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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, announced today (July 27) the relevant per annum interest rate for the fourth interest payment of Silver Bond Series due 2024 (Issue Number 03GB2408R) (the Bonds) issued under the Retail Bond Issuance Programme of the Government Bond Programme.
      
     According to the Issue Circular dated June 29, 2021, for the Bonds, the fourth interest payment of the Bonds is scheduled to be made on August 10, 2023, and the relevant interest rate is scheduled to be determined and announced on July 27, 2023, as the higher of the prevailing Floating Rate and Fixed Rate. 
      
     On July 27, 2023, the Floating Rate and Fixed Rate are as follows:

Floating Rate: +1.97 per cent (Annex)
Fixed Rate: +3.50 per cent
 
     Based on the Floating Rate and Fixed Rate set out above, the relevant interest rate for the fourth interest payment is determined and announced as 3.50 per cent per annum.

     Hong Kong Customs today (July 27) reminded members of the public to stay alert to a model of unsafe plastic doll. Test results indicated that the amount of phthalates (a type of plasticiser) contained in the model exceeded the limit stipulated in the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (TCPSO) and its subsidiary legislation. To avoid an accident, parents should immediately stop their children from playing with the toy. Traders should also remove the toy from their shelves. 

     Customs officers earlier conducted a test-buy operation on nine models of plastic dolls from retailers in different districts for safety testing. Test results revealed that Class 1 phthalates contained in a model of plastic doll reached 4.5 per cent of the total weight of the plasticised materials, exceeding the limit of 0.1 per cent stipulated in the TCPSO and its subsidiary legislation.

     Customs later conducted an operation and searched 11 shops of the retailer involved in the case. Moreover, spot checks were conducted in various districts across the territory. No plastic dolls connected to the case have been found for sale so far. An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds members of the public that chronic exposure to plasticiser may harm children's health and cause liver, kidney, reproductive and development system toxicity. When purchasing and using toys, parents should observe the following safety tips:
 

• Do not let children play with toys alone;
• Avoid prolonged exposure to or licking of plastic toys;
• Follow the instructions associated with the toys;
• Check the structure of the toys to see, for example, whether they have a fragile structure, hidden sharp points, rough surfaces, sharp edges or gaps that may pinch children's fingers; and
• Stop children from playing with the toys immediately if any damage is observed.

     Customs is committed to the protection of consumer interests and regularly conducts spot checks and safety tests on toys and children's products to ensure that they are reasonably safe for use by consumers.

     Under the TCPSO, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import unsafe toys or children's products. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on subsequent conviction.
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     Members of the public may report information relating to suspected unsafe toys or children's products via 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).

  

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, July 27, 2023 is 103.6 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (July 27) that the Government will implement the "633" fixed toll scheme in the three road harbour crossings (RHCs), i.e. Western Harbour Crossing (WHC), Cross-Harbour Tunnel (CHT) and Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC), at 0.00am on August 2 (Wednesday) upon its takeover of the WHC. The relevant scheme was enacted by the Legislative Council on June 28 this year through the Road Tunnels (Government) (Amendment) Ordinance 2023.

     Details of the "633" fixed toll scheme are set out as follows:

(1) The fixed toll for private cars using the WHC will be lowered to $60, while that for the CHT and the EHC will be adjusted to $30;

(2) Cross-harbour taxis will be charged an all-day fixed toll of $25 for the three road harbour crossings. Same as the current additional fare arrangement, a taxi passenger will need to pay both the outbound and return toll (i.e. $50 in total) if they board a taxi from non-cross harbour taxi stands. There will no longer be a vehicle type of "empty taxi" at the EHC; and

(3) Tolls for other vehicle types will remain unchanged.

     â€‹At 0.00am on August 2, the WHC and the EHC will be closed briefly for about five minutes to facilitate the renewal of the toll collection facilities.

     Motorists should note that the toll tickets sold by the Western Harbour Tunnel Company Limited (WHTCL) for payment of WHC tolls, as well as the current commercial promotion provided by the WHTCL, including midnight toll promotion, coupons, etc, will be terminated upon the expiry of the WHC franchise.

     In addition, the HKeToll will be implemented in the WHC from 5am on August 6 (Sunday) and in the EHC from 5am on August 27 (Sunday) to replace all manual toll booths and Autotoll lanes. Motorists can pay tunnel tolls using toll tags without having to stop or queue at toll booths for payments.

     Organised by the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, The Kid is Extraordinary – Remembering Bruce Lee screening programme will screen four selected films starring Lee in his childhood and teens between August and November to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing of this martial arts superstar. In view of the overwhelming response, an additional screening of "The Orphan" (1960) has been scheduled at noon on November 5 (Sunday) at the HKFA Cinema to allow more audience members to revisit this spectacular performance by Lee in his early career.
 
     In "The Orphan", which is Lee's last film before heading to the United States at the age of 18, he gave a versatile performance and a vivid portrayal of Sam, a thief who has gone astray. Lee's performance in the film was also his most radiant as a child star. The film is in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles.
 
     Tickets of the additional screening priced at $45 will be available from tomorrow (July 28) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit the website of the HKFA (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/pe-event-2023-bl.html) or call 2739 2139.