Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), Mr Shun Chi-ming, today (October 2) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the HKO with the Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Professor Petteri Taalas, to further strengthen meteorological co-operation.

     Under the MoU, the HKO will support the WMO’s initiative in establishing the Global Multi-hazard Alert System (GMAS). In this connection, the HKO has revamped the Severe Weather Information Centre website (SWIC 2.0) and is also updating the World Weather Information Service website to aggregate authoritative warning signals related to high-impact weather, water and climate events issued by official weather service organisations around the world. Members of the public and decision makers of various organisations, including international and humanitarian agencies, can make use of the information on the websites to keep an overview of natural disasters on a global basis and take appropriate disaster risk reduction measures.

     Mr Shun said, “As a member of the WMO, Hong Kong, China, will play a more significant role in fostering regional and international meteorological co-operation to ensure public safety and reduce disaster risk. The HKO is very pleased to collaborate with the WMO in establishing the GMAS to help minimise loss due to natural disasters.”

     Professor Taalas said, “The signing of the MoU between the HKO and the WMO will further strengthen our co-operation and significantly contributes to the global meteorological information services. I am very happy to see the launch of the SWIC 2.0 website today. This marks an important step in taking forward the GMAS initiative, contributing to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.”

     Mr Shun and Professor Taalas officiated at the launch ceremony of the SWIC 2.0 website and the opening ceremony of the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for Nowcasting after signing the MoU. The HKO was designated as an RSMC for Nowcasting for the Asian region at the 70th Session of the Executive Council of the WMO in June this year. It is a recognition of the significant role the HKO plays in applying nowcasting techniques in predicting severe weather. As the RSMC for Nowcasting for the Asian region, the HKO will provide meteorological organisations in the region with products and techniques related to nowcasting of high-impact weather events.

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     Five persons engaged in renovation works and cargo transportation were involved in the illegal roadside dumping of construction and commercial and industrial (C&I) waste in Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung. They were fined a total of $29,500 by Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (October 2) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO). In addition, three car owners refused to provide drivers’ information to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) about illegal dumping cases at Yuen Long and Ta Kwu Ling. They were fined a total of $14,500 by Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on September 18, September 24 and today for contravening the WDO.
      
     The EPD successfully traced six fly-tipping cases through the surveillance camera systems installed at fly-tipping black spots in March and May this year. Video clips were recorded by surveillance camera systems installed at the black spots of Ho Fat Lane in Tuen Mun, Tai Chung Road in Tsuen Wan and Lam Tin Street in Kwai Chung. After evidence gathering, the EPD subsequently prosecuted five persons involved under the WDO. One of the persons involved at the black spot in Kwai Chung illegally disposed of construction waste and garbage in the same place three times in three days.
      
     An EPD spokesman said that the EPD has installed surveillance camera systems at fly-tipping black spots in order to step up monitoring and deterrence against illegal waste disposal and to assist in law enforcement.
      
     For the fly-tipping case at a black spot in Kwai Chung, a member of the public took video footage of the waste discarded from a vehicle at the black spot. According to the video footage and testimony reported by the member of the public, the EPD successfully prosecuted the two persons involved.
      
     Separately, the department received a complaint from a member of the public early this year about illegal dumpling activities at Lut Chau in Yuen Long and Lin Ma Hang Road in Ta Kwu Ling. The EPD traced the three vehicle owners involved after investigation and issued notices to the owners asking for the contact information of the drivers involved. No reply was received after the deadline and the EPD subsequently prosecuted the car owners involved under the WDO.
       
     The EPD urges members of the public to make a report to the department if they witness any illegal disposal of waste from vehicles. They can record videos and call the EPD hotline at 2838 3111 to help combat illegal dumping. The spokesman said that registered vehicle owners may be prosecuted if they refuse to provide the information required for law enforcement, such as the identity of the driver or person involved.
       
     The spokesman reminded those involved in renovation and construction works and the transportation sector that demolition waste as well as C&I waste should be delivered to the Government’s waste treatment facilities for proper disposal in accordance with legal requirements. It is unethical and unlawful to dispose of waste in public places and on the roadside. Under the WDO, it is an offence for anyone to dispose of waste in public places. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 2) reported an update on its investigation into a case of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) announced on September 21.

     The case involves a 71-year-old male patient, who was admitted to Pok Oi Hospital (POH) on July 11 for underlying illness. He is now in a serious condition.

     Water samples and environmental swabs were collected from POH to test for Legionella in a joint investigation by the CHP and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department on the possible source of infection and to support the implementation of control measures.
 
     Testing results revealed that the total Legionella count of one out of 14 water samples collected from the basin in the patient’s bathroom was six colony-forming units per millilitre (cfu/ml), which was higher than the action level of water systems in low-risk areas of hospitals, i.e. one cfu/ml or above. All six environmental swabs tested negative for Legionella species.

     “Our epidemiological investigations show that the patient mainly stayed in the ward in POH in the entire incubation period. His respiratory specimen and the water sample from the basin in the patient’s bathroom were of the same sequence type of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. Information so far has thus indicated that the patient had likely acquired LD in POH,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     “We noted that POH has conducted disinfection of the water systems concerned. The CHP has provided health advice against LD to hospital staff and in-patients, including those with weakened immunity who should use sterile or boiled water for drinking, teeth brushing and mouth rinsing,” the spokesman said.

     “Medical surveillance in the ward to which the patient was admitted has been enhanced in collaboration with POH and no additional cases have been identified thus far. We will maintain close liaison with POH to monitor the latest developments. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing,” the spokesman added.
 
     As of September 29, 79 LD cases had been reported in 2018. In 2017 and 2016, there were 72 and 75 cases respectively. read more

     Two nominations for the Legislative Council Kowloon West geographical constituency by-election were received by the Returning Officer today (October 2), the first day of the nomination period.      Partic… read more

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announces today (October 2) that a tender of 3-year Government Bonds (Bonds) through the re-opening of existing 10-year Government Bond issue 10GB2108 under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme will be held on October 10 (Wednesday), for settlement on October 11 (Thursday).
 
     An additional amount of HK$4.0 billion of the outstanding 10-Year Bonds (issue no. 10GB2108) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on August 4, 2021 and will carry interest at the rate of 2.46 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrears. The Bonds Fixings on October 2, 2018 is 100.47 with an annualised yield of 2.300 per cent.
 
     Under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme, tender is open only to Recognised Dealers which are appointed as Primary Dealers. Any tender applications for the Bonds must be submitted through a Primary Dealer on the current published list, which can be obtained from the Government Bond Programme’s website at www.hkgb.gov.hk; Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof.
 
     Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Government Bond Programme’s website, the Reuters screen (HKGBINDEX), and Bloomberg (GBHK <GO>) not later than 3pm on the tender day.
 
HKSAR Government Institutional Bond Issuance Programme Tender Information
—————————————————————————————– 

     Tender information of re-opening of 10-Year Government Bonds under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme:
 

Issue Number	:	10GB2108 (Re-open)
Stock code	:	4209 (HKGB 2.46 2108)
Tender Date and Time	:	October 10, 2018 (Wednesday)  9.30am to 10.30am
Issue and Settlement Date	:	October 11, 2018 (Thursday)
Amount on Offer	:	HK$4.0 billion
Maturity	:	3 years
Remaining Maturity		Approximately 2.82 years
Maturity Date	:	August 4, 2021
Interest Rate	:	2.46 per cent p.a., payable semi-annually in arrears
Interest Payment Dates	:	February 4, 2019 August 5, 2019 February 4, 2020 August 4, 2020 February 4, 2021 August 4, 2021
Method of Tender	:	Competitive tender
Tender Amount	:	Each competitive tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof. Any tender applications for the Bonds must be submitted through a Primary Dealer on the current published list.   The accrued interest to be paid by successful bidders on the issue date (October 11, 2018) for the tender amount is HK$222.41 per minimum denomination of HK$50,000.   (The accrued interest to be paid for tender amount exceeding HK$50,000 may not be exactly equal to the figures calculated from the accrued interest per minimum denomination of HK$50,000 due to rounding).
Other details	:	Please see Information Memorandum available on the Government Bond Programme’s website at www.hkgb.gov.hk or approach Primary Dealers.
Expected commencement date of dealing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited	:	The tender amount is fully fungible with the existing 10GB2108 (Stock code: 4209) listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

 
Price/Yield Table of the re-opening Government Bonds at tender for reference* only:
        

Yield-to-Maturity	Price	Yield-to-Maturity	Price
1.300	103.21	2.300	100.47
1.350	103.07	2.350	100.33
1.400	102.93	2.400	100.20
1.450	102.79	2.450	100.07
1.500	102.65	2.500	99.93
1.550	102.51	2.550	99.80
1.600	102.37	2.600	99.67
1.650	102.24	2.650	99.53
1.700	102.10	2.700	99.40
1.750	101.96	2.750	99.27
1.800	101.82	2.800	99.14
1.850	101.69	2.850	99.00
1.900	101.55	2.900	98.87
1.950	101.41	2.950	98.74
2.000	101.28	3.000	98.61
2.050	101.14	3.050	98.48
2.100	101.01	3.100	98.35
2.150	100.87	3.150	98.22
2.200	100.74	3.200	98.09
2.250	100.60	3.250	97.96
2.300	100.47	3.300	97.83

 
* Disclaimer
 
The information provided here is for reference only. Although extreme care has been taken to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, the HKMA does not warrant that all, or any part of, the information provided is accurate in all respects. You are encouraged to conduct your own enquiries to verify any particular piece of information provided on it. The HKMA shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any use or reliance on any of the information provided here. read more