The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by China CITIC Bank International Limited on fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     A spokesperson of the Civil Service Bureau said that the Government received Report No. 59 of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service on Review on Civil Service Pay Level Survey and Starting Salaries Survey today (December 17).

     "The Pay Level Survey (PLS) and Starting Salaries Survey (SSS) are the key components of the Improved Civil Service Pay Adjustment Mechanism. The review findings and recommendations will provide us with an important basis for how to enhance the relevant surveys in future. The Government is very grateful to the Standing Commission for the time and effort it has devoted to the review," the spokesperson said.

     "The Government will study the review findings and recommendations in detail and consult the relevant stakeholders including the staff side. As the review findings may have implications on the relevant arrangements for civil service pay as a whole (including disciplined services and directorate officers) in future, the Government will also invite the Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service (SCDS) and the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service (SDCS) to offer their views on the Review Report," the spokesperson added.

     Upon receiving the views from the SCDS, SDCS and relevant stakeholders, the Government will submit its recommendations on the way forward to the Chief Executive-in-Council for a decision.

     The Improved Mechanism comprises the conduct of three regular pay surveys (i.e. the Pay Trend Survey, PLS and SSS). The Standing Commission has conducted one PLS and three SSSs since the Improved Mechanism was put into practice in 2007. In April 2017, the Government invited the Standing Commission to conduct a review on the PLS and SSS, having regard to the recommendations made by the Standing Commission in the context of the 2013 PLS and 2015 SSS respectively, namely to review the methodology, application issues and frequency for the conduct of the PLS, as well as to conduct a specific study on Qualification Group 8 (Degree and Related Grades) before the next round of surveys, in order to provide useful reference information and a solid basis for the surveys to be conducted in future.

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) estimates that around 13.49 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will pass through Hong Kong's sea, land and air control points during the upcoming Christmas and New Year festive periods (from December 21 to 26, 2018 and  December 29,2018 to January 3, 2019). Among them, about 77 per cent, or around 10.39 million passengers, will pass through land boundary control points. The number of outbound passengers will be at its highest on December 22 (Saturday) with over 620 000 passengers departing Hong Kong, while the number of inbound passengers using land boundary control points will reach its peak on December 26 (Wednesday) with around 542 000 passengers arriving in Hong Kong.
 
     Lo Wu will be the busiest control point, and it is estimated that there will be around 3.30 million passengers, with a daily average of about 275 000 passengers, travelling via this control point during the festive period. The passenger traffic at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Shenzhen Bay control points will also be heavy, with daily average forecasts of about 169 000 and 139 000 passengers respectively.
 
     To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, the ImmD has redeployed additional staff to reinforce various control points and has minimised leave for front-line officers for flexible deployment and operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks. Additional security guards will also be deployed to provide crowd management support.
  
     Furthermore, the ImmD, the Police, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation Limited will set up a joint command centre at Lo Wu Control Point to make necessary arrangements. The ImmD will also establish close communication with the Mainland frontier inspection authorities. To ensure smooth passenger traffic flow, passenger conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate traffic diversion plans will be adopted when necessary.
 
     To avoid congestion and a longer than usual waiting time for immigration clearance, the ImmD advises all land boundary passengers to plan in advance and avoid making their journeys during busy periods, and to keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at the various control points. The expected busy times at boundary control points are available on the website of the ImmD at www.immd.gov.hk. Furthermore, passengers may also check the estimated waiting times of all land boundary control points at any time or place via the Immigration Mobile Application (ImmD Mobile App). They can then plan their trips effectively and save time queuing up at control points. The ImmD Mobile App can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store (supports iOS version 9.0 or later) and Google Play (supports Android version 5.0 or later). The links for downloading can also be found on the ImmD website, www.immd.gov.hk. In addition, information on public transport services to and from various control points is available on the Transport Department website at www.td.gov.hk.
 
     The ImmD will upload daily passenger statistics for the above festive period to its website at www.immd.gov.hk for public reference.
 
     For travellers making journeys to the Mainland, the ImmD reminds them to carry their proof of identity and valid travel documents for crossing the boundary. Hong Kong residents should also check the validity of their Home Visit Permits. Non-permanent residents must carry their valid smart identity card as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel document.
 
     Holders of the acknowledgement receipt issued due to reported loss or replacement of their Hong Kong identity cards, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
 
     About 700 e-Channels have been installed at various control points. Hong Kong residents enrolled for the Express e-Channel should re-enrol if they have been issued with a new identity card. Furthermore, re-enrolment is required for enrolled Mainland visitors holding a booklet-type Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao who have changed their enrolment information, e.g. having renewed their exit endorsement. Eligible Mainland holders of the electronic Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (e-EEP) can enrol for the e-Channel service by using their e-EEP and undergoing the enrolment process at a traditional entry counter on their first visit to Hong Kong. Eligible Mainland visitors who have renewed their e-EEP have to go through the aforesaid enrolment process again before they can use the e-Channel.
   
     In addition, all control points have introduced self-service departure for visitors to Hong Kong (Smart Departure) which provides greater travel convenience for visitors. The service employs facial recognition technology for identity verification, which allows eligible visitors holding electronic travel documents to perform self-service departure clearance through Smart Departure e-Channels without prior enrolment.
 
     Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868.

The following is issued on behalf of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service:

     The Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service submitted its report on the Review on Civil Service Pay Level Survey (PLS) and Starting Salaries Survey (SSS) to the Chief Executive today (December 17). The report sets out the findings and recommendations of the Standing Commission in relation to the Review.

     The PLS and SSS are important components of the Improved Civil Service Pay Adjustment Mechanism. Together with the annual Pay Trend Survey, they serve to ensure broad comparability between civil service pay and private sector pay.

     In April 2017, the Government invited the Standing Commission to conduct a review on the PLS and the SSS, including a specific study on the Qualification Group (QG) 8 (Degree and Related Grades). In light of the practical experience gained in conducting a number of pay surveys since the implementation of the Improved Mechanism, the Government considered it opportune to conduct a review before launching the next round of surveys.

     A Consultant was appointed to provide professional advice on the Review and collect relevant market data. Besides reviewing the survey methodologies of the PLS and the SSS, a specific study on QG 8 was conducted to investigate further into the distinctive features and characteristics of this QG and to determine whether the SSS methodology should be improved. Pay data on degree graduate entry-level positions in the private sector were collected for comparison with those of the QG 8 ranks in the civil service. Research was also conducted by the Consultant on civil service pay arrangements in five overseas countries (namely Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom), with a view to identifying practices that might be of relevance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

     The Chairman of the Standing Commission, Dr Wong Ying-wai, said, "Regarding the methodology of the PLS, we recommend the continued adoption of the broadly defined Job Family-Job Level method and the five Job Level categorisation. Key enhancements to the methodology of the PLS which are recommended include increasing the number of Job Families from five to six, broadening the scope of the survey to include more ranks (including entry and promotional ones), increasing the number of surveyed organisations in the private sector and relaxing the selection criteria for civil service benchmark jobs. In addition, before the onset of the next PLS, a brief study will be conducted to ascertain the latest remuneration arrangements for the medical and health care field before deciding if this field should be excluded from the survey. Other existing practices, such as those in data collection and consolidation, and a survey reference date of April 1, are recommended for the future PLSs and SSSs. Detailed arrangements could be determined after taking into account views from stakeholders including the Staff Sides. We also recommend that a holistic approach should continue to be adopted in considering the application of survey results.

     "As for the frequency of conducting the two surveys, we recommend continuing to conduct the PLS at a six-yearly interval and to conduct the SSS (either a comprehensive one or of a smaller ambit) as and when necessary after reviewing the broad indications as revealed by the enhanced PLS and the specific circumstances, which include changes or difficulties in relation to recruitment, appointment or regulatory framework which affect certain entry ranks or QGs, as well as any rapid and unforeseeable changes to the external environment and the socio-economic landscape that may have a significant impact on the employment market in Hong Kong as a whole. Staff Sides request their engagement in the process of consideration."

     In addition, having regard to the inherent differences between the private sector and the civil service in human resources management practices, the Standing Commission recommends that when an SSS covering QG 8 is conducted, the feasibility of a more precise selection of private sector jobs for comparison with QG 8 ranks in the civil service should be explored, and a holistic approach should continue to be adopted in interpreting survey results for degree graduates in the private sector and with greater flexibility in relation to the QG.

     For QG 3 Group I (Higher Diploma or Associate Degree Grades) and QG 4 (Technical Inspectorate and Related Grades: Higher Certificate or equivalent qualification plus experience), the Standing Commission notes the Staff Sides' comments that the entry requirements of certain ranks, as currently classified in different QGs, may no longer be in synchrony with the current market practices and that the qualification and/or experience possessed by the civil service recruits of some of the ranks are different from and usually higher than the entry requirement. The Standing Commission recommends that the Government further consider the issues identified in relation to the QG framework in light of the findings of future pay surveys. When the SSS involves QG 4, the vetting criteria for data collection from private sector organisations for this QG may be relaxed.

     In relation to the research on the civil service pay arrangements in overseas countries, the holistic approach that the Standing Commission has adopted in considering the results of the previous rounds of the PLS and the SSS is in tandem with the common trend identified in the five countries surveyed.

     "In formulating our recommendations on the Review to the Chief Executive, it is important for us to strike a balance among the different interests of the Government, the civil servants and the public. Staff Sides were also consulted in the Review exercise. We consider it prudent to take forward enhancement measures in a progressive manner, having regard to the practical constraints in the survey methodology," Dr Wong said.
    
     "We would like to express our appreciation to all parties that have contributed to the Review, including the Staff Sides of the four central consultative councils and the four major service-wide staff unions, the Civil Service Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Census and Statistics Department and the University Grants Committee Secretariat. Last but not least, our gratitude also goes to the participating private sector organisations for their support and co-operation on the specific study on QG 8," he added.

     The Standing Commission Report No. 59 is available for public access on the website of the Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service at www.jsscs.gov.hk.

     The Standing Commission is appointed by the Chief Executive to advise on the structure, salaries and conditions of service of the non-directorate civilian grades in the civil service. The Standing Commission is chaired by Dr Wilfred Wong Ying-wai. Its members are Mrs Edith Chan Ngan Man-ling, Mr Chan Tze-ching, Ms Christina Maisenne Lee, Mr Lee Luen-fai, Mr Lee Ming-kwai, Ms Angela Lee Wai-yin, Mr Joseph Lo Kin-ching, Ms Elaine Lo Yuen-man, Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen and Mr Wilfred Wong Kam-pui.

     Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media session after attending the meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Constitutional Affairs today (December 17):

Reporter: There is a lawmaker talking about when lawmakers take their oaths of office, that the anthem will be played beforehand. Because there are plenty of ambiguities, let's say, whether oaths will be valid or invalid at the time. Is the Government willing to reconsider such an arrangement of having the anthem played before the oath? Would you reconsider having such an arrangement?

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: Let me say something on the latest position of the local legislation concerning the national anthem law. Basically, the drafting work is near completion. Our plan is to introduce the draft bill on the national anthem early next year, as early as possible. The principle is very clear. We need to reflect the intention and the principles of the national law. But at the same time, in our local legislation, we would take into account Hong Kong's legal system and also Hong Kong's circumstances. So when the bill is introduced in LegCo, you would see in the drafting of the local legislation how these principles are reflected. I would not discuss in detail about the individual provisions or how the relevant provision would be drafted in the local bill. That would become clear when we introduce the bill into the Legislative Council. But the principle is very clear. We have to reflect the intention and the principles of the national law, and so we look at each and every provision of the national law and consider how the intent and the rationale behind could be reflected in the local legislation. But at the same time, we have to make some necessary adaptation or adjustment to reflect our local legal system, our drafting convention, and also Hong Kong's circumstances.

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