notice. All appointments, meetings (except meetings essential to meet statutory requirements such as Minor Works Contractors Registration Committee meetings) and inspections scheduled for the period will be rescheduled to later dates and the individuals concerned will be notified in due course.
      
     The BD appeals to the public to minimise visiting the department’s offices in person unless they genuinely require its public services urgently. The public may call 1823 to make emergency reports. For general enquiries and reports, members of the public may call 1823 or inform the department by email (enquiry@bd.gov.hk), online reporting (eform.one.gov.hk/form/bd0001/en/), fax (2537 4992) or post (North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon). In addition, electronic information can be submitted to the BD via receipt@bd.gov.hk. read more