â€‹The Transport Department (TD) today (March 21) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with New World First Bus Services Limited (NWFB) and Citybus Limited to confirm their intention in opening up real-time arrival data of their bus routes.
      
     According to the MoU, NWFB and Citybus will release the real-time arrival data of all their franchised bus routes in machine-readable formats via the Public Sector Information (PSI) Portal (data.gov.hk) managed by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer for free use by the public and the industry. The TD will proactively co-ordinate with relevant departments to assist NWFB and Citybus in their preparation work on opening up their real-time arrival data.
      
     The real-time arrival data are expected to be available at the PSI Portal in the third quarter of this year. By then, NWFB and Citybus will likely be the first two public transport operators to open up their real-time data via the PSI Portal for free use by the public in Hong Kong. The TD will also release the real-time arrival data of NWFB and Citybus to passengers via its mobile application "HKeMobility".
      
     Opening up data is an important government policy initiative to promote innovation and technology. NWFB and Citybus' supportive move to echo the Government's open data policy is recognised. The TD hopes that other public transport operators can also open up their real-time data as soon as possible to keep up with the prevailing trend of open data with a view to promoting smart city development and fostering "Smart Mobility".

    

     A woman who went missing in Sheung Shui has been located.

     Yeung Sau-tai, aged 80, went missing after she left her residence on Luen Chit Street on March 18 night. Her family made a report to Police on March 19.

     The woman was located on Ng Chow South Road, Ta Kwu Ling last night (March 20). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     Through the Immigration Department's General Enquiry Hotline (2824 6111), members of the public may contact hotline agents during office hours and listen to pre-recorded information round the clock.

     A changeover of telephone exchange lines for the Hotline is scheduled for March 23 (Saturday) from 1pm to 3pm (non-office hours), during which there will be intermittent interruption to the pre-recorded information service and the General Enquiry Faxline (2877 7711). Members of the public may browse the website of the Immigration Department at www.immd.gov.hk for general information during the affected period.

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (March 21) that from April 1 to June 1, 2019, Hong Kong residents born in 1968 or 1969 should apply for a new smart identity card in person at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (SIDCC). The SIDCCs will be open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 8am to 10pm (except public holidays).

     The Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise covers all Hong Kong residents, who should apply for new smart identity cards in person at SIDCCs during their specified periods, whether they are permanent residents or non-permanent residents taking up employment, investment, residence or study in Hong Kong. Employers of foreign domestic helpers should also arrange for their helpers to apply for the new identity cards during the latter's specified periods.

     Eligible applicants may make appointment bookings via the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), the ImmD mobile application or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234. The ImmD appeals to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making appointment bookings through the Internet or mobile application in order to enjoy a faster application process. Applicants need to bring along their existing smart identity cards when they proceed to SIDCCs.

     For this replacement exercise, the ImmD is implementing a new caring arrangement under which eligible applicants may bring along up to two family members or friends aged 65 or above to replace their smart identity cards together during the same visit.

     The above call-up period is only for Hong Kong residents born in 1968 or 1969. The ImmD will make announcements on the arrangements for other age groups in due course. For Hong Kong residents born in 1985 or 1986, their specified period for identity card replacement will end on March 30, 2019. Those who have not applied for the new identity card should do so as early as possible in order to avoid a last-minute rush. If eligible Hong Kong residents are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up period, they can apply within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.

     For details of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk or call the enquiry hotline 2824 6111.

Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     At the meeting on March 19-20, the United States Federal Reserve Federal Open Market Committee (US Fed FOMC) decided to keep the range of the fed funds target rate unchanged at 2.25 per cent – 2.50 per cent.  It also announced the conclusion of balance sheet run-off in September this year. 
      
     "In the past few months, the Fed has adopted a more moderate tone in its monetary policy stance.  The decision of FOMC meeting last night suggests that the Fed will slow down the pace of hiking interest rates and end balance sheet run-off in September.  However, as interest rate differentials between Hong Kong dollar (HKD) and US dollar (USD) remain, there are still incentives for funds to flow from HKD to USD.  Repeated triggering of the weak-side Convertibility Undertaking will lead to reduction of our banking system's Aggregate Balance, which is an inevitable process for normalization of HKD interest rates.  The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) will continue to maintain HKD exchange rate stability in accordance with the Linked Exchange Rate System," said the Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Norman Chan. 
      
     "Uncertainties still remain in Fed's monetary policy and the global macro-economic and financial environment. The public should stay vigilant to possible risks arising from market volatilities," Mr Chan added.