The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, today (July 31) visited Tai Po District, touring a sports centre and meeting with young people who are participating in a social start-up programme and electronic sports (e-sports) training. He also met with members of the Tai Po District Council (TPDC) to learn more about the district's development and needs.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the TPDC, Mr Cheung Hok-ming; the Vice-chairperson of the TPDC, Ms Wong Pik-kiu; and the District Officer (Tai Po), Ms Andy Lui, Mr Law met with TPDC members and exchanged views on issues of concern.

     Mr Law then toured sports facilities and watched various sports classes at the Tai Po Sports Association Li Fook Lam Indoor Sports Centre. He said he was pleased to learn that the centre has been providing a variety of sports and recreational activities for residents, in order to assist them in nurturing the good habit of doing exercise.

     Mr Law also visited the office of the Tai Po District Youth Outreaching Social Work Team. He chatted with young people who are participating in programmes of social-tech incubation and youth entrepreneurship as well as e-sports to listen to them talk about their learning experiences. The incubation programme aims to inspire young people to take advantage of innovative technology and creativity to resolve social issues, and to diversify the pathways for young people by facilitating life planning that keeps abreast of the advancement in technology and innovation. Trainees under the e-sports programme will acquire knowledge on the filming, editing and broadcasting of gaming competitions.

     Mr Law said, "These aspiring young people have set their sights on a goal and are striding towards it.

     "Recently I have met with tertiary students joining the Government's summer internship schemes and was pleased to learn that most of them had started life planning at an early stage and are equipping themselves for the paths they choose.

     "Young people are the future of Hong Kong. The Government will strive to do its best in youth development work by addressing their concerns about education, career pursuit and home ownership, and encouraging their participation in politics as well as public policy discussion and debate, so as to support them in realising their potential."
 

  

     The Department of Justice (DoJ) today (July 31) issued a consultation paper on the proposed arrangement between Hong Kong and the Mainland on reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (Proposed Arrangement). Members of the community, including the legal profession, business organisations and other interested parties, are invited to submit their views on the Proposed Arrangement on or before September 24.
      
     A spokesman for the DoJ said, "The Proposed Arrangement seeks to provide a mechanism for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments (REJ) between the two places in a wider range of civil and commercial matters, reducing the need for re-litigation and offering better protection to the parties' rights."
      
     Hong Kong has so far concluded five arrangements with the Mainland concerning various aspects of mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters. Two of these arrangements provide for REJ between the two places in civil and commercial matters. 
      
     The first REJ arrangement, signed in 2006, applies to money judgments made by the courts of either side where the parties to a commercial contract have agreed in writing that the court of one side will have exclusive jurisdiction to determine a dispute arising from that contract (Choice of Court Arrangement). The second arrangement, signed last year, provides for REJ in matrimonial or family matters (Matrimonial Arrangement).
       
     Given the specific scope of application of these two Arrangements, they are not able to fully address the need for a comprehensive REJ mechanism arising from the increasingly close interaction and co-operation between the two places in terms of trade and economic activities as well as social interactions. The Proposed Arrangement will provide a more comprehensive legal framework for REJ with the Mainland covering civil and commercial judgments beyond the scope of application of the Choice of Court Arrangement and the Matrimonial Arrangement.
      
     The Proposed Arrangement will set out the scope of application, requirements for reciprocal recognition and enforcement, grounds for refusal and the relevant procedural matters. The DoJ invites views and comments on various aspects of the Proposed Arrangement as well as its relationship with the Choice of Court Arrangement. 
      
     All views should be submitted on or before September 24, 2018, to the China Law Unit of the Legal Policy Division of the DoJ by mail (5/F, East Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong), by fax (3918 4799) or by email (rej@doj.gov.hk).
      
     The consultation paper can be accessed on the DoJ's website (www.doj.gov.hk/eng/public/2018ConsultationPaper_LPD.html).                

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     According to statistics published today (July 31) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorised institutions edged down by 0.2 per cent in June 2018. Hong Kong-dollar deposits decreased by 0.2 per cent during the month, as the decline in demand and savings deposits exceeded the increase in time deposits. Overall foreign-currency deposits edged down by 0.3 per cent in June. Renminbi deposits in Hong Kong declined by 2.7 per cent to RMB584.5 billion at the end of June. The total remittance of renminbi for cross-border trade settlement amounted to RMB345.7 billion in June, compared with RMB341.6 billion in May.
 
     Total loans and advances rose by 0.9 per cent in June. The loan growth in June 2018 was partly driven by initial public offering (IPO) loans (around HK$15.3 billion) at end-June. Loan growth in June would have been 0.7 per cent if the IPO loans at end-June were excluded. Among the total, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) picked up by 1.3 per cent from a month ago while loans for use outside Hong Kong edged down by 0.1 per cent. The Hong Kong-dollar loan-to-deposit ratio went up to 85.4% at the end of June from 83.9 per cent at the end of May, as Hong Kong-dollar loans expanded while Hong Kong-dollar deposits declined.
 
     In the second quarter of 2018, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) grew by 1.7 per cent following growth of 3.6 per cent in the previous quarter. Analysed by economic use, the increase in loans during the second quarter was mainly driven by loans to financial concerns, loans to manufacturing and residential mortgage loans.
 
     On a seasonally-adjusted basis, Hong Kong-dollar M1 declined by 2.7 per cent in June but expanded by 8.6% year-on-year. Seasonally unadjusted Hong Kong-dollar M3 edged down by 0.2 per cent during the month but rose by 6.3 per cent from a year earlier.

     The Home Affairs Department will open 18 temporary night heat shelters tonight (July 31) for people in need of the service.
      
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.

     For further information, please call the department's enquiries hotline before midnight on 2835 1473.
      
     The 18 night heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern/Wan Chai –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
Waiting Lobby, 3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
Multi-purpose Room, 1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate,
Nam Cheong Street, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
Hall, G/F, 45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
      
     The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as either community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community and cannot continue to be open as heat shelters. People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas in any of the 21 designated community centres or community halls. Their opening hours are from 9am to 10pm. For addresses of the community centres or community halls, please browse the following webpage: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited Sham Shui Po Police Station today (July 31) to learn more about the community policing of Sham Shui Po District and meet with front-line officers.

     Mr Cheung started his visit by meeting with the District Commander (Sham Shui Po), Mr Tony Ho, and senior officers of the District. Accompanied by Mr Ho, Mr Cheung then toured Sham Shui Po Police Station, a Grade II Historic Building built in 1925.

     Mr Cheung was then given an update on the situation of the street sleepers and illegal structures in the district, as well as the challenges faced by front-line police officers in this respect. He also received a briefing on how the police enhanced communication with non-ethnic Chinese in Sham Shui Po to help them integrate into the community and encourage their involvement in crime prevention and detection.

     During the visit, Mr Cheung met with front-line officers from different sections and commended them for their professionalism and positive attitude in ensuring that Hong Kong remains one of the safest cities in the world.