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 ZA Bank Limited relating to a fraudulent website, mobile application (App) and internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA.  A hyperlink to the press release 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 website, App or login screen 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 Correctional Services Department (CSD) announced today (October 26) that the Social Visit e-Booking Service (SVEBS) will be fully implemented on November 1 to facilitate the visitation of visitors.
      
     The new service not only shortens the waiting time for visit registration in correctional institutions, but also allows visitors to manage their bookings, check the latest visit status of persons in custody (PICs) and the quotas for approved hand-in articles through the system.
      
     Visitors must be declared visitors of PICs to register for a user account before using the SVEBS. Starting today, visitors can register for an account through the following means:

1. Use the "iAM Smart" mobile application;
2. Visit the SVEBS webpage via the CSD website or CSD mobile application to submit an application, and then go to the correctional institution to which the PIC concerned was admitted in person for identity verification; or
3. Visit the correctional institution to which the PIC concerned was admitted in person to submit an application and undergo identity verification.

      
     After the completion of an account registration, consent of the PIC concerned must also be obtained before the visitors can use the SVEBS.
      
     Users can make bookings for a social visit for the next seven days through "iAM Smart" or by logging into the SVEBS webpage (ebooking.icrms.csd.gov.hk/ebooking). The available timeslots for SVEBS depend on visiting hours of individual institutions. For more details, please refer to individual institution's information on the CSD website.
      
     After the full launch of the SVEBS, visitors can still choose to visit institutions in person to register their visits.
      
     For more details of the SVEBS, please browse the related promotional videos and information on the CSD website (www.csd.gov.hk)
      
     The hyperlinks for "iAM Smart" and CSD mobile application are provided below:

"iAM Smart"​
www.iamsmart.gov.hk/qr.html

CSD mobile application
iOS:
apps.apple.com/hk/app/hkcsd-mobile-application/id933686784
 
Android:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.innopage_csd.csdpublic
 
Huawei:
appgallery.huawei.com/#/app/C103409191

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 Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens and phishing emails, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release 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 websites, login screens or emails 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 Transport Department (TD) today (October 26) reminded the public that the following temporary traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented at Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung from this Saturday night (October 28) to Sunday morning (October 29) to facilitate footbridge works:

(1) Road closures

– From 8pm on October 28 to 1.30am on October 29 and from 5.31am to 8am on October 29, the section of Castle Peak Road –  Kwai Chung (northbound) between Yip Shing Street and Shek Pai Street will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic, while the section of Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung (southbound) between Yip Shing Street and Shek Pai Street will be converted to two-lane two-way traffic; and
– From 1.31am to 5.30am on October 29, the whole section of Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung between Yip Shing Street and Shek Pai Street will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic.

(2) Traffic diversions

     During the closure of the whole section of Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung between Yip Shing Street and Shek Pai Street, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:

– Vehicles travelling on Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung (northbound) heading for Kwai Chung (North), Tsuen Wan or Sha Tin will be diverted to travel via Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung (northbound), U-turn outside Greenknoll Court, Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung (southbound), Butterfly Valley Road (southbound), Lai Chi Kok Road (eastbound), Tai Nan West Street (northbound), Cheung Sha Wan Road (westbound), Kwai Chung Road (westbound) and Kwai Chung Road (northbound);
– Vehicles travelling on Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung (southbound) heading for Greenknoll Court will be diverted to travel via Shek Pai Street (eastbound), Wei Kek Street (northbound), Tai Loong Street (westbound), Tai Loong Street (northbound), Wo Yi Hop Road (eastbound), Wo Yi Hop Road (northbound), Cheung Wing Road (southbound), Kwai Chung Road (southbound), Kwai Chung Road (eastbound), Cheung Sha Wan Road (eastbound), Castle Peak Road (westbound) and Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung (northbound); and
– Vehicles travelling on Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung (southbound) heading for Kowloon will be diverted to travel via Shek Pai Street (eastbound), Wei Kek Street (northbound), Tai Loong Street (westbound), Tai Loong Street (northbound), Wo Yi Hop Road (eastbound), Wo Yi Hop Road (northbound), Cheung Wing Road (southbound) and Kwai Chung Road (southbound).

(3) Bus route diversions

     KMB route No. N237 departing from the Mei Foo Bus Terminus, from the second departure (i.e. 1.30am) to the last departure (i.e. 5am) on October 29, will be diverted via Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung (northbound), U-turn outside Greenknoll Court, Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung (southbound), Butterfly Valley Road (southbound), Lai Chi Kok Road (eastbound), Tai Nan West Street (northbound), Cheung Sha Wan Road (westbound), Kwai Chung Road (westbound), Kwai Chung Road (northbound), Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung (westbound), Kwok Shui Road (eastbound) and Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung (southbound), and resume to its original routing.

     The bus company will display notices to advise passengers on the special arrangements. Appropriate traffic signs will also be erected on-site to guide motorists. The TD anticipates that the travelling time at the road sections concerned will be slightly lengthened due to the diversion arrangements. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience.

     â€‹Members of the public are advised to plan their journeys in advance and allow sufficient traveling time to cater for unexpected delay, and stay alert to the latest traffic news through the media or the TD's mobile application "HKeMobility" or website (www.td.gov.hk).

     The Second Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Guangdong) Statistical Forum was held on October 24 and 25 in Qianhai, Shenzhen. Under the guidance of the National Bureau of Statistics, the forum was hosted by the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Statistics and co-organised by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and other government statistical agencies from the "9+2" cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Mr Leo Yu, led a delegation to participate in this meaningful event.
 
     In addition to the attendance of leaders from the National Bureau of Statistics and the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Statistics, the forum brought together statistical experts from various fields, including representatives from the government statistical agencies of the "9+2" cities in the GBA, as well as those from higher education institutions and research institutes on the Mainland. Themed "Deepening statistical co-operation to promote high-quality development", the forum offered an opportunity to foster statistical exchanges and co-operation in the GBA by providing a platform for statistical professionals from the "9+2" cities to leverage the collective wisdom and insights to explore more collaborative paths, and to jointly drive innovation in statistical work, with a view to elevating the level of statistical work amid the rapid development of the times.
 
     Speaking at the opening ceremony of the forum, Mr Yu remarked, "Perhaps you have heard the saying 'data is the new oil', which means that data, like oil, will become valuable after proper refining. Therefore, we also have to actively strengthen our statistical infrastructure, adopt modern techniques and methods for data collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination, in order to properly refine the data. This does not only enhance the value of data, but also reduces the workload of junior colleagues and improves work effectiveness. In this connection, it helps release more manpower for further research and innovation, expand the scope and improve the quality of our services, enabling our statistical work to advance faster, farther, and more proactively."
 
     Senior statistician of the C&SD Mr Tsang Tat-shing also delivered a presentation entitled "Modernisation of Statistical Business Processes in Hong Kong" at one of the sessions of the forum. Colleagues who participated in the forum unanimously expressed that it was a very valuable experience for them to exchange knowledge and learn from statistical professionals from the Mainland cities. It enabled them to acquire insights into the ongoing advancement of statistical techniques on the Mainland, and served as a reminder for them to actively explore and embrace changes in the dynamic era of big data, in order to seize opportunities and tackle challenges in the future.
 
     The forum was held in Shenzhen and was attended by representatives of statistical organisations from Beijing, Guangdong Province, Hong Kong, Macao, etc, through online and in-person participation. Relevant officials from the statistical systems of the cities in the GBA, as well as experts and scholars from national think tanks and renowned universities also shared their views on the statistical measurement of digital economy, statistical monitoring of high-quality development, research on data science and big data statistical applications, statistical reform and innovation, etc.