The Government announced today (July 25) the subscription and allocation results of the fourth Silver Bond, issued under the retail part of the Government Bond Programme.
 
     According to the subscription information submitted by Placing Banks and Designated Securities Brokers, as at the close of the subscription period at 2pm on July 18, 2019, a total of 56 564 valid applications were received for subscribing a total of HK$7,918,860,000 in principal amount of bonds.
 
     The final issue amount is HK$3 billion. Allocation is made in accordance with the mechanism set out in the Issue Circular dated July 4, 2019. The valid applications received have been allocated different amounts of bonds up to a maximum of six units. For the 16 373 applications seeking five or fewer units, they will be allocated the full amounts applied for. The remaining 40 191 applications (i.e. those applying for more than five units) will be allocated five units each and then entered into a ballot. Of these applications, 32 160 will be allocated one additional unit.
 
     The Silver Bond will be issued on July 29, 2019. Notifications on individual allocation results, applicable subscription moneys and amounts of any refund of application moneys will be sent to applicants in accordance with the schedule set out in the Issue Circular.
 
     A Government spokesman said, "Silver Bond has provided an investment product with steady returns for senior residents in Hong Kong and promoted the further development of the bond market. We will review the effectiveness and arrangements of the scheme having regard to market response, prevailing market conditions and other relevant considerations."

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson announced the following senior appointment today (July 25):
 
     Dr Chong Yee-hung will be appointed as Hospital Chief Executive (HCE) of Pok Oi Hospital and Tin Shui Wai Hospital from August 23, 2019, succeeding Dr Deacons Yeung, who will take up the post of Director (Cluster Services) on August 1.
 
     Dr Chong is an ophthalmologist by background. He is currently HCE of Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital (HKBH), Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Wong Tai Sin Hospital (WTSH) and Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital (OLMH). Dr Chong has led the refurbishment project in HKBH and the redevelopment project of OLMH, as well as re-organising and streamlining the management structure in the three hospitals. He has also reshaped healthcare services in Wong Tai Sin District through better engagement of community stakeholders and a continual introduction of new resources to the three hospitals.
 
     Dr Chong is a seasoned senior executive with ample hospital management experience in different clusters. He was instrumental in the handover of the three hospitals (WTSH, OLMH and Kwong Wah Hospital) from Kowloon West Cluster to Kowloon Central Cluster in the re-delineation of cluster boundaries.
 
     The HA Chairman, Professor John Leong, and the HA Chief Executive, Dr Leung Pak-yin, congratulated Dr Chong on his new appointment and wished him every success in taking up the new role.

  

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 Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited on phishing email, 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 email concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the email 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 following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
 
     This press release summarises the decision of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 88th meeting held in July 2019:
 
Variation of spectrum assignments of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) and HK Television Entertainment Company Limited (HKTVE) after analogue switch-off
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     The switching off of analogue television services (ASO) has been scheduled for end-November 2020. Following the ASO, a total of 160 MHz spectrum in the 614 – 806 MHz band will be made available for high value-added mobile telecommunications services, including the fifth generation mobile (5G) services, by the end of 2021. To enable the spectrum re-allocation, the CA issued notices to TVB and HKTVE today (July 25) to give an advance notice on the variation of their spectrum assignments currently used for the transmission of Jade, ViuTV and ViuTVsix TV programme channels in 2021.

     To prevent the interruption of reception of those TV programme channels by the viewing public at large, the CA will assign to TVB and HKTVE the new TV frequency channel at 598 – 606 MHz on February 1, 2021. This will enable TVB and HKTVE to transmit their digital terrestrial television signals for those TV programme channels at both the existing and new TV frequency channels for a simulcast period, before the assignment of the existing TV frequency channels will be withdrawn with effect from November 30, 2021. The Office of the Communications Authority will continue to co-ordinate with TVB and HKTVE on the variation of spectrum assignments and will advise the public nearer the time on the details of the relevant implementation arrangements.

     For further details, please refer to the notices published on the CA's website: www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/statement/en/upload/516/ca_notice_20190725.pdf and www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/statement/en/upload/517/ca_notice2_20190725.pdf.

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, arrived in Guangzhou today (July 25). She visited the High People's Court of Guangdong Province and the Department of Justice of Guangdong Province to exchange views on matters relating to legal and dispute resolution services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and to look into opportunities for strengthening collaboration in the area.

     In the morning, Ms Cheng met with the President of the High People's Court of Guangdong Province, Mr Gong Jiali. They discussed the legal development in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and ways to encourage and facilitate relevant units in the Greater Bay Area to launch projects on legal aspects for mutual exchanges.

     Ms Cheng met with the Director-General of the Department of Justice of Guangdong Province, Mr Zeng Xianglu, in the afternoon. They discussed Guangdong Province's liberalisation measures in respect of legal services under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and further collaboration in the Greater Bay Area.

     Ms Cheng will return to Hong Kong in the evening.