The Lands Department posted today (June 4) notices in accordance with section 4 of the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124) and section 4 of the Land Acquisition (Possessory Title) Ordinance (Chapter 130) for the resumption and acquisition of land for the implementation of the Northeast New Territories Landfill Extension.

     A total of 10 private lots with an area of about 10 886.8 square metres will be resumed and the land being occupied by 18 graves with an area of about 253.5 sq m will be acquired. The said land will revert to or vest in the Government upon the expiry of a period of three months from the date of affixing the notices (i.e. September 5).  

     The site preparation and construction works of the Northeast New Territories Landfill Extension are expected to commence in 2021. About 19 million cubic metres of additional landfill capacity for waste disposal in the territory could be provided upon completion.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, June 4, 2020 is 108.5 (up 0.2 against yesterday's index).

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 Singapore Limited on fraudulent websites, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the websites concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the websites should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
 

     The One-off Grant to Registered Sports Coaches scheme under the Anti-epidemic Fund is currently open for applications, with subsidies now being disbursed.
 
     Under the scheme, each eligible registered sports coach can receive a one-off grant of $7,500. The scheme started to receive applications on May 15 and the application deadline is June 15. As at June 3, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has received about 6 550 applications, of which about 1 600 have been approved. Grants to date have totalled about $12 million. The LCSD will usually complete the vetting process in three weeks upon receipt of the completely-filled application form, and will notify the applicants of the results via SMS or by post.
 
     Sports coaches registered under National Sports Associations or recognised sports organisations, who had provided coaching services from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020, are eligible for application. Eligible registered sports coaches are reminded to submit applications to the Sports Funding Office or the District Leisure Services Offices of the LCSD as soon as possible. For details of the scheme, please contact the Sports Funding Office at 2601 7411 or visit the LCSD website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/programmes/programmeslist/sss/subsidyscheme.html).

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the banking industry jointly launched the Banking Talent Programme today (June 4) to nurture young talents for the industry, and provide participants with an opportunity to better prepare for future careers in the banking sector. The Programme targets fresh graduates from local universities who will be offered six-month work opportunities and industry-specific training.
 
     The Programme is supported by the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) and all local universities. Further details of the Programme are set out below:
 

• Job opportunities: Around 300 openings will be offered by banks, Stored Value Facilities operators, together with the HKMA. Work opportunities will be provided in areas ranging from front-line operations to back-office functions in retail and commercial banking;

• Professional training: A series of induction seminars as well as professional training courses will be organised by the HKMA, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Academy of Finance, the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB) and reputable industry practitioners;

• Programme period: The Programme will start from early September 2020 and last for a period of six months;

• Financial support: The HKMA will reimburse participating firms up to 50 per cent of the monthly salary of Programme participants, which is HK$12,000 per month, and subsidise the course fees for the relevant professional training courses attended by the graduates;

• Eligibility: Students graduating with a bachelor's degree in 2020 from local universities may apply for the Programme, and the disciplines preferred will depend on the work nature of specific jobs and the need of participating firms; and

• Application: Application will open on June 15 and the results will be announced by participating firms around end of July after selection interviews.

 
     The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, "Joining the job market during a recession can be very stressful. It is therefore encouraging that the banking industry is providing full support to our new Banking Talent Programme, which aims to provide both short-term relief and valuable learning opportunities to young graduates who aspire to develop their career in the banking sector. In turn, the Programme also benefits the industry by expanding the talent pool to support the future growth of Hong Kong's banking sector."
 
     Further information about the job opportunities provided by the participating firms and other details will be posted on the website of the HKIB (www.hkib.org), the administrator of the Programme, from June 15.