Japanese eyewear brand JINS Inc opened its first store in Hong Kong today (September 28) as part of its global expansion plan, utilising the city's sophisticated retail market to tap into the growing eyewear market in the region.
     
     The Hong Kong store at a major Kwun Tong shopping mall measures about 1 000 square feet. Customers can select from a collection of 1 000 frame designs, and have their prescription glasses ready in 30 minutes at the earliest, according to the General Manager, Overseas Business Development Division, JINS Inc, Mr Mikiya Yamawaki.
     
     He said that the company aims to become the world's leading eyewear brand by accelerating its global expansion plan. "We have been extending our presence in the region and Hong Kong is an inevitable choice of base as the city has a fast-growing and vibrant eyewear market."
     
     He added, "Japanese products and brands are popular with consumers in Hong Kong, and they appreciate high-quality goods and innovative ideas. It is an ideal place from which to expand our business. We hope to provide unique and high-quality glasses and services through our Hong Kong store."
     
     Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Dr Jimmy Chiang welcomed the opening of the first JINS store in Hong Kong. He said, "It will not only add new choices of eyewear for local customers, but also bring new designs and technologies from Japan to the local industry."
     
About JINS Inc
 
     JINS Inc (previously JIN Ltd) was established in 1988 and has been developing its eyewear brand JINS since 2001. With "Magnify Life" as its vision, the company aims to deliver high-quality glasses at accessible prices by establishing its own SPA ("Specialty store retailer of Private label Apparel") business model. As one of the largest eyewear brands by volume in Japan, the company created a new market for functional eyewear with no extra charge for prescription glasses. As of August 2018, it had 510 stores in Japan, Mainland China, North America, Taiwan and the Philippines. For more information, please visit www.jins.com.
      
About Invest Hong Kong
 
     Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies enrolled as its clients. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

     The National Day fireworks display will light up Victoria Harbour at 9pm on Monday night (October 1) to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
 
     A total of 31 888 firing shells will be discharged in the display from four barges in a 23-minute extravaganza. The event is co-ordinated by the Home Affairs Bureau and sponsored by Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited.
 
     The fireworks display will consist of eight scenes under the theme of "Unity and Harmony". Highlights include the fourth scene "Magnificence", featuring a colourful flower bouquet, butterfly and bee patterns to symbolise Hong Kong’s beautiful scenery.
 
     In the fifth scene, "Light of Dreams", the elements of smiley faces and heart patterns hidden in the firing shells will appear immediately after colourful fireworks.
 
     The fireworks display will reach its climax in the last scene "Achieving Greater Success", with fast and rhythmic fireworks resembling golden crowns at different levels, and wishing the motherland a prosperous future.
 
     The display can be seen from many vantage points on both sides of the harbour including Tsim Sha Tsui, the Mid-levels, Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay.
 
     To present the fireworks display in a more enjoyable way, viewers are invited to tune to Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 4 (FM 97.6 to 98.9) for synchronised music.
 
     People are urged to help keep public areas clean and to show respect for public property. They are also urged to show consideration in order to make the event a safe one.

      

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 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.

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.

     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.