The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, May 6, 2019 is 104.2 (up 0.4 against last Saturday's index).
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, May 4, 2019 was 103.8 (down 0.1 against last Friday's index).
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, was saddened today (May 6) to learn of the passing of the Chief Executive of the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, Mr Chan Kam-hong.
"I have known Mr Chan for over 30 years, and have been most impressed by his strong commitment and passion. Under Mr Chan's leadership, the Association supports industrial accident victims and their families, and promotes employees' health, rehabilitation as well as employees' rights and benefits. Over the years, the Association has been the Government's partner in promoting occupational safety and health, and also provided valuable inputs on various labour policies on employees' compensation. On behalf of the Bureau and the Labour Department, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family," Dr Law said.
Mainland investment bank, North Beta Capital, officially opened its North Beta International Securities Limited in Hong Kong today (May 6), tapping the city's international status to assist new economy companies from the Mainland to scale globally.
North Beta International Securities Limited is a financial services company that provides securities underwriting, initial public offering subscription, securities trading, settlement, stock custodian, agency services, advice on securities and more in capital markets.
The Funding Partner of North Beta Capital, Mr Jonathan Zhu, said, "Fast-growing new economy sectors in the Mainland have given rise to a cluster of high-growth, innovative companies. This new cluster is forming a big part of our clientele, who have huge demand for global portfolio investment and fund-raising activities. Hong Kong is an international hub where significant global investors manage their investment capital, as well as the world's largest offshore RMB trading centre with a well-established financial market system, putting us in a good position to serve our customers in terms of overseas listing and aftercare services."
He added, "One of the priorities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area plan focuses on developing the financial industry. Hong Kong is clearly identified as the international financial centre in the Greater Bay Area and it will be attracting even more international financial institutions to operate in the city. This also provides a solid basis for our overseas expansion from here."
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Dr Jimmy Chiang, said, "Hong Kong as one of the world's top three international finance centres is a prime location for financial services. Given a robust financial regulatory regime, a deep pool of seasoned financial professionals and free flow of capital and information in the market, our city is an ideal platform from which leading financial services companies, like North Beta Capital, can thrive and expand overseas."
About North Beta International
North Beta International Securities Limited is a subsidiary of North Beta Capital headquartered in Beijing. With unique insights on China's new economy sectors such as technology, media and telecommunications (TMT), big health, big consumption, advanced manufacturing, the company has over 4 000 corporate clients in different new economy sectors and more than 8 500 institutions within its sales network covering global investors, institutional investors, high net-worth clients and enterprises. North Beta International Securities Limited has obtained Type 1 and Type 4 licenses from the Securities and Futures Commission to carry out dealing in securities and advising on securities in Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.northbeta.com.
About InvestHK
InvestHK is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
For an event photo, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72157680213116108.
The following is issued on behalf of the Commission of Inquiry into the Construction Works at and near the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project:
The Commission of Inquiry into the Construction Works at and near the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project (the Commission) conducted a preliminary hearing today (May 6) in relation to the expanded part of its terms of reference at the hearing room on 1/F of the former Tsuen Wan Law Courts Building, 70 Tai Ho Road, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong.
As revealed in the opening address by the Counsel for the Commission, the Commission has issued letters requesting witness statements and other documentation from a number of relevant parties. The Commission has also served "Salmon letters" (letters giving advance notice to entities that might be the subject of criticism) on the parties listed below.
(1) Transport and Housing Bureau;
(2) Highways Department;
(3) Development Bureau;
(4) Buildings Department;
(5) MTR Corporation Limited;
(6) Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited;
(7) Wing & Kwong Steel Engineering Co Limited; and
(8) PYPUN-KD & Associates Limited.
These parties have been asked to consider participating in, and having separate legal representation at, the substantive hearing in relation to the expanded part of the Commission's terms of reference.
The above-mentioned parties have provided/will provide witness statements and documents to the Commission. Unless notified otherwise, all individuals providing witness statements to the Commission will be required to give evidence at the substantive hearing.
The Commission also dealt with other procedural matters at the preliminary hearing, including the default language of the hearing, access to documents and use of materials provided by the Commission, written witness statements and responsive statements, participation and legal representation of the parties, the hearing procedure and seating arrangements in the hearing room.
The Commission will conduct the hearings in English, and will provide simultaneous interpretation services when appropriate. Unless otherwise directed, all hearings will be open to the public. No photography or audio/video recording is allowed at the hearing venue.
The Commission will hold the substantive hearing to take factual evidence in relation to the expanded part of the inquiry at the above-mentioned hearing room from May 27 to June 19 inclusive. The substantive hearing shall be subject to any adjournments that the Commission may consider necessary from time to time. Unless otherwise directed by the Commission, the substantive hearing will be held from 10am to 1pm and from 2.30pm to 5pm on weekdays. The Commission may consider holding the substantive hearing on Saturdays during the said periods if necessary.
Local Cantonese opera veterans will join together in performing a new Cantonese opera entitled "A Love Poem Stained with Blood" to mark 10th anniversary of the inscription of Cantonese Opera on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The new opera is also one of the highlights of the 10th Chinese Opera Festival and the 30th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
"A Love Poem Stained with Blood" is written by Sun Kim-long and endeavours to pass the genre from veterans of the art to a younger generation of actors. Consequently the cast features both renowned veterans and rising stars of Cantonese opera, including Sun Kim-long, Nam Fung, Yuen Siu-fai, Tang Mi-ling, Lui Hung-kwong, Johnson Yuen and Chan Kei-ting.
The story takes place during the last years of the Ming dynasty. A scholar, Hou Chaozong, has fallen in love with a courtesan, Li Xiangjun, after they meet in a brothel in Nanjing. The two are engaged to be married. Ruan Dacheng, who has sided with remnant eunuch forces holding sway over state affairs, wants to lure Hou to join his faction, and offers the dowry secretly to Li. But seeing through his evil intent, Li rejects the offer. Ruan then frames Hou as colluding with ministers like Zuo Liangyu to overthrow the regime, thus forcing Hou to flee. Hou, a man of letters and a member of the literary and political party Fu She, and Li, an intelligent and artistically accomplished beauty, are both real figures in Chinese history. At which point do their lives take a downturn? How do their breakup and reunion articulate with the vicissitudes of the country? What is the relationship between Hou and his best friend Yang Longyou?
This adaptation is written by Sun based on "The Peach Blossom Fan" by Kong Shangren of the early Qing period. Through the love story of Hou and Li, the play traces the decline of the Ming period, but offers an unexpected ending.
The new Cantonese opera "A Love Poem Stained with Blood" (with Chinese and English surtitles), presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be staged at 7.30pm on June 21 and 22 (Friday and Saturday) at the Grand Theatre of Hong Kong Cultural Centre; and at 2.30pm on June 30 (Sunday) at the Auditorium of Tuen Mun Town Hall. Tickets price ranging from $180 to $480 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) and the Xiqu Centre Ticket Office. For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.cof.gov.hk/2019/en/cantonese.html.
A pre-performance talk with free admission will be held at 3.30pm on May 11 (Saturday) at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The speakers will be Sun Kim-long, Nam Fung and Yuen Siu-fai. Limited seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.