The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) welcomes the joint announcement of the Hong Kong Association of Banks, the Hong Kong Association of Restricted Licence Banks and Deposit-taking Companies, and the Hong Kong S.A.R. Licensed Money Lenders Association Limited (collectively as the Industry Associations) today (November 17) on the official naming of the Multiple Credit Reference Agencies Model as "Credit Data Smart" and the launch of a pilot programme.
      
     The HKMA has been working closely with the Industry Associations to introduce more than one consumer credit reference agency (CRA) in Hong Kong through the Credit Reference Platform, with a view to promoting the market competition of consumer credit reference services in Hong Kong, enhancing the service quality of consumer CRAs and reducing the operational risk of having only one commercially run service provider in the market, particularly the risk of single point of failure.
      
     The HKMA fully supports the development of "Credit Data Smart", which is an initiative under the "Fintech 2025" strategy in creating the next-generation data infrastructure and driving fintech development in Hong Kong. The HKMA would like to thank the Industry Associations, the Platform Operator, the Business Operator, the CRAs and other stakeholders for their effort in implementing "Credit Data Smart".
      
     The launch of the pilot programme is an important step in the implementation of "Credit Data Smart". The HKMA looks forward to seeing the three selected CRAs officially offer the public with secure and reliable consumer credit reference services upon the completion of the pilot programme.

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 Octopus Cards Limited relating to a fraudulent website.  The relevant stored value facility (SVF) licensee has reported the case to the HKMA. 
      
     The fraudulent website reported by the SVF licensee known at the time is as follows: hxxps://ocshk[.]octopues[.]xyz
 
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that anyone who has provided his or her personal information or account credentials, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website concerned, should contact the relevant SVF licensee, and report to the Police or contact the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre of the Police at 18222.

     â€‹The Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) held a networking event themed "Meet the Partners" today (November 17). The event was attended by OASES Partners and representatives from six local universities including City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the University of Hong Kong.
      
     The networking event aims to enhance the understanding of local universities and research institutions of strategic enterprises' business development plans and needs. To promote the vibrant development of Hong Kong's innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem, OASES offers assistance to strategic enterprises in leveraging Hong Kong's policies to further expand their businesses in Hong Kong. During the event, representatives from China Merchants Research Institute of Advanced Technology Company Limited, Lenovo (Hong Kong) Limited and New Horizon Health respectively introduced their business and development plans and conducted in-depth discussion on research-related matters of their operations, with a view to collectively exploring a new horizon for the industry sector, academia and research cluster via exchanges and collaborations. 
      
     In his opening remarks, the Director-General of OASES, Mr Philip Yung, said that OASES has been working closely with local universities and research institutions since its establishment. In addition to attracting strategic enterprises to set up their operations in Hong Kong, OASES also serves to connect strategic enterprises landing in Hong Kong with local and Mainland universities, I&T enterprises or relevant institutions for collaboration to enhance synergy, hence promoting the development of Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Currently, local universities possess an array of potential research and development (R&D) outcomes of original core technologies or deep technology. Mr Yung said he trusts that the launch of the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme by the Government last month will encourage more enterprises to participate or invest in R&D projects and I&T start-up activities for commercialisation of R&D outcomes, thereby enhancing the collaboration among the Government, the industry sector, universities and research institutions to fully unleash the potential of transforming the R&D outcomes of local universities.
      
     OASES will continue to organise various business networking events to engage strategic enterprises and stakeholders for jointly promoting the development of Hong Kong's I&T ecosystem.

      

     Six landlords of subdivided units (SDUs) who contravened Part IVA of the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap. 7) (the Ordinance) pleaded guilty and were fined a total of $25,600 today (November 17) at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts. Since the Ordinance has come into force, a total of 28 SDU landlords have been convicted of contravening the Ordinance.  
 
     These landlords were convicted of failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced. One of them who also requested the tenant to pay money other than those types permitted by the Ordinance contravened a total of 18 offences and was fined $18,400.
 
     The Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon in-depth investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted against the landlords.
 
     A spokesman for the RVD hopes that these convictions will send a strong message to SDU landlords that they must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, and also reminds SDU tenants of their rights under the Ordinance. He also stresses that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether the landlords concerned have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD's request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecutions against suspected contravention of the Ordinance.
 
     The RVD spokesman appeals to members of the public to come forward and report to the RVD promptly any suspected cases of contravening the relevant requirements. This would help curb illegal acts as soon as possible. Reporting can be made through the telephone hotline (2150 8303), by email (enquiries@rvd.gov.hk), by fax (2116 4920), by post (15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon), or in person (visiting the Tenancy Services Section office of the RVD at Room 3816-22, 38/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, and please call 2150 8303 to make an appointment). Furthermore, the RVD has provided a form (Form AR4) (www.rvd.gov.hk/doc/en/forms/ar4.pdf) on its website to facilitate SDU tenants' reporting to the RVD.
 
     The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. Since the first batch of regulated tenancies is about to approach their second-term tenancies, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work in order to assist SDU landlords and tenants to understand the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy. In addition, the RVD started to issue letters enclosing relevant information to the concerned landlords and tenants of regulated tenancies by batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to remind them about their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD's website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html) for the relevant information, including a concise guide, brochures, tutorial videos, frequently asked questions, etc. SDU landlords and tenants are also advised to familiarise themselves with the relevant statutory requirements and maintain close communication regarding the second-term tenancy for handling the matters properly and in a timely manner according to the Ordinance.
 
     For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD's webpage (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.html) for the relevant information.

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (November 17) visited "The Road of Rejuvenation" exhibition at the National Museum of China (NMC) and exchanged views with the Director of the NMC, Mr Wang Chunfa. The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu, also joined the visit.

     Mr Yeung said, "As announced in the Policy Address this year, Hong Kong will set up a museum to showcase the development and achievements of our country in various aspects. The visit to the NMC and exchanges with representatives of the museum will be beneficial to our preparatory work in formulating the museum. Showcasing the Chinese nation's road of rejuvenation in a comprehensive manner, 'The Road of Rejuvenation' exhibition lets us learn more about the great spirit of the Chinese nation with patriotism as the core and build strong cultural confidence, thus creating new successes for the Chinese culture and increasing the public's 'sense of gain'."
      
     Mr Yeung started his itinerary upon arrival in Beijing yesterday (November 16) afternoon. He first visited the Museum of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which features the CPC's centenary-long journey through various forms and techniques.
      
     Mr Yeung said, "The Museum of the CPC deepens our understanding of the CPC's centennial history and the real essence of its establishment. We fully appreciate the indomitable spirit that Chinese revolutionaries upheld in the Long March, which always reminds us to remain true to our original aspirations and bear in mind our mission. The Museum's curation and description, as well as selection and presentation of exhibits and pictures, have inspired us on planning our museum to showcase the development and achievements of our country in both content and curation."
      
     Mr Yeung also called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council and met with House Committee Member Mr Xiang Bin to brief him on the work of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and the relevant initiatives set out in the Policy Address. The HKMAO expressed clear support for and fully recognised the CSTB's work under Mr Yeung's leadership.
      
     Mr Yeung will return to Hong Kong this evening.