Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Residential mortgage survey results for February 2025
The number of mortgage applications in February increased month-on-month by 0.4 per cent to 6 542.
Mortgage loans approved in February increased by 4.3 per cent compared with January to HK$26.1 billion. Among these, mortgage loans financing primary market transactions increased by 21.6 per cent to HK$12.1 billion and those financing secondary market transactions decreased by 9.9 per cent to HK$11 billion. Mortgage loans for refinancing increased by 4.4 per cent to HK$3 billion.
Mortgage loans drawn down during February increased by 12.8 per cent compared with January to HK$17.6 billion.
The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to HIBOR increased from 93 per cent in January to 94 per cent in February. The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to best lending rates decreased from 3.4 per cent in January to 2.4 per cent in February.
The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased month-on-month by 0.2 per cent to HK$1,876.7 billion at end-February.
The mortgage delinquency ratio stood at a low level of 0.12 per cent and the rescheduled loan ratio was unchanged at nearly 0 per cent.
Issued at HKT 16:31
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Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account
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At present, four press releases relating to the Exchange Fund’s data are issued by the HKMA each month. Three of these releases are issued to disseminate monetary data in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS). The fourth press release, on the Exchange Fund’s Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account, is made in accordance with the HKMA’s policy of maintaining a high level of transparency. For the month of March 2025, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
| March 7 (Issued)(Hong Kong’s Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures) (Issued)(Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund)Foreign Currency LiquidityCurrency Board AccountIssued at HKT 16:31 NNNN Fraudulent website related to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation LimitedSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Fraudulent website related to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited NNNN Suspicious website related to Tai Sang Bank LimitedSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Suspicious website related to Tai Sang Bank Limited NNNN Results announced for All India Drawing & Painting competition celebrating the spirit of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025Source: Government of India Results announced for All India Drawing & Painting competition celebrating the spirit of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025
Posted On: 31 MAR 2025 2:44PM by PIB Delhi Maha Kumbh Mela, a sacred confluence of faith and tradition, stands as the largest peaceful gathering in the world, deeply rooted in India’s spiritual and cultural heritage. This significant event transpired from 13th January to 26th February, 2025, representing the perpetual human quest for spiritual enlightenment. The festival, known for its deep philosophical significance and vibrant cultural expressions, brings together millions for a collective celebration of devotion, knowledge and unity. To encourage young minds to artistically explore the essence of this sacred tradition, the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education (MoE), organised an All India Drawing & Painting competition across the nation on the theme of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. The competition was conducted for students of Classes 6th–8th from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and Central Board of Secondary Education-affiliated schools throughout the country. The competition was organised under the three themes of Bhavya Maha Kumbh, Divya Maha Kumbh and Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, with an emphasis on originality and creativity. The objective was to encourage students to understand the spiritual and cultural significance of the event as well as India’s rich cultural traditions and values so as to appreciate and celebrate the spirit of unity in diversity. The results were declared on 24th March 2025. The participation in the contest was extensive, with a total of 39,840 students from 1040 Kendriya Vidyalayas, 26,398 students from 404 Navodaya Vidyalayas schools and 2,887 students from 1,000 CBSE schools. The entries were received through Nodal officers of KVS, NVS and CBSE for national-level screening. The best entries were selected in two phases, i.e., primary-level entries were selected by Nodal officers by their own screening committees and the second-level entries were evaluated, recorded and finalized under the screening committee by NCERT.
The winners in both the drawing and painting categories were selected for the cash prizes and certificates. The first prize for each category is Rs. 15,000, with second and third prizes of Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 7,000, respectively. Ten consolation prizes, including certificates and gift hampers, are also awarded in both categories. List of awards and prizes in each category at All India Drawing and Painting Contest on the theme of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025
Ten Consolation prizes each comprising a certificate and a gift hamper
The All India Drawing and Painting Contest on Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 has served as a platform for young minds to creatively express their interpretations of this timeless tradition. As envisioned in #NEP2020, cultural awareness and artistic expression are integral to holistic learning and these budding artists have exemplified this through their creativity. ***** MV/AK MOE/DoHE/31 March 2025/6 (Release ID: 2117021) Visitor Counter : 25 AFCD reminds public not to enter Sham Wan Restricted Area during restricted periodSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) reminds members of the public today (March 31) not to enter the Sham Wan Restricted Area, Lamma Island, from tomorrow (April 1) to October 31 to protect nesting green turtles. Public library opening hours for Ching Ming Festival and EasterSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (March 31) that all public libraries will be closed on Good Friday (April 18), while students’ study rooms will be open from 8am to 9.30pm. Apart from individual libraries’ closing days, the opening hours of all public libraries on Ching Ming Festival (April 4), the day following Good Friday (April 19), and Easter Monday (April 21) will be the same as those for public holidays. To carry out system maintenance work, the Multimedia Information System and online reservation of computer facilities services will be suspended from 9pm on April 17 to 7am on April 19. Moreover, the following services will also be suspended from 0.30am on April 18 to 7am on April 19:
Details can be obtained from notices posted at all public libraries and on the website at www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/library-notices/library-notices-list.html. For enquiries, please call 2921 0208. Postal services to Korea return to normalSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region ​Hongkong Post announced today (March 31) that, as advised by the postal administration of Korea, mail delivery services to the areas with the postcodes 364xx-367xx and 374xx previously impacted by wildfires have returned to normal. Chairman and members of Advisory Committee on Gifted Education appointedSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Chairman and members of Advisory Committee on Gifted Education appointed NNNN OFFICIAL HANDOVER OF AGRICULTURAL AID MATERIALS BY THE CHINA-SAMOA SCATAP PROJECTSource: Share this:
KEYNOTE ADDRESS by Hon. Niuava Eti Leatiogie Malolo Funefeai, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (19 March 2025) Your Excellency Fei Mingxing, Ambassador of the Government of the People’s Republic of China in Samoa, Distinguished Representatives from the Government of the People’s Republic of China, Our SCATAP Chinese Expert Team, Our MAF colleagues, Our SCATAP Model Farmers, Ladies and Gentlemen, Talofa Lava and Warm Greetings to You All! It is with great pleasure that I stand before you today on this momentous occasion, the official handover of agricultural aid materials, provided through the Samoa-China Agricultural Technical Aid Project, SCATAP. The SCATAP initiative, which has been implemented by both Governments of Samoa and the People’s Republic of China for six consecutive phases now since 2010, is a testament to the strong and enduring partnership between our two Governments, in the area of agriculture and food security. On behalf of the Government of Samoa and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, I wish to extend our sincere gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, for their continued support in advancing agricultural development in our small island country. The generous assistance provided through SCATAP has played a crucial role in strengthening our local farming practices, improving productivity, and enhancing food security and nutrition for our people. Agriculture remains the backbone of Samoa’s economy, sustaining the livelihoods of many families in our rural communities. It is therefore important that we continue to introduce modern farming techniques, improve seed quality, and promote sustainable practices, to ensure long-term food security and nutrition, and economic resilience. Through SCATAP, we have seen remarkable progress in capacity building, technology transfer, and access to essential farming tools and resources. Today, as we officially receive these agricultural aid materials, we recognize the positive impact they will have on our farmers and our agricultural sector as a whole. These resources will help us increase production, improve efficiency, and create more opportunities for our farmers to thrive. To our farmers and stakeholders, I encourage you to use these materials in a way that maximizes its benefits, and the knowledge shared through this partnership. Let us work together to further develop Samoa’s agricultural sector, ensuring economic prosperity, and food security and nutrition for our future generations. In closing, I wish to again express my sincere appreciation to the Ambassador and Government Representatives of the People’s Republic of China, the dedicated SCATAP Chinese Expert Team, and all those involved in making this development partnership a success, and may it continue to grow for the desired benefits of both our countries. Soifua ma ia manuia! TUFATUFAINA ALOAIA O MEAFAIGALUEGA MO LE AU FAIFAATOAGA TAUALA MAI LE POLOKETI A LE SCATAP I LE FAIGAPA’AGA A SAMOA MA SAINA SAUNOAGA AUTU a le Minisita o Faatoaga ma Faigafaiva le afioga Niuava Eti Leatiogie Malolo Funefeai, (19 Mati 2025) Lau Afioga i le ali’i Amepasa o le Malo o Saina i Samoa nei, Your Excellency Fei Mingxing, Afifio sui mai le Malo o Saina, ‘Au faigaluega fa’apitoa a le tatou SCATAP mai Saina, Sui o paaga tumaoti mo atinae fa’atoaga ma faigafaiva, Le mamalu o le aufaifa’atoaga, Talofa, talofa lava. E muamua ona ou fa’atalofa atu i le suafa manumalo o Iesu Keriso, le Ao o le Ekalesia i lo outou paia , ma lo outou mamalu. Malo afua ailao ua maua, ua poto moli i futiafu e tasi i lo outou soifua maualuga ma le lagi e mama i lenei taeao matagofie, ina ua tatou feiloai i magafetau soifua. Vi’ia le Atua, ma ia fa’amanuina lona Suafa Paia. Ou te matautia fa’atulou i lenei aofia aemaise o le maimoa fa’afofoga mai a Samoa i lenei aso. E iai le manatu, o paia fa’ataotooto o Samoa ua potopoto, o le a le o’o iai se leo vaivai, aua e taliu ae popoe, ina ne’i le atoa li’o le masina, ona faitauina lea o le tautalaga. Nu’unu’u atu fa’atini o tausala. Ae tatou aumaia mamalu o le Atua e palelae’i ai lenei taeao ua tatou potopoto ai i Nu’u nei, i le Vaega o Laau Toto aua lenei fa’amoemoe taua. Ae o le a aga’i loa sina fa’amatalaga pu’upu’u i le auga o aute o lenei aso. Ou te tulai atu ai la ma le agaga fiafia tele i o outou luma i lenei taeao, ona o se fa’amoemoe sa fauao, faupo, sa talia lupe o maunu pe taunu’u nei fa’amanuiaga, ae fa’afetai i le Atua ua ia fa’ataunu’uina ma tu’uina mai le avanoa ma lenei laolao e fa’aleo ai ma le loto fa’afetai nei meaalofa ua foaina e le Malo tele o Saina, e tauala mai i le Poloketi o le SCATAP, lea o le a tauaaoina aloaia i lenei taeao mo le tatou Matagaluega o Fa’atoaga ma Faigafaiva, aemaise o ana paaga faifa’atoaga. O lenei fa’amoemoe na afua mai i taumafaiga a le tatou Malo e tauala mai i le tatou Matagaluega ina ia fa’amalosia le galulue fa’apaaga o Malo e lua (Samoa ma Saina) i le atina’e o fa’atoaga ma le si’itia o le tulaga o le mauaina pea o taumafa mo ona tagata. E ia te a’u le ava ma le fa’aaloalo e tatau ai e tu’uina atu ai se lagona o le agaga fa’afetai tele lava i le Malo o Saina e fai ma fofoga taumolimoli o le Malo o Samoa, ma le Matagaluega o Fa’atoaga ma Faigafaiva, e tusa ai o nei foa’i taua, e ala i mea faigaluega, atoa ma le lasi o mea ua taua’aoina i lenei aso. Fa’afetai tele mo le lagolago o lo’o fa’aauauina pea e ala i atina’e eseese ma metotia fou ua fa’asoa mai aua le si’itia o tomai ma agava’a o le mamalu o le aufaifa’atoaga ma le Matagaluega, ina ia si’itia ai le tamaoaiga o le tatou atunu’u e ala i atina’e o fa’atoaga. E tumau pea le avea o atinae o fa’atoaga ma ivitu malosi o le tamaoaiga o Samoa, lea o lo’o ola fa’alagolago iai aiga uma aua tupe maua ma le tausia o le ola manuia o tagata taitoatasi. O le fa’asoa mai o tomai ma agava’a fa’anei ona po i le faiga o fa’atoaga, o metotia eseese, ituaiga fatu laau eseese, seia o’o lava i ituaiga faiga o fa’atoaga e mautinoa le fa’aauauina pea ina ia maua pea taumafa, ma e mafai ona pulea gafataulimaina ma tali atu i suiga o le tau. O nisi o vaega taua o lenei poloketi ua afua ai nei foai e ala i mea faigaluega, ina ia fa’aoga tatau, e aofia ai le si’itia lea o tomai ma agava’a o le aufaigaluega ma le aufaifa’atoaga e pei o a’oa’oga ma polokalame fefa’asoaa’i, aemaise ai o le fa’aogaina o mea faigaluega talafeagai mo le fa’afaigofieina o le fa’atinoina o atinae o fa’atoaga. O le asō, ua tatou molimauina nei foai taua ma le aoga, o le a saga fa’amausali ai le aoga mo le atina’e o fa’atoaga a le mamalu o le aufaifa’atoaga, sosaiete, aemaise o pa’aga tumaoti. E talitonu o le a fesoasoaini tele nei meafaigaluega i le si’itia o fua o fa’atoaga ma atina’e, aemaise o le a tele avanoa mo le aufaifa’atoaga latou te agava’a ai i nei fa’amanuiaga. Mo le aufaifa’atoaga ma pa’aga uma a le tatou Matagaluega i lenei taeao, o le tu’ualalo ma le fa’amalosiau mo lo outou mamalu, ia fa’aoga lelei nei foai ma tomai ua fa’asoaina mai e nei sui o le Malo o Saina. Ia tatou galulue fa’atasi mo se Samoa manuia ina ia mau le atunu’u i taumafa aua fanau lalovaoa. O le a le fa’amatafauloaina se fa’amatalaga, e toe momoli atu le agaga fa’afetai tele lava i le aumalaga mai le Malo o Saina i lana Afioga i le ta’ita’i malaga, aemaise le amepasa o le Malo Saina o lo’o i’inei Samoa, fa’apea le aufaigaluega a le SCATAP, fa’atasi ai ma i latou uma sa tofu sao mo lenei taumafaiga. Ia tumau pea le galulue fa’atasi, ma ia fa’aauauina pea lenei faigapaaga i le va o Malo e lua aua le manuia o ona tagata. Soifua ma ia manuia. Ata Pueina – Malo o Samoa (Leaosa Faaifo Faaifo) Share this:
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