The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, July 5, 2018 is 102.4 (up 0.3 against yesterday's index).

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 4) seized a batch of suspected smuggled goods, including 407 smartphones, 12 metal plates, 144 bags of polyester resin and 1 200 pieces of electronic parts, with an estimated market value of about $900,000 at Lok Ma Chau Control Point.

     Customs officers intercepted an outgoing lorry at Lok Ma Chau Control Point for inspection yesterday afternoon and seized the batch of suspected smuggled goods inside a false compartment in the tailgate and the cargo compartment of the lorry. The 55-year-old male driver was arrested. 

     Investigation is ongoing.

     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.

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

    

     The Land Registry today (July 5) released its statistics for the first half of 2018. 
                                                                                                     
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration for the first half of 2018 was 46,875 (+14.5 per cent compared with the second half of 2017 and +9.4 per cent compared with the first half of 2017).
 
* The total consideration for these agreements for the first half of 2018 was $403.68 billion (+14.3 per cent compared with the second half of 2017 and +8.2 per cent compared with the first half of 2017).
 
* The number of assignments of building units for the first half of 2018 was 52,793 (+7.9 per cent compared with the second half of 2017 but -3.6 per cent compared with the first half of 2017).
 
* The total consideration for these assignments for the first half of 2018 was $410.09 billion (+31.1 per cent compared with the second half of 2017 and +10.7 per cent compared with the first half of 2017).

Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public for the first half of 2018 was 2,680,329 (+2.3 per cent compared with the second half of 2017 and +4.6 per cent compared with the first half of 2017).

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee originally scheduled at 3pm tomorrow (July 6) in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex will start at 4.45pm.

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 (July 5) that the Environmental Protection Department has classified the water quality at Kwun Yam Beach in Islands District as Grade 2, which means the water quality has improved and the beach is suitable for swimming. The red flag has been lowered.

     The red flag was hoisted at the beach earlier due to the water quality being classified as Grade 4 and unsuitable for swimming.