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

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

 
*"Pro rata ratio" refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant's tendered amount at the "highest yield accepted" level. 
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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning August 21, 2023:
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 is 105.6 (up 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs on August 13 detected a dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 1.5 kilograms of suspected liquid cocaine with an estimated market value of about $1.7 million.

     A male passenger, aged 75, arrived in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on that day. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found him to be suspicious and suspected that he had dangerous drugs concealed inside his body cavity. He was then escorted to the hospital for examination. 

     Upon examination, the man was confirmed by a doctor to have foreign objects concealed inside his body cavity. He was arrested immediately. As at 3pm today (August 15), the arrested man has excreted 38 packets of suspected liquid cocaine weighing about 1.5kg in total.

     A holding charge with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug has been laid against the arrested man. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (August 16).

     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 15) that due to inclement weather, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, will depart for Urumqi, Xinjiang, tomorrow (August 16) to attend the 2023 (China) Eurasia Commodity and Trade Expo and the related events, including an investment promotion seminar jointly organised by Invest Hong Kong and several local organisations to promote Hong Kong's business opportunities.
      
     Mr Yau will then depart for Semarang, Indonesia, to attend the seventh Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers – Hong Kong, China Consultation meeting to be held on August 20. On the sidelines of the meeting, he will hold bilateral meetings with various economic ministers of ASEAN member states to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

     Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on August 21. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.