The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (March 8) gazetted a notice to extend the tender period for the contract for Kwu Tung North New Development Area, Remaining Phase: Improvement Works of Fanling Highway (K… read more
Hongkong Post announced today (March 8) that, as advised by the postal administration of Mauritius, mail delivery services previously impacted by a tropical storm have returned to normal. read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today (March 8) announced a new service schedule of the two Coin Carts under the Coin Collection Programme, for the period of March 25, 2024, up to June 2, 2024. The schedule and other details of the Programme are shown on the HKMA webpage (coincollection.hkma.gov.hk).
Since the launch of the Programme in October 2014 up to February 29, 2024, the two Coin Carts had carried out 1,186,000 transactions, collecting 929 million coins with a total face value of HK$1,465 million during the period. The collected coins are re-circulated to meet demand.
The Coin Carts provide service at locations that are convenient to the public without affecting the normal flow of traffic and pedestrians. Locations that have suitable power supply facilities, such as the Leisure and Cultural Services Department mobile library service locations, are preferred so as to reduce the need for using the Coin Carts’ own stand-by generators. This makes the Programme more environmentally friendly. In selecting the service locations, the HKMA has taken into consideration comments and suggestions given by district councils and members of public; and has consulted the Transport Department and the Hong Kong Police Force as necessary.
The two Coin Carts collect coins from members of public in the 18 districts of Hong Kong on a rotating basis. Under normal circumstances each Coin Cart will stay at a location for a week, subject to availability of the parking space and the maintenance schedule of the Cart. Service hours are from 10am to 7pm. Each vehicle is equipped with two coin counting machines and operational staff will be present to provide assistance. An electrical wheelchair lift is available for use. Users can choose to exchange coins for banknotes or adding value to their stored value facilities, such as Octopus Cards or e-wallets (including AlipayHK, Octopus Wallet, Tap&Go, TNG Wallet and WeChat Pay). There is also a Community Chest donation box inside each vehicle. The coin collection service is free of charge.
The HKMA will review the Programme from time to time; and will regularly update the service schedule to give advance notice to the public. read more
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 (March 8… read more
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (March 7) seized about 191 kilograms of suspected scheduled dried sea cucumbers and 369kg of suspected scheduled dried fish gills, with a total estimated market value of about $1.1 million, at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers yesterday selected a 40-foot seaborne container, arriving in Hong Kong from Myanmar, for inspection. The batch of dried sea cucumbers and dried fish gills suspected to be scheduled under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Ordinance) (Cap. 586) was found inside the container.
The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) for follow-up action.
Under the Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing, exporting, or possessing any endangered species without a required licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years. For licensing requirements for the species listed on different appendices, members of the public may visit the website: www.cites.hk. For enquiries, please contact the AFCD through email (hk_cites@afcd.gov.hk) or call 1823.
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).
