The Inland Revenue Department today (September 4) reminded members of the public to stay vigilant regarding bogus voice message phone calls purporting to be made by the department. The scammers use pre-recorded voice messages and require the call recipient to provide personal particulars. The department affirmed that it would not make pre-recorded voice calls to the public, nor require call recipients to provide personal data by following instructions.  

     The department has reported the case to the Police for investigation. If members of the public have any doubt about the identity of a caller who claims to be an officer of the department, they may contact the department (Tel: 187 8088; email: taxinfo@ird.gov.hk) for verification.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 4) reported an update on its investigations announced yesterday into a suspected outbreak of food poisoning related to a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui.

     Three additional clusters were identified. Details are as follows:

     The first cluster involved two men, aged 40 and 50, who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting about 13 to 17 hours after having dinner at the restaurant on August 31.

     The second cluster involved two men, aged 25 and 31, who developed abdominal pain and diarrhoea about seven to 25 hours after having dinner at the restaurant on the same day.

     The third cluster involved four males and three females, aged 12 to 67, who developed abdominal pain and diarrhoea about eight to 26 hours after having dinner at the restaurant on the same day.
   
     Three of the affected persons have sought medical attention but none required hospitalisation. All patients are in stable condition.

     "To date, four recent clusters affecting 21 persons dining in the same restaurant have been recorded. Epidemiological investigations show that the people in the three additional clusters had meals at the restaurant concerned before investigation and control measures instituted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). We have alerted the FEHD to the additional clusters and investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
• Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hot pot or barbecue meal;
• Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
• Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water;
• Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.

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 (September 4) that a tender of 15-year Government Bonds (Bonds) through the re-opening of existing 15-year Government Bond issue 15GB3203 under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme will be held on September 12 (Wednesday), for settlement on September 13 (Thursday).
 
     An additional amount of HK$0.6 billion of the outstanding 15-year Bonds (issue no. 15GB3203) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on March 2, 2032 and will carry interest at the rate of 1.89 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrears. The Indicative Pricings of the Bonds on September 4, 2018 is 94.46 with an annualised yield of 2.388 per cent.
 
     Under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme, tender is open only to Recognized Dealers which are appointed as Primary Dealers. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers 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, 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 15-year Government Bonds under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme:
 

 
 
     Price/Yield Table of the new Government Bonds at tender for reference* only:
 

 
 
* 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.

     The Chief Executive's Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development held its third meeting today (September 4) to deliberate on the development of Hong Kong's maritime and aviation services. Members were also briefed on Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)'s recent initiatives.

     Members noted that HKIA is the world's busiest airport for international air cargo, while Hong Kong port is one of the busiest container ports in the world. They reviewed the economic contribution and strengths of the maritime and aviation sectors in Hong Kong and deliberated on the challenges faced by the two sectors and how the maritime and port industry could stay competitive and move up the value chain. Members were also updated on the new initiatives to boost HKIA's cargo handling capacities and the integrated retail, dining and entertainment development of SkyCity.

     Members opined that the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development would bring vast opportunities for the two sectors, and suggested that the cities in the Bay Area should collaborate to create better synergies.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said, "Hong Kong is the regional transport and logistics hub because of our strategic location on the East-West trade route and our role as the gateway to the Pearl River Delta. Our geographical advantage is further reinforced by our open and transparent regulatory regime, a simple tax system with a low tax rate, the rule of law and an independent judiciary. More importantly, we have the support of our country as indicated in the Dedicated Chapter on Hong Kong and Macao in the National 13th Five-year Plan to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international financial, transport and trade centre. It is high time we reviewed our strategy in further developing the maritime and aviation sectors to seize the opportunities available through proactive government policies, facilitating measures, timely investment and stepped-up promotions."

     The Council is a high-level body responsible for advising the Chief Executive on Hong Kong's future development and strategies for driving innovation. It gives advice on Hong Kong's strategic positioning in the global and regional contexts and directions of economic development, with an aim of enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness and growth potential, providing guidance on evidence-based research and undertaking studies on related issues, with a view to enhancing policy formulation to meet changing development needs and advising on stakeholder engagement and public participation in the policy formulation and consensus building process.

     A man was fined $2,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (September 4) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that in February this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Shau Kei Wan Main Street East which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC). The staff failed to show the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Condition 17 of the CoC was breached.
      
     The man, being the manager of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(1)(a) of the Ordinance.
      
     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.