The Lands Department (LandsD) issued 12 pre-sale consents for residential developments and three pre-sale consents for non-residential developments in the third quarter of 2018. The 12 pre-sale conse… read more
Four local and overseas jazz groups will perform in the “2018 Hong Kong International Jazz Festival – Outdoor Concert” at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza on Sunday (October 7) from 3pm to 7pm, offering an afternoon of enjoyable free performances for members of the public.
The concert line-up comprises Afternoon Tree, with members from Taiwan and Japan; Funktion from Thailand; local group Tjoe Man-cheung & The NTBM (Not-to-be-missed); and Hong Kong-based group Alonso Gonzalez Latin Jazz Quintet.
Afternoon Tree’s music style combines jazz, folk rhyme and classical music. The use of traditional instruments such as erhu and violin also adds new elements to the group’s performances, offering jazz lovers imaginative and original music. In addition, the five energetic members of Funktion will charm the audience with jazz fusion. NTBM, led by local guitarist and composer Tjoe Man-cheung, will perform contemporary metro jazz while Alonso Gonzalez Latin Jazz Quintet will bring refreshing jazz with Latin rhythms to the stage.
The outdoor concert is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department in association with the Hong Kong Jazz Association. For programme enquiries, please visit the website:
www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/territoryevents/hkinternationaljazz/hkijf_2018.html.
The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, visited a technology company specialising in radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies and the HealthTech Centre of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocat… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (October 5) that the official foreign currency reserve assets of Hong Kong amounted to US$426.4 billion as at the end of September 2018 (end-August 2018: US$424.8 billion) (Annex).
Including unsettled foreign exchange contracts, the foreign currency reserve assets of Hong Kong at the end of September 2018 amounted to US$418.8 billion (end-August 2018: US$417.2 billion).
The total foreign currency reserve assets of US$426.4 billion represent about seven times the currency in circulation or 46 per cent of Hong Kong dollar M3.
Release calendar
The release calendar of foreign currency reserve assets for 2019 is announced below:
| Reference Month |
Release Date |
| January 2019 | February 11, 2019 |
| February 2019 | March 7, 2019 |
| March 2019 | April 8, 2019 |
| April 2019 | May 7, 2019 |
| May 2019 | June 6, 2019 |
| June 2019 | July 5, 2019 |
| July 2019 | August 7, 2019 |
| August 2019 | September 6, 2019 |
| September 2019 | October 8, 2019 |
| October 2019 | November 7, 2019 |
| November 2019 | December 6, 2019 |
| December 2019 | January 7, 2020 |
| October 5 | SDDS International Reserves (Hong Kong’s Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures) |
| October 12 | SDDS Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank (Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund) |
| October 31 | SDDS Template on International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity |
| October 31 | Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account |
MS Services Center Limited and its director concerned were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay five employees’ wages within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). Both the company and director pleaded guilty at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (October 5) and were respectively fined $110,000 and $95,000, making a total of $205,000.
The company failed to pay five employees’ wages totalling about $254,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods as required by the EO. The director concerned was convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the offence.
“The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay employees wages within the time limit in accordance with the EO,” a spokesman for LD said.
“The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees’ statutory rights,” the spokesman added. read more