â€‹The Hong Kong, China Delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has made historic achievements in the Games. To celebrate their triumphant return, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) will hold a bus parade for the Delegation, allowing them to engage with the public on the morning of August 21 (Wednesday).
      
     The Hong Kong athletes, coaches and other Delegation members will set off from Sha Tin in two open-top buses and arrive at Tamar Park to receive the cheers and applause of the public along the route. Upon their arrival at the Park, the athletes will participate in a sharing session with students on their Olympic experiences.
      
     At noon, the Chief Executive will host a luncheon at Government House to commend the athletes and Delegation members for their outstanding achievements and efforts in the Olympic Games. The athletes will then attend a welcome home reception organised by the HKSAR Government and the SF&OC.
      
     The best viewing locations for the bus parade will be Tai Wai Station, the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower and the Central Star Ferry Pier. The buses will depart from the Hong Kong Sports Institute, Sha Tin, at 10.15am, pass Tai Wai Station at around 10.30am and arrive at the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower at around 11am. The buses will then reach the Central Star Ferry Pier at 11.35am via the Cross Harbour Tunnel to Queen's Road Central and finish the journey at Tamar Park at around 11.45am.
      
     Members of the public are welcome to greet and cheer for the Hong Kong athletes to show their support at the above locations and share in the joy of the athletes who successfully challenged themselves and obtained remarkable results.

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 19) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Hung Shing Yeh Beach and Pui O Beach in Islands District, and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     To mark the opening of the "Anti-Scam Month" campaign, Police Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC) of the Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB) today (August 19) launched a new series of anti-scam promotional videos to be broadcast on various platforms. The “Anti-Scam Month” campaign will be held from mid-August to September, aiming to raise public awareness of the latest scam tactics, with a particular focus on the recent surge in "Impersonating Customer Service" scams. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) will jointly promote anti-scam initiatives targeting Mainland students studying in Hong Kong.

Significant increase in scam cases

     From January to June 2024, Police recorded a total of 19 897 scam cases, accounting for approximately 44 per cent of all crimes, representing a 6.2 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. The financial losses amounted to $ 4.48 billion, a significant 66.5 per cent rise from the previous year. Among these cases, "Impersonating Customer Service" scams have increased significantly, involving a total loss of $379 million.

     Senior Superintendent of the CCB, Ms Tsang Nga-sze, highlighted that 1 111 "Impersonating Customer Service" scams were reported to Police in July, with losses amounting to $205 million. Ms Tsang emphasised that scammers’ tactics have become increasingly sophisticated, allowing them to swindle victims out of their personal information and financial assets. She urged the public to remain vigilant against such scams.

“Pretend Officials” scams persist

     Superintendent of the CCB, Ms Lee Wai-see, said that September and October are high-risk months during which Mainland students in Hong Kong are prone to “Pretend Officials” scams. For example in 2023, 170 Mainland students in Hong Kong fell victim to such scams in the two months, accounting for 74 per cent of all victims. From January to June 2024, there were 481 reported cases of “Pretend Officials” scams, with 96 victims (19.9 per cent) being Mainland students in Hong Kong, resulting in a total loss of $88million. In response, Police, in collaboration with the HKMA and the banking sector, have introduced targeted measures for Mainland students in Hong Kong from August.

Joint efforts to combat scams

     The Executive Director (Enforcement and AML) of the HKMA, Mr Raymond Chan, said, “in response to the latest trend and tactics in fraud and scams, the HKMA will join hands with the banking industry to collaborate with Police in enhancing public awareness, including raising alertness of Mainland students in Hong Kong and heightening public vigilance against scams impersonating customer service. In addition, the HKMA will further promote the adoption of Regtech by banks and support the work to expand bank-to-bank information sharing for more effective detection and prevention of frauds and mule accounts. With close collaboration among Police, the HKMA, the banking industry and the public, we can form a powerful anti-deception ecosystem to collectively combat fraud and scams in all aspects.”

Survival guide for Mainland students

     The ADCC will promote anti-scam messages through multiple channels during the "Anti-Scam Month". In collaboration with the HKMA and the banking industry, the ADCC will also introduce the "Survival Guide”, an initiative specifically designed for Mainland students in Hong Kong. Frontline bank staff will distribute and explain the "Survival Guide” to the Mainland students who open accounts at banks. The ADCC will also distribute the guide in various districts to raise the anti-scam awareness of Mainland students in Hong Kong and members of public.

New series of anti-scam promotional videos: Escape from Scams

     The ADCC has launched a new series of publicity videos composed of three episodes with “Escape from Scams” as the main theme. The story centres on the experiences of a family of four who encounters scammers, illustrating the family’s struggles in facing different types of scams. The crises – the mother experiencing an online shopping scam, the father falling into an investment scam, and the grandfather receiving calls purportedly from customer services and officials – are resolved one by one with the help of the resourceful daughter.

Ice-cream van “Escape from Scams”

     The ADCC is deploying the ice-cream van “Escape from Scams” to meet the public and distribute free ice-cream from today to August 23 in various districts in Hong Kong, promoting anti-scam messages. From August 25, the ADCC staff and the ice-cream van will visit university campuses to introduce the latest modus operandi of scams to students. For details of the event and anti-deception messages, please visit the official website of the ADCC (www.adcc.gov.hk).

        

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (August 19) will be cancelled.

     If the thunderstorm warning is cancelled and weather conditions permit by then, the flag-raising ceremony may be resumed without further notice.

     A delegation of 2024 Paris Olympic Games Mainland Olympians will visit Hong Kong from August 29 to 31, during which they will attend a gala show and give sports demonstrations for members of the public. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (August 18) that tickets will be available for purchase starting this Thursday (August 22).
      
     The Mainland Olympians Gala Show will be held at Queen Elizabeth Stadium on August 30 from 8pm to 9.30pm, offering the public a chance to see the national athletes. The list of participating athletes will be announced later. The athletes of the delegation will meet the public and attend the Sports Demonstrations by Mainland Olympians from 9.30am to 11.30am on August 31 (Saturday). Two groups of athletes will conduct badminton, gymnastics and table tennis demonstrations at Queen Elizabeth Stadium, as well as diving and swimming demonstrations at Victoria Park Swimming Pool.
      
     Tickets will be available for $20 each (including the online ticketing service charge) starting at 10am on August 22 (Thursday) via the Internet, mobile app and credit card telephone booking (Tel: 3166 1288) services of URBTIX. There will be no concessionary tickets, and each person may purchase a maximum of two tickets at a time. Real-name registration is required for ticket purchases. Each ticket holder must present a proof of identity with photo that matches the name on the ticket for verification upon entry; failure to do so will result in denied admission and no refunds. Ticket holders may not make unauthorised amendments to the information as printed on the ticket or transfer the ticket for another's use.
      
     An LCSD spokesman reminded the public that there will be no ticket collection service at the venues on the event day. Ticket holders must collect their tickets at URBTIX outlets or from self-service ticketing kiosks on or before August 30. For details on the locations of the outlets and kiosks, please visit www.urbtix.hk.
      
     Around 5 300 tickets for the gala show and the sports demonstrations this year are reserved for the public, including free tickets reserved for the underprivileged. Broadcasting arrangements will also be made for the events so that members of the public can enjoy them at home.
      
     As it will take time to verify personal particulars of ticket holders under the real-name registration arrangement, attendees may experience longer waiting times to enter the relevant venues. The venues will open one hour before each show starts, and there will be pre-shows for the audiences. To avoid missing any of the events, the LCSD suggests that members of the public arrive early and appreciates their understanding.
      
     The latest information will be announced on the dedicated website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/paris2024/index.html).