The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force (the Police) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB), announces today (August 1) that 32 banks and 10 stored value facility (SVF) operators (see Annex for the list of participating institutions) will, starting from August 4, 2024, extend the coverage of the Suspicious Account Alert for internet banking and physical branches transactions, for providing enhanced protection to customers against rising fraud risks. 

     The HKMA has been working closely with the Police and the banking industry to introduce various anti-fraud initiatives. Among them, the Suspicious Account Alert, launched in November 2023, warns customers of "High Risk" of fraud based on information of the Police's Scameter, a scam and pitfall search engine, initially covering fund transfers using Faster Payment System (FPS) proxy IDs (including mobile phone number, email address, FPS Identifier (FPS ID)). As of end-June, 2024, over 655 000 alerts were issued, with an average of 3 000 alerts per day. 

     To further enhance the protection against fraud risks, the alert mechanism will extend to cover retail customers' fund transfers at bank counters, and online fund transfers within the same bank or inter-bank/SVFs, using account numbers of the payees. Customers will receive an alert message indicating high fraud risk if the payee's account number, mobile phone number, email address or FPS Identifier are labelled as "High Risk" in Scameter, regardless of whether the transfer is conducted at branch or through online channels. Participating SVFs will implement similar alert mechanism and provide relevant details to their respective customers.

     Two other new initiatives are also introduced to further enhance protection for bank customers. First, "Scameter+" mobile application will now provide more timely alerts of fraudulent bank websites or phone numbers. In addition, to provide a more secure authentication method for customers using mobile banking apps in the light of evolving malware threats, the authentication of online credit card transactions has to be conducted via banks' mobile banking applications instead of SMS one-time passwords.
 
     The HKMA reminds the public to carefully verify the payment details and the payee's identity before proceeding with a transaction. If in doubt, the public should refrain from making payments to avoid potential loss. In view of the rising threat of digital frauds such as malware scams, the public is advised to:
 

1. fact-check by referring to the HKMA's registers of authorised institutions and SVF licensees, the Police's anti-fraud resources including "Scameter+" mobile application and Anti-Scam Helpline 18222;
2. download or upgrade mobile applications only from official app stores or websites;
3. beware of fraudulent links; and
4. always protect personal information.

 
     The HKMA will continue to work closely with the Police and the industry to raise public awareness and combat digital frauds.

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (August 1) that open auctions for a total of 276 stalls in 37 public markets will be held in August.

     The retail commodities allowed for sale in these stalls cover cooked food, frozen meat, fresh meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, ready-to-eat food, food-related dry goods and wet goods, non-food related dry goods and wet goods, service trades (including manicures, beauty and Chinese medicine practitioners), siu mei and lo mei, etc. The tenancy agreement is a three-year fixed term from September 1, with no right of renewal upon expiry of the tenancy agreement. The upset prices of the monthly rent of the stalls vary depending on the sizes, locations and vacancy periods of the individual stalls. The upset prices for the stalls in an open auction will be initially fixed at 80 per cent of the open market rent (OMR) if the stalls have been vacant for over six months, and at 60 per cent of the OMR if the vacant period has been over eight months. Relevant information is available on the FEHD website.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "Bidders for the market stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. To allow more people to bid for the stalls and increase customer choices by enhancing the diversity in terms of the variety of stalls, there will be a restriction on the number of stalls to be rented in the same market by a single tenant. Any person who is currently a stall tenant is not allowed to bid in the first round of auction for any stall in the same market, and will only be allowed to bid for one stall in the second round of auction. The existing tenants under the new three-year fixed term tenancy scheme (i.e. those persons who became stall tenants through the market open auctions after August 2022) are allowed to bid for a stall in the same market in the auction, but shall deliver vacant possession of the current stall to the FEHD before the effective date of commencement of the tenancy agreement. The terms and conditions of the auctions have been uploaded to the FEHD website, with details of qualifications of the bidders listed."

     The date of the auctions and the number of stalls are as follows:

New Territories (1)
———————
Auction date: August 9 (Friday) (am)
Number of stalls: 49

New Territories (2)
———————
Auction date: August 9 (Friday) (pm)
Number of stalls: 50

Kowloon (1)
————–
Auction date: August 13 (Tuesday) (am)
Number of stalls: 42

Kowloon (2)
————–
Auction date: August 13 (Tuesday) (pm)
Number of stalls: 40

Hong Kong Island (except Aberdeen Market)
————————————————–
Auction date: August 14 (Wednesday) (am)
Number of stalls: 77

Aberdeen Market
——————-
Auction date: August 14 (Wednesday) (pm)
Number of stalls: 18

     The open auctions will be held at Room 410, 4/F, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Nam Cheong Offices and Vehicle Depot, 87 Yen Chow Street West, Kowloon. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The admission tickets will be issued 30 minutes prior to the commencement of each auction. Persons who want to attend the auctions must wait at the waiting area of the auction venue and produce their Hong Kong identity card or passport for registration. The registered person will then be provided with an admission ticket for the auctions. In addition, eligible bidders after verification will be issued with a bidding paddle for the auction. The FEHD has also invited representatives of the Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption to monitor the auctions at the auction venue in order to ensure that the open auctions are conducted in an orderly and fair manner.

     Details of the open auctions and the public market stalls concerned (including stalls for open auction at reduced upset prices) have been uploaded to the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pleasant_environment/tidy_market/open_auction_coming.html). Bidders interested in the auctions may visit the department website or contact the respective District Environmental Hygiene Office.

     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (August 1) that Idea Co Ltd has opened its first okonomiyaki store, Tsuruhashi Fugetsu, in partnership with AEON Stores (Hong Kong) Co, Limited, as part of its ongoing overseas expansion plan to promote authentic okonomiyaki around the world.
      
     The strategic partnership is one of the successful business matches as a result of a delegation organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) (Tokyo ETO) and InvestHK in April last year partly to help Japanese food and beverage companies learn about business opportunities in Hong Kong.
      
     The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, said, "InvestHK works closely with ETOs around the globe trying to maximise the impact of our promotion of Hong Kong to foreign investors. We are glad to see one of these joint initiatives with Tokyo ETO has paid off with a successful joint venture formed. We will continue to explore opportunities of joint initiatives with ETOs going forward, hoping to let foreign investors around the world know more about Hong Kong's business environment. We offer tailored assistance and support to our clients to ensure their smooth operation in Hong Kong."

     The Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, said, "I am glad to see the Tokyo ETO and InvestHK's joint initiative of organising the Japanese food and beverage mission to Hong Kong in April last year paid off. In May this year, we have also partnered with InvestHK to organise an innovation and technology (biotech) mission to enhance Japanese companies' understanding of Hong Kong's innovation and technology market and its investment environment. Our office will continue our efforts in promoting mutual understandings between Hong Kong and Japanese companies, and we hope the efforts will lead to more collaborations in various fields."
            
     The Senior Managing Director of Idea Co Ltd, Mr Masayuki Uchida, said, "We reproduce the original sauce, which is key to the authentic flavour, and use frozen noodles directly imported from Japan to ensure the same quality is delivered to customers in Hong Kong as in our Japan shops. Our mission is to use Hong Kong's global status to help promote the popularity of okonomiyaki to the world, placing it on par with the standing of traditional sushi and ramen."
      
     Tsuruhashi Fugetsu has a history of over 70 years in Japan and specialises in okonomiyaki with unique flavour, fresh ingredients and healthy recipes. It has 72 stores across Japan and eight stores outside of Japan including the United States, Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan. The store recently opened in Hong Kong's AEON STYLE Tsuen Wan is the 81st store globally.  
      
     For more information about Tsuruhashi Fugetsu, please visit fugetsu.jp.
      
     To get a copy of the photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720319251662.

    

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 1) that aquatic products from a regulated Japanese prefecture were suspected to be in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order when the CFS inspected food imported from Japan. The products concerned have been marked and sealed by the CFS and have not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the cases.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "During inspections of the consignments of food concerned imported from Japan, the CFS found two packs of chilled scallops and a box of chilled sea urchin processed in Miyagi Prefecture after the Order was issued. The importers concerned are thus suspected of breaching the relevant Order."

     According to the Order, all aquatic products originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, are prohibited from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong if they are harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after August 24, 2023, including all live, chilled, frozen, dried or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incidents. Prosecution will be instituted against the importers concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing.

     The Home Affairs Department is opening 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (August 1).
      
     The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.
      
     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
      
     The heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Island:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
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, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
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
 
     In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.