The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     As the Chinese New Year draws near, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority today (December 28) encourages the public to continue using good-as-new notes, instead of new notes, for lai see to support environmental protection. Given that Hong Kong's currency notes are maintained at a high standard of cleanliness, good-as-new notes are perfectly suitable for use as lai see.

     The three note-issuing banks will start exchanging new notes on January 17, 2017. As in previous years, they will provide sufficient new and good-as-new notes of various denominations to meet public demand.

Ends/Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 12:05

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