The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (December 24) that a site, Rural Building Lot No. 1203 at South Bay Road, Repulse Bay, Hong Kong, in the 2021-22 Land Sale Programme will be disposed of by public tender. The tender invitation for the lot will commence on December 31 and close on February 11, 2022.
       
     Rural Building Lot No. 1203 has a site area of about 1,967.0 square metres and is designated for private residential purposes. The minimum gross floor area and the maximum gross floor area are 1,063 sq m and 1,770.3 sq m respectively.
 
     Land sale documents including the Form of Tender, the Tender Notice, the Conditions of Sale and the sale plan of the lot will be available for downloading from the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hk) from December 31, while the sale plan will be available for inspection by the public from the same day until the close of the tender. The sale plan in hard copy form may also be purchased from December 31 at the Survey and Mapping Office of the LandsD (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong) until the close of the tender. The particulars of the tender will be gazetted on December 31.

     The Government announced today (December 24) that the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will be further expanded starting from January 1, 2022. The arrangements are as follows:
 
* extension of the opening hours of nine of the 10 Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) to enable members of the public to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine;
* provision of a third dose vaccination service to all eligible persons who have received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine with the second dose received six months ago;
* provision of a second dose vaccination service to persons who have recovered from previous COVID-19 infection; and
* provision of a second dose BioNTech vaccination service to persons aged 12 to 17.
 
     "Under the spreading threat posed by mutant virus strains, people who are yet to receive vaccination should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection and to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should they get infected. Eligible persons should receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible to enhance protection and build a protective barrier in the community," a Government spokesman said.
 
Extension of opening hours of CVCs
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     Starting from January 1, nine CVCs will operate daily and their opening hours will be extended from 8am to 8pm. The opening hours of the HKU CVC at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong remains unchanged. Please see Annex for details.
 
     The three CVCs providing the Sinovac vaccine are located at Java Road Sports Centre in North Point, Kwun Chung Sports Centre in Jordan and Yuen Wo Road Sports Centre in Sha Tin. The seven CVCs providing the BioNTech vaccine are located at Sai Wan Ho Sports Centre, Hiu Kwong Street Sports Centre in Kwun Tong, Lai Chi Kok Park Sports Centre, Yuen Long Sports Centre, Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong in Wong Chuk Hang, CUHK Medical Centre in Sha Tin and Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre in Kwai Chung.
 
     Starting from 8am on January 1, members of the public can make reservations for vaccination in the new time slots through the booking system at the designated website of the Vaccination Programme (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk). Eligible persons can also collect same-day tickets and get vaccinated at the CVCs (except those located at a private hospital) without prior booking. The tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     Currently, there are various vaccination channels for the public to receive vaccination. Apart from CVCs, members of the public can also get vaccinated at COVID-19 Vaccination Stations at public hospitals, designated clinics under the Hospital Authority, private clinics providing the Sinovac vaccination service, private healthcare institutions that have enrolled in the BioNTech Vaccination Pilot Scheme, as well as the COVID-19 mobile vaccination stations.
 
     Starting from December 30, COVID-19 Vaccination Stations will be set up at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po and Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan to provide a walk-in service for BioNTech vaccination. By that time, the number of vaccination stations at public hospitals will be increased to 13.
 
     A COVID-19 mobile vaccination station which operates as a vaccination vehicle will continue to serve the public. Another mobile vaccination station operating in the form of a container will commence operation on January 7 to enable more people, in particular elderly persons, to receive COVID-19 vaccination.
 
     Members of the public can refer to the designated website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/programme) for the latest information including vaccination venues, reservation and enquiry hotlines. The service schedule of the mobile vaccination stations has been uploaded to the website and will be updated from time to time.
 
Third dose of COVID-19 vaccination for persons who have received two doses of BioNTech vaccine for six months
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     The Government has put in place vaccination arrangements for persons under certain groups to receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on a priority basis since November 11, and the arrangements were expanded on November 23 to cover persons who had received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine with the second dose received six months ago. In accordance with the recommendations by the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, the Government has decided to further expand the arrangements for the third dose vaccination.
 
     Persons aged 18 and above who have received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine with the second dose received six months ago can make reservations for and receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine starting from 8am on January 1.
 
     In other words, members of the public who have received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine or the Sinovac vaccine six months ago can receive a third dose starting from January 1.
 
     For individuals who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine  more than three months ago, if they have personal needs (e.g. travel abroad), they can go to the CVCs and their requests to receive the third dose earlier will be handled on a discretionary basis in accordance with individual circumstances.
 
     For the third dose vaccination arrangements for immunocompromised persons (e.g. cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, advanced-stage HIV patients and persons taking active immunosuppressive drugs), they have to bring along with them a medical certificate on the day of vaccination so that they can receive the third dose between four weeks and three months from their second dose.
 
Individuals who have recovered from previous COVID-19 infection and received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
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     Currently, persons who have recovered from previous COVID-19 infection are required to receive one dose of vaccine. Starting from January 1, recovered persons who have received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine six months ago can receive a second dose at CVCs. For recovered persons who have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine more than three months ago, if they have personal needs (e.g. travel abroad), they can go to the CVCs and their requests to receive the second dose earlier will be handled on a discretionary basis in accordance with individual circumstances.
 
For persons aged between 12 and 17 who have received one dose of the BioNTech vaccine
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     Starting from 8am on January 1, persons aged from 12 to 17 can make reservations for and receive the second dose of the BioNTech vaccine at least 12 weeks after the first dose of the BioNTech vaccine. For those with special needs (e.g. study abroad) who opt to receive the second dose 21 days after their first dose, they are required to bring along a consent form signed by their parent and must be accompanied by their parent to the CVCs on the day of vaccination.
 
     Moreover, in accordance with the recommendations by the experts, starting from January 1, for adolescents receiving the BioNTech vaccine, the vaccine will be administered in the muscle of the mid-anterolateral thigh. They should wear loose-fitting clothing for ease of vaccination.
 
Vaccination recommendations
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     Before making an appointment, members of the public should take note of a minimum interval of 14 days between COVID-19 vaccination and any other vaccination (including seasonal influenza vaccination). The minimum age for receiving the Sinovac and the BioNTech vaccine is 12.
 
     Persons aged below 18 are required to bring along a consent form signed by their parent for getting their vaccinations (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/Consent_Form_for_COVID19_Vaccination_ENG.pdf).
 
     For consensus interim recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination from Scientific Committees under the CHP, please visit: www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/23/P2021122300757.htm.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is presenting the free online family entertainment programme "What I am? Who I am?" by Hong Kong Circus under its "Cheers!" Series, enabling audience to enjoy fascinating programme at home. The first episode is now available on the department's Edutainment Channel.
 
     This five-episode programme is about an adventure involving puppet Kiki, mini potted plant Kelly and Monkey Lucky. They meet when Kiki passes by a forest on his journey to save the dying Kelly. The trio encounter obstacles such as bogs and fire dragons. With courage, they eventually overcome many other dangers in the quest to realise their wishes. Featuring circus entertainment such as theatre, acrobatics, aerial dance, fire stunts and contortions, the programme presents the exciting adventure story to audiences and brings out positive attitudes of exploring the unknown, offering help to others, courage and never giving up.
 
     Founded in 2012, Hong Kong Circus is a performing arts group that strives to create unique performances by harmonising contemporary circus arts with multimedia elements. The group proactively promotes contemporary circus arts, and organises educational workshops and training schemes. Its recent works include "Hong Kong Movie-in-Dance", "KIBO's Journey of Rebirth", "Grad in My Dream" and "Circus for Cheerful Christmas".
 
     "Cheers!" Series: "What I am? Who I am?" by Hong Kong Circus is conducted in Cantonese. Each episode is approximately five minutes long. To watch the programme, please visit the LCSD's Edutainment Channel at www.lcsd.gov.hk/edutainment/en/performing_arts/page_645.html. Details and the release schedule of other episodes will be announced in due course on the programme website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/f_entertainment/programs_1263.html. For programme enquiries or more information, please call 2268 7323.
 
     Another free online programme of the "Cheers!" Series is "BE Boy's Adventure Time" by BE KIDS. For details, please visit
www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/multi_arts/programs_1240.html.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 23) seized about 21 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $57 million and a duty potential of about $40 million in Yuen Long. Two men were arrested. 

     During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in San Tin, Yuen Long, yesterday afternoon, Customs officers seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes from two 40-foot containers at a container yard. Two men, aged 63 and 69, suspected to be connected to the case were arrested.  

     An investigation is ongoing. Customs will continue to trace the source and the flow of the illicit cigarettes. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

     Customs will continue to combat illicit cigarette activities on all fronts through intelligence analysis. The department will also step up enforcement during the Christmas and New Year holidays. 

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has completed its annual assessment of the list of Domestic Systemically Important Authorized Institutions (D-SIBs). As with previous years, the assessment takes into account the size, interconnectedness, substitutability and complexity of authorised institutions. Based on the assessment results, the total number of D-SIBs has decreased from six to five. The Bank of East Asia, Limited is no longer identified as a D-SIB in this assessment considering its systemic importance relative to other institutions. The updated list of D-SIBs, which will take effect on January 1, 2022, is shown in the Annex.
      
     Under the D-SIB framework, each of the authorised institutions designated as a D-SIB will be required to include a Higher Loss Absorbency (HLA) requirement into the calculation of its regulatory capital buffers within a period of 12 months after the formal notification of its designation. The HLA requirement applicable to a D-SIB (expressed as a ratio of an authorised institution's Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital to its risk-weighted assets as calculated under the Banking (Capital) Rules) ranges between 1 per cent and 3.5 per cent (depending on the assessed level of the D-SIB's systemic importance).
      
     Compared to the list of D-SIBs published on December 30, 2020, there is no change to the HLA requirements applied to the five designated D-SIBs. 
 
     Further details about the decision can be found on the HKMA website (Systemically Important Authorized Institutions (SIBs)).
 
Background
 
(1) D-SIB framework in Hong Kong
 
     The Banking (Capital) Rules and the HKMA's regulatory framework for D-SIBs follow the provisions in "A framework for dealing with domestic systemically important banks" issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in October 2012, by enabling the Monetary Authority (i) to designate an authorised institution as a D-SIB if the Monetary Authority considers the authorised institution to be of systemic importance in the context of the Hong Kong banking and financial system and (ii) to require an authorised institution designated as a D-SIB to be subject to an HLA capital buffer.
      
     The rationale for imposing an HLA requirement on D-SIBs is to reduce any probability of them becoming non-viable. This is considered both prudent and justified in view of the greater impact that they could have, in the unlikely event of their failure, on the domestic financial system and the local economy more broadly. 
 
(2) HLA requirement for authorised institutions designated as D-SIBs
 
     The Monetary Authority is empowered under sections 3U and 3V of the Banking (Capital) Rules to designate D-SIBs and to determine an HLA requirement for each of these D-SIBs by reference to the degree of domestic systemic importance which the Monetary Authority assesses them to bear. To achieve this aim, the HKMA's regulatory framework for D-SIBs provides for authorised institutions designated as D-SIBs to be allocated to different HLA "buckets". This differentiated approach reflects the diversified nature and varying degrees of systemic importance of authorised institutions in Hong Kong.
      
     The designated D-SIBs must apply the HLA in the calculation of their regulatory capital buffers within 12 months of the formal notification of their designation. There are five HLA buckets in total ranging from 1 per cent to 3.5 per cent. While only the first four buckets (i.e. from 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent) have been populated so far, the framework includes an empty 3.5 per cent bucket to encourage D-SIBs to refrain from becoming even more systemically important.
      
     The HLA applied to a D-SIB serves (together with the Countercyclical Capital Buffer) as an extension of the Basel III Capital Conservation Buffer. Accordingly, if and when a D-SIB's CET1 capital ratio falls within the extended buffer range, the D-SIB will be subject to restrictions on the discretionary distributions it may make. The effect of this is that D-SIBs will be required to retain earnings in order to bolster their regulatory capital.