Hong Kong Monetary Authority Exchange Fund Bills tender results

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Hong Kong Monetary Authority Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

Tender date : May 15, 2018
Paper on offer : EF Bills
Issue number : Q1820
Issue date : May 16, 2018
Maturity date : August 15, 2018
Amount applied : HK$114,175 MN
Amount allotted : HK$43,557 MN
Average yield accepted : 1.15 PCT
Highest yield accepted : 1.18 PCT
Pro rata ratio : About 29 PCT
Average tender yield : 1.21 PCT
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Tender date : May 15, 2018
Paper on offer : EF Bills
Issue number : H1849
Issue date : May 16, 2018
Maturity date : November 14, 2018
Amount applied : HK$42,100 MN
Amount allotted : HK$15,000 MN
Average yield accepted : 1.42 PCT
Highest yield accepted : 1.47 PCT
Pro rata ratio : About 89 PCT
Average tender yield : 1.52 PCT
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Tender date : May 15, 2018
Paper on offer : EF Bills
Issue number : Y1889
Issue date : May 16, 2018
Maturity date : May 15, 2019
Amount applied : HK$14,260 MN
Amount allotted : HK$3,000 MN
Average yield accepted : 1.59 PCT
Highest yield accepted : 1.61 PCT
Pro rata ratio : About 22 PCT
Average tender yield : 1.69 PCT

 
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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning May 21, 2018:
 

Tender date : May 21, 2018
Paper on offer : EF Bills
Issue number : Q1821
Issue date : May 23, 2018
Maturity date : August 22, 2018
Tenor : 91 Days
Amount on offer : HK$49,977 MN
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Tender date : May 21, 2018
Paper on offer : EF Bills
Issue number : H1850
Issue date : May 23, 2018
Maturity date : November 21, 2018
Tenor : 182 Days
Amount on offer : HK$17,000 MN



Tentative issuance schedule for Exchange Fund Bills and Notes

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued today (May 15) a tentative issuance schedule for Exchange Fund Bills and Notes (EFBNs) for the coming quarter of July to September 2018. The schedule contains information on the tentative tender dates, tender sizes and issue dates of individual issues, representing rollover of maturing issues and taking into account planned adjustments to the maturity spectrum of the EFBNs portfolio.
 
     The quarterly schedule is issued in the second month of each quarter (i.e. February, May, August and November), covering the EFBNs tenders in the following quarter.
 
     It should be noted that the tender dates, tender sizes and issue dates projected in the advance issuance schedule are tentative. The details of new issues of Exchange Fund Bills are to be confirmed and announced at least 4 business days prior to the respective tender dates. The details of new issues of Exchange Fund Notes are to be confirmed and announced 7 business days prior to their respective tender dates. The HKMA may make changes in the light of prevailing market conditions.




Bun Scrambling Competition to be held in Cheung Chau next Tuesday (with photo)

     The 2018 Bun Carnival will stage its grand finale, the Bun Scrambling Competition, at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground in Cheung Chau in the night of May 22 (Tuesday). A total of 12 finalists will vie for the championships in the men's and women's divisions.

     Trophies will be awarded to the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up in the men's division and the champion in the women's division. The "Full Pockets of Lucky Buns" award will continue to be presented this year to commend the participant who grabs the most buns.

     To make the event more appealing, any male or female athlete who has won the first prize three times in the Bun Scrambling Competition from 2016 will become the "King of Kings" or the "Queen of Queens" of the competition and be awarded a trophy.

     An opening ceremony to launch the Bun Scrambling Competition will be held at 11.30pm on May 22 (Tuesday). The competition will start at midnight on May 23 (Wednesday) according to tradition. An invitation relay with 10 teams from Macao, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and local Cheung Chau organisations will be held immediately after the individual competition. The organisers, together with the Islands District Council, the Islands District Office, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Transport Department, will implement various crowd management measures to maintain public order on the night. Detailed arrangements were announced at a joint press conference today (May 15).

     The Chairman of the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee, Mr Yung Chi-ming; the Chief Leisure Manager (New Territories West) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Ms Fanny Ho; the Assistant District Officer (Islands), Mr Benjamin Au; the Divisional Commander (Cheung Chau) of the Hong Kong Police Force, Mr Wilson Ng; Senior Transport Officer of the Transport Department Miss Florence Ho; and member of the Islands District Council Ms Lee Kwai-chun attended the press conference.

     Ms Fanny Ho said at the press conference that four spectator zones will be set up on the competition night at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground, which can accommodate about 1 650 people. The distribution of free admission tickets will start at 10pm. Members of the public can queue up at Pak She First Lane, next to Cheung Chau Fire Station, and along Ping Chong Road to get admission tickets. Each person can obtain one ticket on a first-come, first-served basis while tickets last. Spectators who have got their tickets should follow instructions from the Police and staff of the organisers for admission, which is expected to start from 10.30pm. Spectators should enter Zone 1 to Zone 4 in sequence.

     Notices will be put up at Central Pier No. 5 informing the public of the schedule and arrangements of the event. Notices and enquiry counters will also be set up at Cheung Chau Ferry Pier and at the entrance of Pak Tai Temple Playground, where staff will be on hand to address public enquiries.

     She added that the organisers will monitor the weather conditions on the night. The Bun Scrambling Competition will be cancelled in case of inclement weather, including thunderstorms, to ensure public safety. As stipulated in the prospectus, awards would then be determined based on the results of the selection contest and a prize presentation would be held immediately. Since the Bun Scrambling Competition is traditionally held at a specified period during the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival, no replay of the competition would be organised in such circumstances.

     Mr Ng said police officers would be deployed for crowd management. He called on the public to co-operate, follow instructions from the Police and staff of the organisers, and be patient in crowded places.

     On the arrangements for public transport services, Miss Florence Ho said the Transport Department would closely monitor passenger demand for public transport services and would stay in close contact with ferry and bus companies to make necessary and appropriate arrangements to meet demand.

     She added that as many visitors will be leaving Cheung Chau after the event, New World First Ferry will arrange a special sailing from Cheung Chau to Central at 1.15am on May 23.

     The bus companies will operate a special bus service of cross-harbour route 104R running from Central Pier No. 5 to Mong Kok from about 1.10am to 2.30am on May 23. Overnight bus services departing from the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal will be progressively diverted via Central Pier No. 5 from about midnight to about 2.50am for passengers' convenience. These routes are Citybus' routes N8X (to Siu Sai Wan) and N90 (to South Horizons) and cross-harbour routes N182 (to Kwong Yuen, Sha Tin), N619 (to Shun Lee, Kwun Tong) and N368 (to Yuen Long West).

     Speaking on rescue operations during any possible emergencies, Mr Au said St John Hospital would make appropriate manpower arrangements on the day for the provision of accident and emergency services, while the Hospital Authority will render assistance when necessary. The Government Flying Service will also deploy helicopters and strengthen its manpower.

     Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the LCSD, the 2018 Bun Carnival is presented with the support of the Cheung Chau Wai Chiu County Association Limited, the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, the Islands District Office, the China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union, and the Islands District Council.

     For enquiries on the above activities, please contact the Islands District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD on 2852 3220, or visit the department's website.

Photo  



CHP reminds public on precautions against heat stroke during very hot weather

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 15) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     "The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system," the spokesman explained.

     "The obese, the sick, including those with heart disease or high blood pressure, the old and the young are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They should pay special attention," the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

  • Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
  • Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion place additional demands on the physique;
  • Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon;
  • For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation; and
  • Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.

     If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable, and start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Get into a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index remains high (6 or above):
 

  • Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
  • Wear loose long-sleeved clothing made of close-woven fabrics;
  • Wear a wide brim hat or use an umbrella;
  • Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
  • Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming or sweating; and
  • While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

     If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     The public may get more information from the DH's Health Education Hotline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather and forecastUV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.




Assess the risk of heat stroke to employees

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force:

     The Labour Department reminds employers that as the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force, they should assess the risk of heat stroke to their employees and adopt effective preventive measures such as providing cool drinking water, setting up temporary sunshade and providing mechanical aids to reduce physical exertion of employees. Employees should drink water regularly and be mindful of their physical condition. If early heat stroke symptoms such as headache and thirst appear, they should inform their supervisors and seek medical help immediately.