HAD opens temporary heat shelters
The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (July 15).
The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.
For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
The heat shelters are located at:
Hong Kong Island:
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Central and Western -
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern -
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Southern -
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
Wan Chai -
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
Kowloon Districts:
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Kowloon City -
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong -
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
Sham Shui Po -
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
Wong Tai Sin -
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
Yau Tsim Mong -
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
New Territories Districts:
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Islands -
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing -
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
North -
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Sai Kung -
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin -
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tai Po -
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan -
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
Tuen Mun -
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
Yuen Long -
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
Yuen Long -
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document:www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.
Establishment of direct linkage between Central Moneymarkets Unit of HKMA and Macao Central Securities Depository and Clearing Limited of AMCM
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
To promote the development of bond markets in Hong Kong and Macao, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) today (September 16) jointly announced the establishment of a direct linkage between the Central Moneymarkets Unit (CMU) of the HKMA and the central securities depository (CSD) operated by Macao Central Securities Depository and Clearing Limited (MCSD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the AMCM.
Under the direct linkage arrangement, investors in Hong Kong, through their accounts at the CMU, will be able to clear, settle and hold bonds lodged with the CSD in Macao; while investors in Macao, through their accounts in the CSD in Macao, will also be able to clear, settle and hold bonds lodged with the CMU. This arrangement will mark a new milestone in the financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao, signifying far-reaching implications for the synergistic development of the core cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue,said, "The HKMA, in recent years, has gradually established connectivity with various neighbouring financial markets to strengthen regional co-operation, and to bring in more opportunities for all sorts of financial services, in particular the Renminbi business. This also provides domestic and overseas investors with a greater variety of investment products, so as to further strengthen Hong Kong's competitiveness as an international financial centre. On this basis, fostering connectivity between the bond market infrastructures in Hong Kong and Macao is a major manifestation of the synergistic development of the financial markets in the GBA, and will develop CMU into an international CSD in Asia, leveraging its role as a super-connector."
The Chairman of the AMCM, Mr Benjamin Chan,said, "The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government has been promoting appropriate economic diversification and fostering diversity within the financial ecosystem, with bond market serving as the crucial cornerstone. This could provide another financing channel to support major national strategic deployments, including the development of the GBA. Besides, based on the historical ties between Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries, connecting with the bond market infrastructure in Hong Kong will enable Macao to further leverage its role as a gateway between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. It will also strengthen Macao's function as the financial services platform serving China and Portuguese‑speaking countries, and achieve mutual market access among the financial markets and financial market infrastructures in the GBA."
The official launch date and detailed arrangements for the direct linkage will be announced in due course.
About HKMA
The HKMA is Hong Kong's central banking institution. The HKMA's main functions are: (i) maintaining currency stability within the framework of the Linked Exchange Rate System; (ii) promoting the stability and integrity of the financial system, including the banking system; (iii) helping to maintain Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre, including the maintenance and development of Hong Kong's financial infrastructure; and (iv) managing the Exchange Fund.
The CMU, owned and operated by the HKMA, provides secure and efficient clearing, settlement and custodian services for Hong Kong's multi-currency debt securities and those in international markets. Over the years, the CMU has continuously established linkages with regional and international central securities depositories to expand its issuer and investor reach globally. With the launch of Bond Connect scheme in 2017, the CMU has become a pivotal financial market infrastructure serving both onshore and offshore market participants.
Please visit www.cmu.org.hkfor more information about the CMU.
About AMCM
The AMCM is Macao's central banking and integrated financial regulatory institution. Its main functions include: (i) assisting the Chief Executive of Macao SAR in formulating and implementing monetary, financial, exchange rate and insurance policies; (ii) overseeing the monetary, financial, foreign exchange and insurance markets in accordance with relevant statutory regulations to ensure their smooth operations, as well as supervising and regulating the entities operating in the respective markets; (iii) maintaining the internal stability and external solvency of the domestic currency to ensure its full convertibility; (iv) managing foreign exchange reserves and the fiscal reserve; and (v) maintaining the stability of the financial system. With the support of the Central Government, the AMCM constructed the CSD and set up the MCSD as its wholly owned subsidiary in December 2021. The MCSD is responsible for the operation of the CSD. Currently, the MCSD mainly provides securities registration, clearing, settlement, depository and other related services. The MCSD aims to provide financial-market infrastructure services to support the efficient and safe operations of the Macao bond market, which is expected to become an investment and financing platform that is widely recognised by local and international issuers, investors and other participants.
Please visit www.mcsd.com.mofor more information about the MCSD.
Source: AI-generated images
