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 Hang Seng Bank, Limited relating to a fraudulent mobile application (app), which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press releases 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 app 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 Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, continued his visit to Shanghai today (January 9). Together with the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Joe Wong, he met with the Director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, Mr Xu Bin, and introduced Hong Kong as a destination for major sports events. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government encourages and supports Hong Kong athletes and national sports associations to drive more exchanges with the Mainland sports sector. Athletes and citizens from Shanghai are welcome to join sports events in Hong Kong.

     Mr Yeung and Mr Wong visited M50, which was a textile factory compound, to understand how local factories and old architecture were renovated and upgraded, in order to nurture and attract talent, and bring Chinese and overseas artists together, thereby promoting the arts and cultural development in the area. They also visited Shanghai Stadium.

     Mr Yeung will tomorrow (January 10) visit the Shanghai Disney Resort. He will return to Hong Kong in the evening.

          

     The Labour Department (LD) today (January 9) reminded members of the public to obtain a licence before operating an employment agency (EA), or else they may face prosecution.
      
     The reminder was issued after a man was convicted of operating an unlicensed EA and was fined $10,000 at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.
      
     In May 2022, the LD received a complaint against a man from an employer seeking to hire a foreign domestic helper. As the investigation revealed sufficient evidence that the man was operating an unlicensed EA, the LD decided to take out prosecution.
      
     All establishments or persons operating a business in Hong Kong for the purpose of obtaining employment for another person or supplying personnel to an employer are governed by Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations. Irrespective of the modus operandi or the types of jobs referred, all EAs must obtain a licence issued by the LD before undertaking any EA activities. Except for the EA licence holder or his or her associates, no one shall operate, manage or assist in the management of an EA. Offenders may face prosecution.
      
     The LD reminds EAs to operate in full compliance with the law as well as the Code of Practice for EAs at all times. Failure to do so may lead to prosecution and/or revocation of licence. The maximum penalties for the offences of unlicensed operation of an EA or overcharging commission from job-seekers are a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
      
     Should there be enquiries about matters related to EAs or complaints about malpractices of EAs, please contact the Employment Agencies Administration of the LD by calling 2115 3667, e-mailing ea-ee@labour.gov.hk, or visiting its office at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 8) seized 20 gold slabs weighing about 20 kilograms in total, with an estimated market value of about $10 million, at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Point. 

     Based on risk assessment, Customs yesterday afternoon intercepted an outgoing seven-seater vehicle at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Point for inspection. Upon examination, Customs officers seized the batch of suspected smuggled gold in a false compartment of the vehicle’s console box. The 32-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested. 

     An investigation is ongoing. 

     Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against cross-boundary smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     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.
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     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to 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 Tueday, January 9, 2024 is 104.2 (down 0.1 against yesterday's  index).