Introduction of the new-style £50 note -

The new-style £50 note, featuring the renowned 18th century business partnership of entrepreneur Matthew Boulton and engineer James Watt, enters circulation on 2 November 2011.

The banknote will be the second in the Series F 'family' which began with the introduction of the Adam Smith £20 note in 2007. It will be the first time two portraits have appeared together on the reverse of a Bank of England banknote.

A range of new and enhanced security features have been incorporated into the design of the Boulton and Watt £50 banknote. Full details of these will be revealed when the new banknote is introduced into circulation.

This banknote will be the first in circulation to be signed by Chris Salmon, who was appointed as the Bank's Executive Director - Banking Services and Chief Cashier in April 2011.

Source: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/newfifty/index.htm

負責人麥炳生先生接受東方日報訪問 22-10-2011

探射燈：找換店壟斷 助長黑市

「唱錢黨」在機場經營流動兌換店有價有市，因為有關貨幣匯率波動，再加上近期匯率下降，因而令「唱錢黨」有利可圖。有學者直指，機場找換店選擇較少，若印尼盾繼續貶值，對有關黑市活動更是有利。

貶值仍有市場

香港浸會大學經濟系副教授巫伯雄表示，唱錢黨於機場覓食賺取差價，其中一個原因是機場找換店有壟斷能力，「一個機場通常只有一，兩間，所以相對其他地方，就可以貴啲（同量港元兌換較少印尼盾）！」巫續指，即使印尼盾貶值，基於上述原因而衍生的黑市找換仍會存在。

從事找換行業逾四十年的麥炳生坦言，到找換店兌換印尼盾的印傭不多，「一般黑市價會高啲，有少少『水位』佢哋（印傭）就唔會嚟找換店。」他指，印尼盾「每兩、三年就會貶值，跌咗就升唔番。」麥又指，印尼經常更換新鈔，業界往往會密切留意其市場動態，以免虧蝕。

資料來源:
http://orientaldaily.on.cc/

生生外幣找換有限公司1993
http://www.sangsang.hk/
http://www.sangsang.com.hk/

坡元升值 預示亞洲經濟升溫

(星島)2010年4月18日 星期日 05:30
(綜合報道)

(星島日報 報道)美國 經濟復甦，理論上美元 應該轉強，然而在美國朝野「關注」下，升值的並非美元，而是被視為倚賴出口的亞洲貨幣。新加坡 金融管理局 日前公布，擴闊坡元上下活動區間，變相容許升值，令到包括人民幣在內的亞洲貨幣，升值憧憬再趨熾烈。儘管港元跟美元掛鈎，理應不會出現升值，但鄰近地區的匯價波動，難免對香港產生影響。

　　經歷驚濤駭浪的○九年，美國經濟今年明顯轉穩，尤其踏入第二季，各項數據都反映經濟成功觸底。現時白宮的焦點，不在於數字上的增長強弱，而是在於就業情況如何。從政治上說，一個沒有創造職位的復甦，根本缺乏爭取選民支持的意義，故此由總統以降，現在都研究如何增加就業，方法除了大灑金錢鼓勵中小企擴充外，亦期望促使亞洲國家貨幣升值，增加美國貨的競爭能力。

　　香港上半年增長料強勁

　　美元貶值能否增加美國貨競爭力，經濟學家各說各話。不過，在美國公開「呼籲」後，中國雖然堅持走自己的匯改道路，但同區另一富裕經濟國家新加坡則宣布容許貨幣變相升值。和亞洲不少地區一樣，新加坡以出口主導，匯價上漲不利旅遊、出口，但對新加坡來說，現時適度升值，不但可向美國示好，更重要的是期望藉此稍為冷卻開始轉熱的經濟。

　　從今年首季數據顯示，新加坡增長遠比原先估計強勁，踏入第二季，當地包括環球影城等新旅遊設施啟用，初步反應良好，吸引不少區內旅客光臨。由於這些設施頗具新鮮感，短期之內不愁客源，匯率稍作上調，對生意影響有限，故此新加坡金融管理局及時容許匯價升值，是理性的做法。

　　香港與新加坡同樣屬於外向型經濟，基調大致相似，但在匯價制度上有所不同。新加坡採取調控式的有限度浮動匯率，香港則沿用接近貨幣發行局的聯繫匯率 制度。聯匯制好處是匯率與美元掛鈎，相對變得穩定；代價是失去利率政策的主動權，藉匯價和息口調控經濟的影響力大減。在不同制度下，新加坡採取金融政策為經濟降溫，香港不會、也不能跟隨。

　　新加坡今年首季經濟增長較預期理想，香港情況估計大同小異。從中國近月出口表現的強勁，可以估計，香港原先疲弱的外貿會有顯著反彈，至於旅遊、零售等環節，應該有條件維持去年下半年以來的強勢，再加上本地基建工程陸續上馬，只要美歐等地情況沒有明顯轉壞，香港實體經濟預料會繼續升溫。

　　資產價格容易大上大落

　　經濟轉熱代表需求增加，對市民就業、消費肯定是好事，但同時要留意的是通脹步伐會加快。從企業角度，如何避免產能出現瓶頸，可能是經營者下一個要留意的環節。為避免通脹升溫太快，當局應該增加各類價格資訊的流通和透明度，更重要的是提醒和鼓勵企業投資增加產能，避免需求一旦上升時立即透過加價轉嫁成本和增加利潤。

　　全球經濟一體化，但各地生產結構、市場情況不一樣，結果形成頻繁的互動和波動，世界金融市場由一年前的低溫，迅即轉向日趨暖化，作為全球都會之一，港人必須面對瞬息萬變的市場環境。以當前各種因素考慮，在可見的一段時間，本港經濟會踏入擴張循環，大方向料仍會對資產價格偏向有利，但隨著中美加息步伐漸近，市況同時難免波動。

　　(社論)

New rules worry money changers

(Source: China Daily HK edition 10 JUL 2009 by Colleen Lee)

"HONG KONG: Some remittance agents and money changers agree that authorities should step up scrutiny of their transactions in principle but they fear losing customers who will balk at being asked to hand over personal data and verify their identities.

Mak Ping-sang, who runs the Sang Sang Money Exchange in Sha Tin, said he is afraid some customers may refuse to give personal particulars despite the new rules and turn to other shops instead. He predicted that tightening controls on remittance agents and money changers will have little effect on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, since crooks have other ways to launder their money

The government proposed to empower authorities to enter the premises of remittance agents and money changers to carry out routine inspections, checking books and records.

Mak contended the records are private and he questioned whether he should have to disclose all
information to inspectors.

He also added that if firms become liable to prosecution because they have failed to record some
transactions, many business owners will feel squeezed.

"Hong Kong will lose all its edge," he said. "It won't fit Hong Kong's status as an international city."

He also worried that some rules may be too stringent to be followed, said Mak..."

Sang Sang Money Exchange Ltd 1993
http://www.sangsang.com.hk/
http://www.sangsang.hk/

Counterfeit yuan banknotes discovered in Macau

A number of counterfeit yuan banknotes, with serial numbers beginning with "TJ38", were discovered in Macau on Wednesday, CCTV reported yesterday.This is the first time that TJ38-numbered fake one 100-yuan banknotes were discovered in the region following similar counterfeit yuan notes beginning with HD90, HB and FA serial numbers were discovered on the mainland around the end of last year.According to Macau police, four fake 100-yuan notes were discovered and confiscated when a 36-year-old suspect, surnamed Zhang, who holds a Hong Kong ID card, used them to purchase gambling chips at a casino in Macau on Wednesday.The CCTV report said the suspect was apprehended on the spot, and found to be in possession of another six fake 100 yuan notes.Macau police say before he was apprehended, the suspect had been in the SAR three times over the past one month. The origin of the fake notes, as well as the purpose during the suspect's visit to Macau, however, still remain unknown.But police reportedly suspected that a notebook he was carrying contained information regarding money laundering, and believe he might be working for an underground counterfeit money syndicate.The case is currently under further investigation.

Source: Macau Daily Times News Sunday, 08 February 2009

Sang Sang Money Exchange Limited 1993
http://www.sangsang.com.hk/
http://www.sangsang.hk/
http://www.外幣找換.hk/

High-quality fake yuan notes found in Fuzhou

High-quality fake yuan notes found in Fuzhou

Fox Yi Hu SCMP Updated on Mar 20, 2009

"A batch of counterfeit yuan notes has been found on the mainland that are of higher quality than those recently seen in Hong Kong with "HD" serial numbers. Hong Kong money changers last night said they had not come across any fake notes similar to the new batch seized in Fuzhou city.Fuzhou police announced that fake 100-yuan notes whose serial numbers began with CE86 and CH31 had been seized when a counterfeit ring was smashed.They were among seized fake 10-yuan, 20-yuan and 50-yuan notes with a total face value of 1.03 million yuan.Fuzhou police said the counterfeit 100-yuan notes were of higher quality than those found across the mainland with serial numbers that began with HD. Some of those notes surfaced in Hong Kong in January after being found in large numbers in nine provinces.David Mak Ping-sang of Sang Sang Money Exchange in Sha Tin said he had encountered one counterfeit 100-yuan note this week but had not seen fakes with serial numbers beginning with CE or CH."We have good money detectors and know how to identify fakes by feeling them," said Mr Mak, who has worked in the money-exchange business for 30 years."So far, we haven't seen any fake notes with such serial numbers."A total of 7,975 fake yuan notes were seized in Hong Kong in the first nine months of last year, a 21 per cent rise from 6,610 in the same period of 2007, police said.

A batch of counterfeit yuan notes has been found on the mainland that are of higher quality than those recently seen in Hong Kong with "HD" serial numbers.
Hong Kong money changers last night said they had not come across any fake notes similar to the new batch seized in Fuzhou city.
Fuzhou police announced that fake 100-yuan notes whose serial numbers began with CE86 and CH31 had been seized when a counterfeit ring was smashed.
They were among seized fake 10-yuan, 20-yuan and 50-yuan notes with a total face value of 1.03 million yuan.
Fuzhou police said the counterfeit 100-yuan notes were of higher quality than those found across the mainland with serial numbers that began with HD. Some of those notes surfaced in Hong Kong in January after being found in large numbers in nine provinces.

David Mak Ping-sang of Sang Sang Money Exchange in Sha Tin said he had encountered one counterfeit 100-yuan note this week but had not seen fakes with serial numbers beginning with CE or CH.

"We have good money detectors and know how to identify fakes by feeling them," said Mr Mak, who has worked in the money-exchange business for 30 years.

"So far, we haven't seen any fake notes with such serial numbers."

A total of 7,975 fake yuan notes were seized in Hong Kong in the first nine months of last year, a 21 per cent rise from 6,610 in the same period of 2007, police said. "

Sang Sang Money Exchange Limited 1993
http://www.sangsang.com.hk/
http://www.sangsang.hk/
http://www.外幣找換.hk/