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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
As the Chinese New Year draws near, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) encourages the public to continue to support the use of good-as-new notes, instead of brand-new ones, for lai see. 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 HKMA started to promote the use of good-as-new notes for lai see in 2006. Thanks to the support of the public and the note-issuing banks, the share of good-as-new notes issued in the run-up to each Chinese New Year has increased from 20 per cent in 2006 to around 45 per cent in recent years. The HKMA encourages the public to continue to support environmental protection and use more good-as-new notes for lai see.
The three note-issuing banks will start exchanging new notes on February 10. As in previous years, they will provide sufficient new and good-as-new notes of various denominations to meet demand for notes.
Ends/Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:50
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