TC instructs TIA to take actions on suspected food poisoning incident involving Mainland inbound tour groups
The Tourism Commission (TC) is highly concerned about reports today (September 10) regarding Mainland inbound tour groups seeking medical attention at hospital owing to suspected food poisoning. The TC has immediately contacted the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) to understand the situation and provide appropriate assistance to the visitors concerned.
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung,attachesgreat importancetothewell-being of visitorsto Hong Kong. In light of two recent incidents involving suspected food poisoningof visitors, the TC has instructed the TIA to gather informationof thecurrentincident and cooperatewiththe Centre for Food Safetyfor theirinvestigations. The TC has also directed the TIA to promptly contact thetravel agentconcernedas well asother travel agentsarrangingvisits bytheMainland inbound tour groupstotherelevantrestaurants onthe same day tounderstand moreaboutthe situation. The TIAnotedthattheincidentreported todayinvolved twoMainland inbound tour groups organised by the same travel agent, both of which visited two restaurants in Kowloon City receivingMainland tour groupsand some members of the tour groups also consumed other food they brought on their own. In addition, the TIAcontacted another68 travel agents whichhadorganisedvisits by othertour groupstothose two restaurants and confirmed that, apart from the 11 individuals from thetwotour groups who felt unwell,all other members ofthetwogroupsand other tour groups havenot exhibited similar symptoms. Should there be incidents breachinganycodes and guidelines,the TIAwilltake actionsto safeguard the well-being ofvisitors.
TheTIA has also sent representatives to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to understand the situation and provide assistance totheaffectedvisitors. It has also remindedtherelevant travel agents and restaurant operatorsreceivingMainlandinbound tour groupsto be vigilantandensure food and environmental hygiene, and to remind visitors topay attention to personal, food and environmental hygieneforensuringsafety.
Analytical Accounts of Exchange Fund
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (October 14) the key analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund at the end of September 2024.
Foreign assets, representing the external assets of the Exchange Fund, decreased during the month by HK$21.4 billion to HK$3,485.9 billion.
The Monetary Base, comprising Certificates of Indebtedness, Government‑issued currency notes and coins in circulation, the balance of the banking system and Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued, amounted to HK$1,941.4 billion.
Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$293.4billion.
Foreign liabilities amounted to HK$26.6 billion.
The analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund are released in accordance with the International Monetary Fund's Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) and are referred to as the Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank under SDDS (Annex).
Release calendar
The release calendar of the Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund for 2025 is announced below:
Reference Month |
Release Date |
January 2025 |
February 14, 2025 |
February 2025 |
March 14, 2025 |
March 2025 |
April14, 2025 |
April 2025 |
May 14, 2025 |
May 2025 |
June 13, 2025 |
June 2025 |
July 14, 2025 |
July 2025 |
August 14, 2025 |
August 2025 |
September 12, 2025 |
September 2025 |
October 14, 2025 |
October 2025 |
November 14,2025 |
November 2025 |
December 12, 2025 |
December 2025 |
January 14, 2026 |
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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 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 October 2024, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
October 7
(Issued) |
SDDS International Reserves
(Hong Kong's Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures) |
October 14 |
SDDS Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank
(Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund) |
October 31 |
SDDS Template on International Reserves and
Foreign Currency Liquidity |
October 31 |
Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and
Currency Board Account |
