Police today (January 15) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Ma On Shan. Chuk Hon-wai, aged 76, went missing after he left his residence in Che Ha Village, … read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) today (January 15) welcomed the Commission on Poverty’s approval to include new drugs and a medical device (seven self-financed cancer drugs and one medical device related to percutaneous coronary intervention) in medical assistance programmes under the Community Care Fund (CCF) as well as in the budget of relevant programmes next year. The Commission on Poverty also approved enhancement measures for the means test mechanism of medical assistance programmes.
The spokesperson for the HA said, “The Commission on Poverty has endorsed enhancement measures for the means test mechanism of medical assistance programmes under the CCF. For the programme on Subsidy for Eligible Patients to Purchase Ultra-expensive Drugs, including those for treating uncommon disorders, the enhancement measures are applicable for applications under this programme submitted from January 2019. With the implementation of the enhancement measures, it is anticipated that the financial burden of patients’ households on medical expenses will be alleviated.
“In addition, for the Samaritan Fund (SF), CCF Medical Assistance Programme (First Phase Programme) and the Subsidy for Eligible Patients of HA to Purchase Specified Implantable Medical Devices for Interventional Procedures, the enhancement measures on means test will take effect on February 16.”
The spokesperson said a consultancy study was commissioned in December 2017 to review the existing means test mechanism for SF and CCF Medical Assistance Programmes. Based on the review findings, the Government and the HA will introduce enhancement measures to the existing means test mechanism, which include modifying the calculation of annual disposable financial resources for drug subsidy applications and refining the definition of “household” adopted in financial assessments. The enhancement measures are also applicable to patients who are subsidised by the Funds and for contributing to part of the drug cost upon implementation of the enhancement measures. The HA will write to inform these patients individually about the details of the arrangement, as well as posting the details on the HA website.
Members of the public or people in need may ask medical social workers at public hospitals or visit the HA website for details of the SF and CCF Medical Assistance Programmes, as well as the enhancement measures for the means test mechanism. Details of the enhancement measures will also be promulgated via posters in public hospitals. read more
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, chaired the fourth meeting of the third-term Commission on Poverty (CoP) this afternoon (January 15). At the… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Research Bureau of the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) and the Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA) co-organised the “Green Finance in Action” Hong Kong study tour for more than 120 representatives of potential green bond issuers from Mainland China from January 13 to 15, which is aimed at facilitating their issuing green bonds in Hong Kong.
The study tour included policy and regulatory briefings by senior representatives from the HKMA, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the PBoC, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, as well as seminars by banks, investors and service providers on the latest market developments. Participating Mainland issuer representatives also attended the Deal Flow Matchmaking Session at the Asian Financial Forum organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
The Executive Director (External) of the HKMA, Mr Vincent Lee, said, “Hong Kong has always been the gateway between Mainland China and the rest of the world. It is uniquely positioned to connect the strong demands for green funding from Mainland China, and for green investment opportunities from international green investors. Hong Kong has a vibrant green bond market, with issuance exceeding USD8 billion in the first three quarters of 2018, of which about 60 per cent were by Mainland issuers. By issuing green bonds in Hong Kong, Mainland issuers can benefit from Hong Kong’s world class financial platform, international investor network, and supportive government initiatives. The HKMA will continue to work with our Mainland counterparts to promote and facilitate Mainland enterprises issuing green bonds in Hong Kong.”
The Deputy Directorâ€�General of the Research Bureau of the PBoC, Mr Zhou Chengjun, said, “Mainland entities issuing green bonds in Hong Kong will bring multiple benefits to the Mainland and Hong Kong: it will facilitate Mainland enterprises and institutions securing international financing, strengthen corporate governance, and enhance their integration into the international capital market. At the same time, it will promote the development and compliance of the Mainland green securities market, promote Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre, and broaden the scope of international investors that can share the benefits from the Mainland’s economic growth. The PBoC and HKMA will further strengthen co-operation with a view to streamlining issuance process, enhancing product innovation and investor incentives, as well as promoting the gradual harmonisation of Mainland and international green bond standards, and will continue to encourage co-operation and interconnection between the Mainland and Hong Kong green bond markets.”
The Chairman and President of the HKGFA, Mr Ma Jun, said, “Hong Kong has a broad base of global institutional investors who are interested in green bonds. The Government has launched a series of incentive schemes for bond (especially green bond) issuance. Mainland companies and projects should make full use of Hong Kong as a financing channel. The Hong Kong Green Finance Association will work closely with the Government and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to promote Hong Kong’s green bond market in the Mainland and abroad, and strive to build a premier green bond market with scale and global influence in Hong Kong.”
Hong Kong Customs seized about 2 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $410,000 at Hong Kong International Airport on January 12.
Customs officers inspected a parcel arriving in Hong Kong from the US on January 12 and seized the batch of suspected cannabis buds inside the parcel.
After follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday (January 14) arrested a 21-year-old man in Sham Shui Po suspected to be in connection with the case.
Investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Customs also reminds that cannabis and tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) are classified as dangerous drugs under the Ordinance. Importation of products (including food and drinks) containing cannabis or THC into Hong Kong is prohibited unless the relevant provisions in the Ordinance are complied with. In order to avoid breaching the law inadvertently, special attention should be paid to the packaging labels of food and drinks.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
