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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that a tender of 15-year Government Bonds through the re-opening of existing 15-year Government Bond (issue number 15GB3801) under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme was held today (December 13). 
      
     A total of HK$0.5 billion 15-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of HK$2.510 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued, is 5.02. The average price accepted is 95.28, implying an annualised yield of 4.231%. 

HKSAR Government Institutional Bond Issuance Programme Government Bond tender results
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     Tender results of the re-opening of 15-year Government Bonds under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme:
 

 
* Ratio of the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.

     Hong Kong Customs detected two large-scale illicit cigarette smuggling cases at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound in the past week, and seized about 15 million suspected illicit cigarettes in total. The estimated market value was about $54 million with a duty potential of about $36 million.

     In the first case, through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs on September 21 selected and inspected a 20-foot seaborne container, declared as carrying palm oil, arriving in Hong Kong from Cambodia. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 4 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside the container.

     On September 25, another case was detected in which Customs officers inspected a 40-foot seaborne container, arriving in Hong Kong from South Korea and declared as containing automobile parts. About 11 million suspected illicit cigarettes were seized therein.

     Investigations of the two cases are ongoing. Customs will continue to trace the source and flow of the illicit cigarettes.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Customs reminds members of the public that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

    

     Young persons in custody (PICs) at Lai King Correctional Institution (LKCI) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (September 20) in recognition of their efforts and achievements in studies and vocational examinations.

     In the past year, 33 PICs of the institution sat for various academic and vocational examinations including the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, the Aptis-British Council English Assessment Test and the General Aptitude Putonghua Shuiping Kaoshi, and obtained vocational certificates covering Food and Beverage Services, Coffee Making and Latte Art Training, Bakery and Pastry Making, Cantonese Cooking as well as Beauty Care organised by the Christian Action and the Vocational Training Council. During the year, the PICs attained 37 merits out of 122 certificates obtained. In the ceremony today, 15 PICs were presented with 59 certificates, of which 21 were marked with merits. 

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Shanxi Chamber of Commerce (HKSXCC), Mr Ng Tang, said that the HKSXCC is fully supportive of the rehabilitation work of the CSD, and set up a subsidy scheme named the HKSXCC – Igniting Hope Education Fund in August 2022, with the aim to support needy PICs to pursue continuing education and vocational training. He encouraged the young PICs to better equip themselves through education and prepare for re-entering society with the support of their families and the staff of the CSD.

     During the ceremony, members of the marching band displayed their effort through a music performance to show their gratitude to their family and correctional officers for their unwavering support. Moreover, PICs put their training into practice and showed traditional Chinese culture through a delicate Chinese tea ceremony demonstration on stage. In the sharing session, a PIC representative expressed wholehearted gratitude to their family members and CSD staff for their support. A parent representative also shared her happiness of witnessing the positive changes of her daughter while undergoing training in LKCI. 

     Also attending the ceremony were representatives of non-governmental and community organisations, community leaders and family members of the certificate recipients.

     LKCI accommodates young female PICs aged from 14 to under 21. The Department provides half-day education programmes and half-day vocational training for PICs to help them rehabilitate and prepare for their reintegration into society.

        

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 18) conducted anti-illicit cigarette operations in Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai, and raided two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres. A total of about 3.6 million suspected illicit cigarettes and about 130 kilograms of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco, with a total estimated market value of about $14 million and a duty potential of about $9.6 million, were seized.

     In the first case, Customs officers raided a metal hut on Kung Um Road, Yuen Long, yesterday at noon and seized about 1.7 million suspected illicit cigarettes therein. Upon a follow-up investigation, a 29-year-old woman who is suspected to be connected with the case was arrested at night. She was the tenant of the metal hut.

     In the second case, Customs officers yesterday afternoon seized about 1.9 million suspected illicit cigarettes and about 130kg of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco inside a metal hut in Ha San Wai Tsuen, Tin Shui Wai, successfully smashing another suspected illicit cigarette storage centre. A 43-year-old man, who claimed to be a warehouse keeper and is suspected to be connected with the case, was arrested.

     The above two cases are still under investigation. Customs believes that syndicates were trying to store a large number of illicit cigarettes before the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holidays to meet the increasing demand during the long holidays, and smuggle the illicit cigarettes to overseas regions. 

     Customs will continue to combat illicit cigarette activities on all fronts through a multi-pronged approach.

     Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

    

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 19) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Cheshire County and East Staffordshire District of Staffordshire County in the United Kingdom (UK), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 400 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 180 000 poultry eggs from the UK in the first six months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the British authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.