Hong Kong extends ban on flights from US |
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With the severe local COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong, and to prevent imported COVID-19 cases from placing additional pressure on the city’s healthcare system, the current suspension of incoming passenger flights from the United States and seven other countries (Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom) is now extended through Mar 4. The same restrictions also apply to aircraft from Nepal starting Feb 12. At the same time, Hong Kong residents who have stayed in these nine countries for more than two hours within 14 days will be restricted from boarding inbound passenger flights, so as to stop them from travelling to Hong Kong via transit.
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Additional relief fund for virus fight |
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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will seek the Legislative Council Finance Committee’s approval for injecting US$3.46 billion into the Anti-epidemic Fund, involving 48 measures to support 67,000 businesses and 750,000 individuals. The various support measures will help safeguard jobs and preserve the economic strength of Hong Kong, such that the city’s economy will be able to recover as soon as possible when this wave of the pandemic subsides. The majority of the measures will be open for application within one month after the funding injection is secured. According to a newly-released survey, business sentiment among small and medium-sized enterprises in January weakened sharply amid the latest COVID-19 wave. The sharp deterioration in the local epidemic and the tightened anti-epidemic measures in response will likely further weigh on business sentiment in the near term.
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Hong Kong – The art metropolis of Asia |
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Hong Kong, with a strategic confluence of public initiatives, global trends and a diverse arts ecosystem, is paving a visionary way forward to being a global art city. The West Kowloon Cultural District, one of the world’s largest and most ambitious cultural infrastructure projects, with its distinctive offerings such as the newly opened museum of visual culture M+, provides the best of Eastern and Western culture. The city’s resilient local creative ecosystem, financial and logistics infrastructure, along with its simple and low tax system, makes it a vital and attractive focal point for art trade. Hong Kong is also poised to become one of the important cities for digital art.
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Squash players to compete in Windy City Open |
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Four Hong Kong squash players are among the 95 world’s leading female and male players competing in the women’s and men’s events at the 2022 Windy City Open. The event, to be held at the University Club of Chicago from Feb 23 to Mar 2, is part of the Professional Squash Association World Series International Tour. All the best to Tsz-Fung Yip, Tsz-Lok Ho, Tsz-Wing Tong and Tsz-Ling Liu in their upcoming matches in this prestigious tournament!
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ADMINISTRATION & CIVIC AFFAIRS |
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Application for Administrative Service summer internships opens |
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Hong Kong students who are interested in pursuing a career in the Administrative Service of the HKSAR should not miss the Administrative Service Summer Internship Programme 2022, which will close its application by next Friday (Feb 25). The program is currently open to those pursuing full-time undergraduate or postgraduate studies at recognized tertiary institutions in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years, and with a view of obtaining a bachelor's or higher degree by summer 2023 or 2024.
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Hong Kong’s foreign currency reserves amounted to US$492.5 billion as at the end of Jan 2022. The reserve assets represent over six times the currency in circulation or 48% of Hong Kong dollar M3.
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The Exchange Fund’s foreign assets decreased in January to US$516.9 billion. The monetary base amounted to US$277 billion, while claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to US$37.2 billion.
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Hong Kong and its Basic Law |
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The Basic Law (BL) is the constitutional document of the HKSAR. Put into effect on July 1, 1997, it enshrines within a legal document the important concept of “One Country, Two Systems”.
Q: Is Chinese the only official language allowed under the Basic Law?
A: No, in addition to Chinese, English is also an official language used by the executive authorities, the legislature and the judiciary of the HKSAR. (BL Article 9)
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