The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, January 3, 2019 is 104.7 (up 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     A sick 66-year-old male remand person in custody at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre died in a public hospital this morning (January 3).

     On December 28, 2018, he was remanded for the offence of possession of dangerous drugs. Afterwards he was admitted into the institutional hospital for treatment due to his drug abuse history and physical discomfort. Yesterday (January 2), he was sent to a public hospital for treatment and was later diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome. During hospitalisation, his condition suddenly deteriorated and he was certified dead at 7.57am today.

     The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner's Court.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee (FC) originally scheduled at 3pm tomorrow (January 4) in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex will start at 3.15pm (or an earlier time between 3pm and 3.15pm). If the preceding House Committee meeting ends before 3pm, the FC meeting will start at 3pm.

     The Land Registry today (January 3) released its statistics for December 2018.
 
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in December was 3,038 (-23.1 per cent compared with November and -57.6 per cent compared with December 2017)

* The 12-month moving average for December was 6,599 (5.0 per cent below the 12-month moving average for November and 5.5 per cent below that for December 2017)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in December was $43.0 billion (-0.6 per cent compared with November and -50.3 per cent compared with December 2017)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 2,060 were for residential units (-21.8 per cent compared with November and -61.4 per cent compared with December 2017)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $24.1 billion (-7.5 per cent compared with November and -53.7 per cent compared with December 2017)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.

Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in December was 352,901 (-20.4 per cent compared with November and -7.8 per cent compared with December 2017)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.

     Police today (January 3) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.

     Wong Yim-shing, aged 65, went missing after he was last seen on Fung Tak Road yesterday (January 2) afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.6 metres tall, 63 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short straight grey hair. He was last seen wearing gold-rimmed glasses, a grey jacket, a green long-sleeved T-shirt, dark trousers and dark slippers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0316 or 9020 2746 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.