The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, will leave for Macao tomorrow (June 5) to attend the 20th Annual Syndicated Loan Market Conference of the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association.
 
     He will deliver a keynote speech to share views on the growth opportunities for Hong Kong's financial services industry.
 
     Mr Lau will also meet with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Monetary Authority of Macao, Dr Chan Sau-san, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
 
     Mr Lau will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon.

     Three works contractors of Redhill Peninsula and their drivers, who illegally disposed of construction waste at Tai Tam Road in Southern District, were convicted by Eastern Magistrates' Courts on May 14, May 21 and today (June 4) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO). They were fined a total of $22,500.
      
     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received reports from members of the public that construction waste was illegally deposited in the vicinity of Redhill Peninsula continuously. The EPD stepped up surveillance to monitor the district in last October and November and intercepted three dump trucks, from which construction waste had been deposited at a public lay-by area on Tai Tam Road. Upon investigation and evidence collection, it was confirmed that the construction waste originated from multiple works contractors of Redhill Peninsula. The offenders involved were subsequently prosecuted in accordance with the WDO.
      
     In addition, two other works contractors of Redhill Peninsula were also convicted for illegal disposal of construction waste at Pak Pat Shan Road in January and April this year. The EPD proactively followed up with the person-in-charge of Redhill Peninsula's property management company and the chairperson of the incorporated owners of the estate. The department also urged the property management company to strengthen its management of renovation contractors, which included requiring the contractors to provide disposal records of construction waste of each truck, so as to ensure the construction waste generated from Redhill Peninsula would not be illegally disposed of.
      
     An EPD spokesman reminded property owners, owners' corporations and property management companies that they have the responsibility to urge their renovation contractors to handle construction waste properly in accordance with the law, in order to avoid illegal disposal of the waste either on roads or in public places. Under the WDO, it is an offence to dispose of waste in a public place or on government land. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, June 4, 2018 is 99.8 down 0.1 against last Saturday's index.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, June 2, 2018 is 99.9 up 0.1 against last Friday's index.

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 (June 4) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach in Islands District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Land Registry today (June 4) released its statistics for May 2018.
 
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in May was 7,788 (-10.9 per cent compared with April but +3.3 per cent compared with May 2017)

* The 12-month moving average for May was 7,207 (0.3 per cent above the 12-month moving average for April but 1.1 per cent below that for May 2017)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in May was $63.5 billion (-18.4 per cent compared with April and -4.9 per cent compared with May 2017)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 5,522 were for residential units (-16.9 per cent compared with April and -3.7 per cent compared with May 2017)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $52.2 billion (-15.6 per cent compared with April and -2.6 per cent compared with May 2017)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.
 
Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in May was 502,357 (+13.1 per cent compared with April and +9.3 per cent compared with May 2017)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.