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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited relating to fraudulent websites and phishing emails, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites or emails concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Civil Service College (CSC) of the Civil Service Bureau, in collaboration with the Institute for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, Peking University, organised a new in-depth programme on "one country, two systems" and the contemporary China. The programme was launched today (July 18) with a lecture conducted at the CSC and online attendance available to further strengthen training for senior officials and directorate civil servants.
 
     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, and the Director of the Institute for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, Peking University, Professor Chen Duanhong, officiated at and addressed the inauguration ceremony of the programme. The Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, and the Head of the Civil Service College, Mr Oscar Kwok, also attended the ceremony.
 
     In addressing the ceremony, Mrs Yeung expressed her gratitude to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and Peking University for their support for the programme. She said that the programme aims at providing senior officials and directorate civil servants with a more comprehensive understanding of the practice of "one country, two systems" as well as the country's macro policy and development, with a view to supporting Hong Kong to actively integrate into the overall development of the country.
 
     She appealed to the participants to seize this valuable opportunity to understand the country's governance strategies and have in-depth exchanges with scholars of different areas of expertise with a view to broadening their horizons. Participants, in their respective positions, should formulate more people-oriented policies and initiatives, so as to jointly contribute to the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems".
 
     Following the ceremony, the first lecture was held on the topic of "The Communist Party of China (CPC) and Contemporary China", delivered by Professor of School of International Studies of Peking University Professor Pan Wei, who shared with the participants the constitutional status and governance philosophy of the CPC, and its relationship with "one country, two systems".
 
     Around 70 participants attended the programme at the CSC. In addition, over 100 politically appointed officials and other directorate officers enrolled and sat in the lecture via video conferencing.
 
     In the 2022 Policy Address, the Chief Executive set forth the goal of enhancing civil service training to deepen civil servants' understanding of "one country, two systems" and the contemporary China, and broaden their global perspectives. The CSC and the Institute for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, Peking University, jointly organised the in-depth programme on "one country, two systems" and the contemporary China for officers at D1 and D2 rank with potential for advancement.
 
     The programme consists of 12 monthly lectures in two parts: "one country, two systems" and the contemporary China. It covers a wide range of topics, such as the CPC and the contemporary China, socialism with Chinese characteristics, the theory and practice of "one country, two systems", as well as developments in contemporary Chinese society, economy, national defence, technology, and more. Distinguished scholars from the Mainland will deliver the programme and engage in in-depth discussions with participants.

          

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (July 18) that open auctions for a total of 26 vacant stalls in nine public markets on Hong Kong Island and in Islands District will be held on July 25 (Tuesday).

     The retail commodities allowed for sale in these stalls cover non-food related dry goods, food related dry goods or wet goods, fresh meat, fish, newspapers, vegetables, tradesman/service trades, etc. The tenancy agreement is a three-year fixed term from October 1, with no right of renewal upon expiry of the tenancy agreement. Depending on the sizes and locations of the individual stalls, the upset prices of the monthly rent of the stalls range from $350 to $4,700.

     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 the auction for any stall in the same market, but will only be allowed to bid for one stall in the second round of the auction, while no existing tenant under the new three-year fixed term tenancy scheme (i.e. those persons who became the stall tenant through the market open auctions after August 2022) shall be allowed to bid for a stall in the same market in any event."

     The open auctions will be held at Room 410, 4/F, FEHD 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 the auction (i.e. 9.30am). 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 auction. 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, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Competition Commission to monitor the auctions at the auction venues, in order to ensure that the open auctions are conducted in an orderly and fair manner.

     Details of the open auctions as well as of the public market stalls concerned 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's website or contact the respective District Environmental Hygiene Office.

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     Two teams of students representing Hong Kong achieved remarkable results in the 64th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 2023) and the 53rd International Physics Olympiad (IPhO 2023) respectively. 

     The IMO 2023, hosted by Japan, was held from July 2 to 13, with the participation of 618 students from 112 countries or regions. The Hong Kong team won one gold medal, one silver medal and four bronze medals. The six awardees are as follows:
 

                 
     The IPhO 2023, also hosted by Japan, was held from July 10 to 17. A total of 394 students from 82 countries or regions competed for the medals. The Hong Kong team won one gold medal, three silver medals and one bronze medal. The five awardees are as follows:
 

     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, congratulated the Hong Kong teams today (July 18) on their excellent results in the two competitions. "The outstanding performance of the Hong Kong teams has demonstrated their persistent work and the concerted efforts of their schools, teachers, parents and different stakeholders in nurturing and guiding them. The Education Bureau (EDB) will continue to enhance the promotion of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) education in primary and secondary schools by enriching curriculum, enhancing teacher training, providing schools with resources support, etc, so as to nurture students' innovation," Dr Choi said. 

     "We attach great importance to gifted education. This year, the EDB will inject an additional $600 million into the Gifted Education Fund to strengthen support for the work of the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) and organise more territory-wide, cross-territory, national and international training and competitions. Also, more diversified, high-quality and challenging off-school education services, particularly in STEAM-related areas, will be provided so that students with potential may have more opportunities to widen their horizons and showcase their talents," she added.

     The members of the Hong Kong teams of the IMO 2023 and the IPhO 2023 achieved excellent results in the local selection contests. They subsequently received specific training under the enhancement programmes arranged by the HKAGE. The outstanding students in the programmes were then selected as contestants to represent Hong Kong to participate in the above competitions. The Hong Kong teams were fully funded by the EDB to join these competitions.