Communications Authority press release

The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:

     This press release summarises the decisions of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 105th meeting held in March 2021:

Broadcast complaints
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     The CA considered two complaint cases in respect of broadcasters' non-compliance with the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Standards (TV Programme Code) and the Generic Code of Practice on Television Advertising Standards (TV Advertising Code):

(a) Complaints against the television programme "Taiwan Stories 3" broadcast on RTHK TV 31 and RTHK TV 31A channels of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) on March 28, 2020. The CA took the view that the complaints were justified in respect of accuracy and that RTHK should be advised to observe more closely the relevant provision in the TV Programme Code; and

(b) A complaint against a television advertisement for "Blue Girl Beer" broadcast on Hong Kong Open TV of Fantastic Television Limited (Fantastic TV) on August 12, 2020. The CA took the view that the complaint was justified and that Fantastic TV should be advised to observe more closely the relevant provision in the TV Advertising Code.

     Details of the above cases are at www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/en/content_713/appx_20210329.pdf.




31st batch of applications approved for trials of green innovative transport technologies under New Energy Transport Fund

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 29) announced its approval of the 31st batch of applications for the trials of green innovative transport technologies under the New Energy Transport Fund (the Fund).
      
     The 16 newly approved applications are for the trials of 17 electric light goods vehicles, two electric medium goods vehicles (tractor) and one double-deck electric bus, involving a total subsidy of about $13.3 million. The applications are from:
      
     Aplus Engineering Limited
     Ascent Up Motors Limited
     Chi Shing Machinery Company Limited
     Cola Design
     Fish Marketing Organization
     Hang Fai Engineering Company
     Lee Tung Company
     Mango Telecommunications Limited
     Modern Farming (H.K.) Company Limited
     Modern Terminals Limited
     MTR Corporation Limited
     Regal Transportation Services (Asia) Limited
     SATS HK Limited
     Success Trading (HK) Company Limited
     Woon Kee
     Xinyi Automobile Glass Company Limited
      
     The latest approval brings the total number of trials being pursued under the Fund to 210 for testing 151 electric light goods vehicles, 14 single-deck electric buses, five double-deck electric buses, three electric light buses, three electric taxis, three electric medium goods vehicles (tractor), 48 hybrid light goods vehicles, 27 hybrid medium goods vehicles, 26 hybrid light buses, two single-deck hybrid buses, one solar air-conditioning system for a bus, four electric inverter air conditioning systems for buses, three diesel-electric propulsion systems for ferries and one seawater scrubber for a ferry, amounting to a total subsidy of about $166 million.
      
     At present, 141 approved trials under the Fund are already on trial. One hundred and eight of them have completed the trials, involving 52 electric light goods vehicles, nine single-deck electric buses, three electric taxis, three electric light buses, 47 hybrid light goods vehicles, 27 hybrid medium goods vehicles, 10 hybrid light buses, two single-deck hybrid buses, one solar air-conditioning system for a bus, four electric inverter air-conditioning systems for buses, one diesel-electric propulsion system for a ferry and one seawater scrubber for a ferry. The EPD will continue to upload the trial reports, once completed, to the Fund's website for public information.
      
     The Government has put in place the Fund since March 2011 to subsidise the testing and encourage more widely the use of green innovative transport technologies for a variety of commercial transport tools including goods vehicles (including special purpose vehicles), taxis, light buses, buses, vessels, motorcycles, non-road vehicles (applicable to vehicle models approved by the Transport Department or the Airport Authority Hong Kong), or the aforesaid transport tools of charitable/non-profit making organisations providing services to their clients.
      
     The Fund is open for applications from transport operators and charitable/non-profit making organisations providing transport services to clients. The technologies to be subsidised include new energy vehicles or vessels, conversion of in-use conventional vehicles or vessels to new energy vehicles or vessels, and after-treatment emission reduction devices or fuel saving devices applicable to vehicles and vessels. Transport operators and charitable/non-profit making organisations may apply for trying out different green innovative technology products subject to a maximum subsidy of $10 million for each application and a total of $12 million for each applicant.
      
     For more information on the Fund and the approved applications, please visit the website of the Fund
     (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/new-energy-transport-fund.html) or call the enquiry hotline on 2824 0022.




SWD to implement time-limited arrangement under CSSA Scheme to disregard cash value of insurance policies from April

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced today (March 29) the implementation of a time-limited arrangement under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme for six months from April 1 to September 30, 2021, under which the total cash value of insurance policies of able-bodied applicants of the CSSA will be disregarded as assets during the grace period of one year.
 
     Having considered Hong Kong's deteriorating economic and employment conditions as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Government implemented a series of anti-epidemic measures last year. These measures included the introduction of the time-limited arrangement under the CSSA Scheme, under which the SWD temporarily relaxed the CSSA asset limits for able-bodied persons by 100 per cent for a period of one year from June 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021. To help more unemployed persons tide over their financial difficulties, another time-limited new arrangement under the CSSA Scheme was announced in the Chief Executive's 2020 Policy Address, under which the cash value of insurance policies of able-bodied CSSA applicants will not be counted as assets during the grace period of one year. The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved the related proposal on January 15, 2021.
 
     Specifically, for able-bodied CSSA applicants whose applications are submitted within the six months from April 1 to September 30, 2021, all insurance policies owned by them, irrespective of the cash value, will be disregarded for the asset test during the one-year grace period.
 
     Applicants may visit the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_faqs/page_socialsecu). For enquiries, please call the SWD hotline at 2343 2255.




Effective Exchange Rate Index

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, March 29, 2021 is 102.1 (up 0.1 against last Saturday's index).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, March 27, 2021 was 102 (same as last Friday's index).




US Dollar Liquidity Facility tender notice

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

     US Dollar Liquidity Facility tender notice
 

Tender date : March 31, 2021 (Wednesday)
Tender submission time : 9am to noon
Settlement date : April 1, 2021 (Thursday)
Repayment date : April 8, 2021 (Thursday)
Tenor : Seven Days
Amount on offer : US$10,000 Million

Note: Licensed Banks interested in participating in the tender for the first time are encouraged to provide US dollar settlement instructions by email (settlementsection@hkma.gov.hk) to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's Settlement Team in advance, preferably two days prior to the tender. Required information includes name of corresponding bank, name of final beneficiary (must be the Licensed Bank participating in the tender), and account or CHIPS number of a US dollar bank account to be settled in the US. Such information needs to be provided once only, unless there is further change.