Month: August 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that a tender of 20-year HKD institutional Government Bonds through the re-opening of existing Government Bond (issue number 20GB4503001) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme was held today (August 20).

A total of HK$0.5 billion 20-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of HK$2.48175 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 4.96. The average price accepted is 103.02, implying an annualised yield of 3.806 per cent.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Results

Tender results of 20-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
 

Tender Date	:	August 20, 2025
Issue Number	:	20GB4503001 (Re-open)
Stock Code	:	4290 (HKGB 3.99 4503)
Issue and Settlement Date	:	August 21, 2025
Tenor	:	20 years
Maturity Date	:	March 6, 2045
Coupon Rate	:	3.99 per cent
Amount Applied	:	HK$2.48175 billion
Amount Allotted	:	HK$0.5 billion
Bid-to-Cover Ratio*	:	4.96
Average Price Accepted (Yield)	:	103.02 (3.806 per cent)
Lowest Price Accepted (Yield)	:	102.42 (3.850 per cent)
Pro-rata Ratio	:	About 46 per cent
Average Tender Price (Yield)	:	100.35 (4.003 per cent)

* Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau today officially launched the Website for the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The website introduces a series of commemorative activities for the public to join and remember history.

The bureau noted that the core spirit of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is “remembering history, honouring martyrs, cherishing peace, and creating a great future.”

To deepen and broaden the public’s understanding of wartime history and the historical significance of victory in the war, and to strengthen their affection for and sense of belonging to the country, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will organise various forms of commemorative and educational activities. It will also make appropriate arrangements to co-ordinate and support commemorative activities in the community.

The official ceremony will be held on September 3 at the Hong Kong City Hall Memorial Garden to commemorate the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, honouring the martyrs and civilians who lost their lives in the war.

The Government will also stage two large-scale special exhibitions. The first is the “United in Arms, Standing for Peace – 80th Anniversary of the Chinese Victory in the War of Resistance” Exhibition, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Museum of History (HKMH) and the National Museum of China, running from August 27 to December 15.

The second is the “Standing Together for Peacebuilding: Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance in Guangdong & Hong Kong” Exhibition, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance & Coastal Defence (MWRCD) and the Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History, running from August 29 to July 8 next year.

Additionally, the Hong Kong Film Archive, in collaboration with the HKMH, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, and the MWRCD, will present a thematic screening programme Cine Memories of the War of Resistance from August 30 to September 20, featuring six films on the theme of the war, including The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, free of charge.

The Hong Kong SAR Government and non-governmental organisations will also introduce different thematic activities including thematic Mainland exchange tours for students and youths, field studies on local wartime history as well as educational visits to museums.

Click here for the details.

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Transport Department (TD) today (August 20) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on September 4 (Thursday) to noon on September 8 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.

     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 200 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve the Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles, and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”

     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:

(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.

(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.

(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.

(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of the email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.

     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved the Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taiwan and Canada sign MOU on dark vessel detection system

Date：2025-08-11
Data Source：Department of North American Affairs

August 11, 2025  
No.285  

Taiwan and Canada jointly announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding on a dark vessel detection system, laying a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated maritime activities. The MOU was signed by Ambassador Tseng Ho-jen, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, and Mr. Jim Nickel, Executive Director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT). Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi witnessed the signing.
 
In recent years, Taiwan and Canada have expanded cooperation in such domains as public health, technology, customs matters, trade, economics, and indigenous affairs. Deeper bilateral exchanges and interactions in the Indo-Pacific have clearly provided greater opportunities and prospects for both sides. By signing the MOU, Taiwan and Canada have pledged to work together to protect the marine environment and economy; combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and other maritime activities conducted by dark vessels; and safeguard prosperity and stability in the region. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

An incoming female passenger was sentenced to seven weeks’ imprisonment and fined $4,000 at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (August 19) for being involved in two cases of possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and cigars and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming female passenger, aged 51, at the Lo Wu Control Point on May 27. A total of 5 601 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized from her personal baggage, with an estimated market value of about $22,000 and a duty potential of about $18,000. She was subsequently arrested.

On July 27, Customs officers intercepted the same incoming female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. A total of 7 420 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes and 75 grams of duty-not-paid cigars , with an estimated market value of about $30,850 and a duty potential of about $24,800, were seized from her personal baggage. The woman was again arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).