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 Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited o… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) held a Faster Payment System (FPS) Activation Ceremony today (September 28) to announce the full launch of the FPS service.
The FPS will go into full production on September 30 when banks and stored value facility (SVF) operators participating in the FPS will start to introduce services enabling their customers to make and receive real-time payments through the FPS.
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, “I am pleased to witness the start of a new era for Hong Kong’s retail payment system. The launch of the FPS marks a key step forward in developing Hong Kong into a smart international financial centre.”
The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Norman Chan, said, “Since we announced the launch of the FPS on September 17 and started accepting the public to register as a payee, we have recorded over 450 thousand of registrations so far. After the full launch of the FPS on September 30, Hong Kong will enter a new era of electronic payment as the FPS is a unique retail payment system in the world. We can enjoy an instant payment service which is round-the-clock, simple and convenient to use, robust and secure, with full connectivity while supporting both the Hong Kong Dollar and the Renminbi. It is also free of charge for small-value fund transfer.” Mr Chan added that the mobile application (HKQR) for the Hong Kong Common QR Code, launched on September 17, is the first in the world that can convert several QR codes into a single one. It would facilitate wider adoption of QR code payment in Hong Kong.
The FPS is one of the seven initiatives announced by the HKMA in September 2017 for preparing Hong Kong to move into a new era of Smart Banking. The FPS operates on a round-the-clock basis and connects banks and SVF operators on the same platform. It enables the public to make instant transfer of funds anytime, anywhere, across different banks or SVFs with the use of mobile number or email address of the payee. The FPS was launched on September 17 when the public can start to make use of the mobile application of participating banks and SVFs to register their mobile phone number or email address with the FPS as an account proxy for receiving funds.
The public may contact their banks or SVF operators for more details of the FPS service as well as the HKQR. More information of the FPS and the HKQR can be found in the website www.hkma.gov.hk/fps. read more
Acclaimed arts critic Chow Fan-fu will give lectures entitled “Music Appreciation Series 27: All about Love in Western Opera – 6S The Secret Key to the World of Opera Classics” in November and December. The lectures are presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
The seven love operas selected for this series are highly popular and regarded by many as world-class masterpieces. For these lectures, Chow will talk about ways to appreciate and enjoy the great art of the opera.
Details of the lectures are as follows:
Lecture 1
November 7 (Wednesday)
Title: Mozart – “Cosi Fan Tutte” (1790)
Lecture 2
November 14 (Wednesday)
Title: Bellini – “Norma” (1831)
Lecture 3
November 21 (Wednesday)
Title: Donizetti – “Lucia Di Lammermoor” (1835)
Lecture 4
November 28 (Wednesday)
Title: Wagner – “Der Fliegende Hollander” (1843)
Lecture 5
December 5 (Wednesday)
Title: Gounod – “Faust” (1859)
Lecture 6
December 12(Wednesday)
Title: Smetana – “Die Verkaufte Braut” (1866)
Lecture 7
December 19(Wednesday)
Title: Giordano – “Andrea Chénier” (1896)
Chow Fan-fu has hosted a variety of classical music and cultural programmes on Radio Television Hong Kong’s Radio 4 since 1982. He is currently Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Chapter of the International Association of Theatre Critics and an examiner for the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. In 2011, he was awarded a Medal of Honour by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for his continued and tireless efforts in the promotion of classical music and appreciation of the arts. Publications authored by him include “Music Is Life”, which was nominated for Ten Best Books of 2006, and “Music with Love: The 30th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra”, which was listed as one of the Ten Best Books of 2005.
All lectures (to be conducted in Cantonese) will be held at 7.30pm at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum. Tickets (free seating) priced at $50 for each lecture 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 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_637.html. read more
Grammy Award-winning pianist Pablo Ziegler will collaborate with versatile guitarist Quique Sinesi and remarkable bandoneon player Walter Castro for a Latin jazz performance in Hong Kong in October.
Featuring part of their 2015 release “Desperate Dance”, the concert will be staged at 8pm on October 16 (Tuesday) at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall as one of the programmes of this year’s “Jazz Up” series.
Pablo Ziegler graduated from the Buenos Aires Conservatory and debuted as a classical pianist at the age of 14. His playing style, both sharply percussive and metallically lyrical, is instantly recognisable and bears some similarities to that of Vladimir Horowitz as well as some of the wistfulness of Bill Evans’ approach. For decades, Ziegler has been one of the most important figures in Argentine new tango, the vibrant musical hybrid of traditional tango, American jazz and European art music. After performing in tango grand-maestro Astor Piazzolla’s legendary quintet for over a decade, Ziegler has led his own groups for over 25 years, refining and reimagining the bounds of the modern tango tradition.
Quique Sinesi is one of the most versatile guitarists from Argentina. As a composer for classical guitar, Sinesi has established a great reputation for his insightful, meticulous and virtuosic interpretation of the genre. Walter Castro, who is an integral figure on the tango scene with his remarkable bandoneon playing, shines in ensembles large and small.
While each member is a master in his own right, the trio have together written new arrangements and compositions that have won them an enthusiastic following who love their incredible talents, and have set new standards in tango nuevo.
The concert by Pablo Ziegler Latin Jazz Trio is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets priced at $180, $250, $350 and $420 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 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_626.html. read more
The Government announced today (September 28) that the Chief Executive has appointed Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung as Chairman of the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) for two years with effect from October 1, 2018. Professor Cheung will succeed Mr Larry Kwok Lam-kwong, who has served as Chairman of the TAC for six years. The Chief Executive has also re-appointed Ms Shalini Mahtani to the TAC for a period of two years from the same date. The appointments are published in the Gazette today.
In announcing the Chief Executive’s decision, a spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said, “We are most grateful to Mr Kwok for his dedication to transport matters and his contributions to the TAC during his term of office. Under his sterling leadership, the TAC has dealt with many important and challenging transport issues in the past six years, including the submission of the Report on Study of Road Traffic Congestion in Hong Kong to the Government in 2014.
“We are confident that under Professor Cheung’s leadership, the TAC will continue to tender impartial advice on transport issues to the Government,” said the spokesman.
The TAC is a key advisory body to the Government on broad issues of transport policy and major transport-related proposals. Currently, the TAC comprises 14 non-official members, including the Chairman, and three ex-officio members. Its membership and terms of reference are available at www.thb.gov.hk/eng/boards/transport/land/tac.htm. read more