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 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited on suspicious mobile application (App), 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 App concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the App 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.

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 (December 7) in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex will start at 3.30pm (or an earlier time between 3.15pm and 3.30pm).  If the preceding House Committee meeting ends before 3.15pm, the FC meeting will start at 3.15pm.
 
     Meanwhile, the first meeting of the Subcommittee on Banking (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 (Commencement) (No. 2) Notice 2018 and Three Items of Subsidiary Legislation under the Banking Ordinance originally scheduled for tomorrow at 10.45am has been cancelled.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, December 6, 2018 is 105.5 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

The following is issued on behalf of the Law Reform Commission:

     The Archives Law Sub-committee of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) released a consultation paper today (December 6) to invite public views on whether reform of the current public records management regime is needed, and, if so, what kind of reform is to be preferred.   
      
     The Chairman of the Archives Law Sub-committee, Mr Andrew Liao, SC, said in the press conference that on balance, the Sub-committee's provisional views are that it does see a case for the introduction of an archives law to further strengthen the management, protection and preservation of public records and archives in Hong Kong.
                            
     At present, government records and archives management are regulated under an administrative regime under which the Government Records Service (GRS) is the central records management and service agency.
      
     The Sub-committee has studied the laws and practices of a number of jurisdictions, in particular, Australia, England, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore. A comparison reveals that almost all other jurisdictions, including these five studied more closely by the Sub-Committee, have in place archives laws of varying breadths and depths.
    
     "The Sub-committee considers there are considerations in favour of the enactment of an archives law in Hong Kong, but there are also practical concerns over its implementation," Mr Liao said.
  
     He added that records and archives management is a specialised subject in its own right. However, the Sub-committee believes that government records form an integral part of the community's shared heritage that belongs to all, and it therefore seeks to engage as much of the public as possible in this consultation exercise by asking various consultation questions, apart from setting out its observations and provisional views. The public is being consulted on various issues, including:
    

1. Do you think there is a case for introducing an archives law to strengthen the current public records and archives management framework and what are your reasons?
2. Should the current placement of the GRS within the Government continue?
3. Are the existing measures sufficient in ensuring bureaux/departments' compliance with their records management obligations?
4. As regards the scope of public bodies to be covered, our provisional views are that it is more advisable to follow the approach in England, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore, i.e. enumerating from time to time specific bodies that should be subject to the public records management regime. In respect of the extent of oversight by the archival authority, we consider that a "bespoke" approach is more appropriate. Do you agree with our provisional views?

 
     The Sub-committee welcomes views, comments and suggestions on any issues discussed in the consultation paper.
      
     All views should be submitted on or before March 5, 2019, to the Secretary, Archives Law Sub-committee, LRC, by mail (4/F, Justice Place, East Wing, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong), by fax (3918 4096) or by email (hklrc@hkreform.gov.hk). 
      
     The consultation paper and the executive summary can be accessed on the website of the LRC at www.hkreform.gov.hk. Hard copies are also available on request from the Secretariat of the LRC at the above address.      

  

     The Music Office Youth Choir (MOYC) and the Music Office Children's Choir (MOCC) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will jointly perform in an annual concert, which this year is entitled "Sing We at Pleasure", at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall at 3pm on January 6 (Sunday). The programme will include a variety of lively works by famous composers past and present.
 
     Dr Angelina Au, Lai Wing-yan, Yau Man-ching and Kobe Ip will be the conductors and pianists. The choirs will sing popular favourites from various countries including "Tundra" by Norwegian composer Gjeilo, which describes Norway's magnificent mountain scenery; renowned Argentina composer Piazzolla's "Libertango"; and American composer Wildhorn's "Tell My Father", which tells the story of a soldier during the American Civil War.
 
     Other highlights include Mendelssohn's "For he has commanded his angels to watch over you", Stevie Wonder's "Don’t You Worry About a Thing" and Greg Gilpin's "For the Beauty of the Earth".
 
     Established in 1980, the MOYC now has 80 members, with ages ranging from 15 to 25. In addition to performing in local concerts, the choir has toured overseas including Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and Austria. At the Singapore International Choral Festival 2016, the choir won Gold Awards in the Equal Voices, Mixed Voices and Musica Sacra categories and was also named the champion in the Equal Voices and Mixed Voices categories.
 
     Since its establishment in 1981, the MOCC's membership has grown to 82, with ages ranging from 8 to 15. The choir performs both Western and Chinese choral works, including local premieres and operettas.
 
     Concert tickets priced at $45, $55 and $65 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2796 1003 or 2582 5311 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice.