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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (April 12) the key analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund at the end of March 2019.
 
     Foreign assets, representing the external assets of the Exchange Fund, increased during the month by HK$25.9 billion to HK$3,603.3 billion.
 
     The Monetary Base, comprising Certificates of Indebtedness, Government‑issued currency notes and coins in circulation, the balance of the banking system and Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued, amounted to HK$1,639.4 billion.
 
     Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$254.9 billion.
 
     The analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund are released in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) and are referred to as the Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank under SDDS (Annex).
 
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     At present, four press releases relating to the Exchange Fund’s data are issued by the HKMA each month. Three of these releases are issued to disseminate monetary data in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS). The fourth press release, on the Exchange Fund’s Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account, is made in accordance with the HKMA’s policy of maintaining a high level of transparency. For the month of April 2019, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, April 12, 2019 is 103.6 (up 0.2 against yesterday’s index). read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media session after attending the special meeting of the Legislative Council Finance Committee today (April 12):

Reporter: Mr Lee, are you saying that it is impossible for the Government to withdraw the bill and consult the public again on this extradition method because of the concerns of the Legal subsector of the Election Committee as well as people like James Tien who said you should actually withdraw it?

Secretary for Security: I understand there are different views in relation to the Government’s proposal to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and also the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance. My colleagues and also colleagues in the DoJ (Department of Justice) have been working hard to prepare for the Bills Committee which is likely to be convened very soon. All these views, of course, are being examined by us to see how our eventual government proposal will be discussed and explained in the Bills Committee. I think we have to come back to the fundamental reason why we make our proposal now, is to deal with the suspect who is involved in a case in Taiwan in respect of which we do not have any law to deal with it. And also the Taiwan murder case has proven that the possibility of another very serious case will happen anytime, at any place, particularly when we have only signed long-term surrender agreements with 20 jurisdictions. So we must do these things to ensure that people who have committed serious offences do face the justice they deserve, and also at the same time to ensure that citizens of Hong Kong are protected from people who have committed serious crimes. So I really sincerely hope that everybody will look at this from a very rational point of view.

     It is important, of course, that we will ensure that any person who may be subject to surrender will have all the legal and human rights safeguards, and that is what the present Ordinance (Fugitive Offenders Ordinance) has contained and ensured that all the legal and human rights of a person are fully protected. The present Ordinance is actually made in such a way that we make full reference to the model treaty that is passed in the United Nations. So the present practice has already ensured that the required safeguards, including legal and human rights, are in accordance with the international practice. So what the Government is proposing is that we will do cases where we strongly believe that we must deal with, using the Ordinance which has been in operation smoothly and successfully in the past almost 22 years.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     The Government announced today (April 12) the re-appointment of Mr Tim Lui Tim-leung as the Chairman of the Education Commission (EC) for another term of two years from May 1, 2019, to April 30, 2021.
      
     Mr Lui has been the chairman of the EC since May 1, 2015.
      
     The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, said, “Mr Lui is full of enthusiasm for education. We are grateful for his visionary leadership and valuable contribution to the work of the EC.

     “Under Mr Lui’s leadership, the EC has provided invaluable advice on various education policies and issues with a view to further enhancing the quality of education in Hong Kong. Mr Lui’s re-appointment as the EC Chairman will help ensure the continuity and effective implementation of various education initiatives to safeguard quality education for the betterment of our students.” read more

     The Chinese Opera Festival (COF), an annual highlight event presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will mark its 10th anniversary in 2019. Over the years, the COF has presented numerous remarkable productions with distinguished performers to bring the best of Chinese opera to the local stage. This year, there will be eight delightful programmes from different parts of China from June to August.
 
     The Xiqu Centre of the West Kowloon Cultural District will jointly present some of the COF programmes at its venues to bring a new experience to the audience.
 
     The China National Peking Opera Company and the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company will be featured in the opening programme “Peking Opera Masters North and South” and give three performances. The performers will include Peking opera star duo Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu; “hualian” (painted-face) specialist Yang Chi; Shi Yihong, a renowned “qingyi” (virtuous female) from the school of Mei Lanfang; Wang Peiyu, an actress from the school of Yu Shuyan specialising in “laosheng” (old male) roles; and Fu Xiru, an actor from the school of Yu Shuyan specialising in civil and military “laosheng” (old male) roles.
 
     The Jiangsu Kunqu Opera Theatre will bring to Hong Kong a strong cast of talented actors and actresses including Shi Xiaomei, Hu Jinfang and Zhang Jidie, venerable masters of Kunqu opera and Representative Bearers of Kunqu Opera as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage and winners of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre, to grace the stage. They will be supported by Kong Aiping and Li Hongliang, also winners of the Plum Blossom Award, in the full version of “Mistake Caused by a Kite” and two operatic excerpts.
 
     Another programme featuring Kunqu opera and Peking opera will be performed by Jingkun Theatre and Shandong Peking Opera Theatre. Well-known local artist Tang Yuen-ha will once again join renowned Kunqu opera artists Cai Zhengren and Lu Yongchang to present excerpts of operatic classics at the Tea House Theatre of the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District. The setting of this new venue will create a close intimacy between the audience and the performers on stage.
 
     Last but not the least, one of the highlights will feature a number of artists from the Shanghai Yue Opera Group who are National Class One Performers and winners of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre, including the vice president of the Group, Qian Huili; the company director of the Number One Troupe of the Group, Fang Yafen; and leading actresses Zhang Ruihong, Shan Yangping and Wang Zhiping from different schools. This star-studded cast will perform the Group’s signature repertoire.
 
     For regional operas, this year’s COF will present Liyuan opera and Ou opera, two regional genres different in style but equally appealing on stage. Liyuan opera is one of the oldest theatrical forms in China still extant today. Zeng Jingping, a two-time winner of the Plum Blossom Award, worked with the Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian to revive an almost lost play, “Zhu Maichen”, based on an incomplete edition to restore its original features and charm that emerged 800 years ago. The Wenzhou Opera Research Institute will present three full-length Ou opera productions, “The Legend of the White Snake”, “Killing a Dog to Admonish Her Husband” and “Gao Ji and Wu Sanchun”. The cast will be led by leading lights in the world of Ou opera today, winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre Fang Rujiang and National Class One Performer Cai Xiaoqiu. The programme offers a representative selection of civil and martial plays and promises an exciting theatrical experience.
 
     To also mark the 10th anniversary of the inscription of Cantonese opera onto the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, local Cantonese opera virtuosi will collaborate to stage delightful programmes. Veteran Cantonese opera actor Yuen Siu-fai and Chinese music performer Yu Siu-wah will join noted vocalists in song art in “Guangdong Quadrangle – Four Folk Music Types in Concert”. The concert will feature four indigenous musical art forms of Guangdong – the unaccompanied singing of “dabayin”, narrative singing, Cantonese music and the Cantonese operatic song in classic singing style – within a quadrangle courtyard with Chinese architecture. A new Cantonese opera written by Sun Kim-long, “A Love Poem Stained with Blood”, with Sun also acting as part of the cast together with other Cantonese opera veterans and young artists, will also be performed. The production will contribute to the transmission of Cantonese opera.
 
     Details of the programmes are as follows:
 
Opening programme – Peking Opera Masters North and South: China National Peking Opera Company and Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company
June 13 to 15 and June 17 to 19:
Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
 
A New Cantonese Opera “A Love Poem Stained with Blood”
June 21 and 22: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
June 30: Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall
 
Guangdong Quadrangle – Four Folk Music Types in Concert
June 25 and 26: Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
July 4 to 7: Tea House Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
 
Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian
June 28 to 30: Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
 
Jiangsu Kunqu Opera Theatre
July 19 to 21: Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
 
Shanghai Yue Opera Group
July 25 to 28: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
 
“The Fragrance of Chrysanthemums and Orchids” – A Close Encounter of Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera: Jingkun Theatre and Shandong Peking Opera Theatre
August 2 to 4: Tea House Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
 
Wenzhou Opera Research Institute
August 16 to 18: Auditorium, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing
 
     This year the COF will continue to hold extension activities such as lectures, film screenings, meet-the-artists sessions and exhibitions in a bid to create a comprehensive cultural experience for the audience as well as the general public.
 
     Tickets for all performances will be available from April 17 onwards 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. read more