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New appointment to Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board announced————
Dr Moses Cheng Mo-chi————
Mr Angad Banga
Ms Sabrina Chao Sih-ming 
Mr Bjorn Hojgaard
Mr Wellington Koo Tse-hau 
Mr Lothair Lam Ming-fung (*new appointee)
Mr Timothy Lee Kwok-lam
Mr Edward Liu Yang
Dr Billy Mak Sui-choi
Mr Alan Tung Lieh-sing 
Mr Frankie Yick Chi-ming————
Secretary for Transport and Logistics or representative
Commissioner for Maritime and Port Development
Director of Marine
Director-General of Investment Promotion
Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Issued at HKT 18:00

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ITC and ICAC join efforts in combating fraud under Technology Voucher Programme      
     On the joint efforts with the ICAC in combating fraud under the Technology Voucher Programme (TVP), an ITC spokesperson said, “The ITC and the Hong Kong Productivity Council, which serves as the Secretariat of the TVP, have long been rigorously reviewing the information submitted by applicants to ensure the eligibility of the applications and that the project deliverables conform to relevant requirements. The current case demonstrates the high level of vigilance perceived by members of the ITC and the Secretariat, who proactively reported the concerned cases to law enforcement agencies when there was suspicion during the vetting procedures, and worked hand in hand with the ICAC during the investigation process. With the assistance of the ITC and the Secretariat, the ICAC successfully cracked the case and brought the criminal syndicate to justice.”
      
     The TVP was launched in 2016 to subsidise local enterprises/organisations in using technological services and solutions on a matching basis, to improve productivity, upgrade or transform their business processes. The Hong Kong Productivity Council serves as the TVP’s Secretariat. As the TVP had achieved its original objectives, it had ceased to accept new applications after December 31, 2024.
      
     The ITC and the Secretariat will continue to handle remaining projects and tasks under the TVP following the most rigorous standard to ensure that the project deliverables conform to relevant requirements, and stay highly vigilant for immediate referral of any suspicious cases to law enforcement agencies for follow-up.
Issued at HKT 17:30

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52 landlords of subdivided units under regulated tenancies convicted of contravening relevant statutory requirements 
     The offences of these 52 landlords include (1) 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; (2) failing to produce copies of the bills and provide an account in writing when requiring the tenant to pay for the reimbursement of the apportioned water and/or electricity charges; and (3) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance (including requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance).

     The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon a comprehensive investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted the landlords.
 
     A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, including prohibiting landlords from doing any act calculated to interfere with the peace or comfort of members of the tenant’s household, with the intention of causing the tenant to give up occupation of the SDU; or requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance, and also reminded  tenants of their rights under the Ordinance, including a four-year (i.e. two years plus two years) security of tenure. He also stressed 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 they 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 maximum 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 prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance. In addition, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work to enhance public awareness about the key offences and penalties, emphasising that the RVD proactively checks whether landlords have committed the offences under the Ordinance.  
     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. The RVD has been issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the landlords and tenants concerned of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to assist them in understanding the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and to remind them about the procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy as well as 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 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.htmlIssued at HKT 17:12

Tender for the re-opening of 10-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds to be held on February 5      
     An additional amount of RMB1.25 billion of the outstanding 10-year Bonds (issue no. 10GB3505001) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on May 15, 2035 and will carry interest at the rate of 2.29 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear. The Indicative Pricings of the Bonds on January 30, 2026 are 101.27 with a semi-annualised yield of 2.138 per cent.
      
     Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk      
     Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK ) and Refinitiv (IBPGSBPINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3pm on the tender day.