The Hong Kong Monetary Authority acknowledges receipt of your email and
will handle as soon as possible.

To ensure service quality, all our telephone conversations may be
recorded, irrespective of whether you dial in or we call you back.

We will not disclose personal information about you to anyone outside the
Hong Kong Monetary Authority unless required or permitted to do so by law.

本局已收到閣下的電郵並會盡快處理。

為確保我們的服務質素，所有閣下跟本局職員之間的電話談話內容，無論是閣下的來
電或是我們的回覆電話，都可能會被錄音。

除非是法律允許，否則我們不會向外界透露閣下的個人資料。

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority acknowledges receipt of your email and
will handle as soon as possible.

To ensure service quality, all our telephone conversations may be
recorded, irrespective of whether you dial in or we call you back.

We will not disclose personal information about you to anyone outside the
Hong Kong Monetary Authority unless required or permitted to do so by law.

本局已收到閣下的電郵並會盡快處理。

為確保我們的服務質素，所有閣下跟本局職員之間的電話談話內容，無論是閣下的來
電或是我們的回覆電話，都可能會被錄音。

除非是法律允許，否則我們不會向外界透露閣下的個人資料。

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your email.

In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic situation since 2020, the Hong
Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) considered it necessary to remind banks to
strengthen the protection of bank staff and customers and to facilitate
better business continuity so that they could continue to provide
essential banking services even under extreme pandemic control measures.
 As such, the HKMA issued a circular to banks on 1 June 2021, requiring
all banks to strongly encourage their staff performing client-facing roles
or critical support functions to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
 Considering the potential for severe business disruption to banking
operations in the event of another outbreak, the HKMA issued another
circular on 28 October 2021, requiring banks to expand the scope of their
vaccination arrangement by strongly encouraging all staff to get
vaccinated as soon as practicable.  In view of the surge in COVID-19
infections in early 2022 and drawing reference from the implementation of
"vaccine pass" arrangements by the Government and financial regulators,
the HKMA issued a circular on 18 February 2022 to strongly encourage banks
to consider implementing a "vaccine pass" arrangement for their workplace
that is appropriate for their own office settings.  

Throughout the process, the HKMA's primary focus was the business
continuity of banks amid the evolving pandemic situation.  The HKMA
expected banks to take appropriate measures to implement the requirements
of the circulars and maintain close communication with staff.  Banks were
also reminded to pay close attention to the development of the COVID-19
pandemic and conduct timely assessment of the need to adjust their
workplace safety measures, having regard to the Government's latest
guidance on COVID-19 preventative and control measures.

Best regards,

Florence Lui
Access to Information Officer
Hong Kong Monetary Authority

----------------------------------------- Reply History
-----------------------------------------

To: "FOI requests at Hong Kong Monetary Authority"
<[Hong Kong Monetary Authority request email]>
Cc:
Bcc:
Tips
From: "Rossi" <[FOI #1426 email]>    
28/09/2023 12:34 PM  
Subject Re: Freedom of Information request - HKMA Vaccination Programme
Circular

Dear Hong Kong Monetary Authority,

I am looking forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,

Rossi

-----Original Message-----

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority acknowledges receipt of your email and
will handle as soon as possible.

To ensure service quality, all our telephone conversations may be
recorded, irrespective of whether you dial in or we call you back.

We will not disclose personal information about you to anyone outside the
Hong Kong Monetary Authority unless required or permitted to do so by law.

本局已收到閣下的電郵並會盡快處理。

為確保我們的服務質素，所有閣下跟本局職員之間的電話談話內容，無論是閣下的來
電或是我們的回覆電話，都可能會被錄音。

除非是法律允許，否則我們不會向外界透露閣下的個人資料。

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #1426 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[1]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

___________________________________________________________________________________

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are
intended solely for the addressee.

If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any
use, disclosure, copying, printing, forwarding or dissemination of this
e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error,
please notify the sender by reply e-mail, and immediately delete it from
your system.

Recipients are advised to apply their own virus checks to this message.
___________________________________________________________________________________

References

Visible links
1. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

hide quoted sections

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority acknowledges receipt of your email and
will handle as soon as possible.

To ensure service quality, all our telephone conversations may be
recorded, irrespective of whether you dial in or we call you back.

We will not disclose personal information about you to anyone outside the
Hong Kong Monetary Authority unless required or permitted to do so by law.

本局已收到閣下的電郵並會盡快處理。

為確保我們的服務質素，所有閣下跟本局職員之間的電話談話內容，無論是閣下的來
電或是我們的回覆電話，都可能會被錄音。

除非是法律允許，否則我們不會向外界透露閣下的個人資料。

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority acknowledges receipt of your email and
will handle as soon as possible.

To ensure service quality, all our telephone conversations may be
recorded, irrespective of whether you dial in or we call you back.

We will not disclose personal information about you to anyone outside the
Hong Kong Monetary Authority unless required or permitted to do so by law.

本局已收到閣下的電郵並會盡快處理。

為確保我們的服務質素，所有閣下跟本局職員之間的電話談話內容，無論是閣下的來
電或是我們的回覆電話，都可能會被錄音。

除非是法律允許，否則我們不會向外界透露閣下的個人資料。

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your emails dated 12 and 20 October 2023.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) expected banks to take appropriate
measures to implement the requirements of its circulars of 1 June 2021, 28
October 2021 and 18 February 2022 as part of their business continuity
planning, taking into account their operational needs and actual
circumstances.  Banks were also expected to observe all applicable laws in
Hong Kong and have regard to their internal company policies in taking any
steps in response to the HKMA circulars.

Best regards,

Florence Lui
Access to Information Officer
Hong Kong Monetary Authority

----------------------------------------- Reply History
-----------------------------------------

To: "FOI requests at Hong Kong Monetary Authority"
<[Hong Kong Monetary Authority request email]>
Cc:
Bcc:
Tips
From: "Rossi" <[FOI #1426 email]>    
20/10/2023 02:29 PM  
Subject Re: Freedom of Information request - HKMA Vaccination Programme
Circular

Dear Hong Kong Monetary Authority,

I am looking forward to your clarification.

Yours faithfully,

Rossi

To: "Public Enquiry" <[Hong Kong Monetary Authority request email]>
Cc:
Bcc:
Tips
From: "Rossi" <[FOI #1426 email]>    
12/10/2023 11:16 AM  
Subject Re: Freedom of Information request - HKMA Vaccination Programme
Circular

Dear Public Enquiry,

Under the condition that it is merely a HKMA requirement for AIs to take
action "to encourage" bank staff to get vaccinated, to prevent the bank
from exercising beyond their authority, would the bank be required to
acquire the appointment letter, in writing, from the Secretary for Health
so that we are rightfully and legally exercising Cap. 599J, Cap. 599K, and
Cap. 599L; likewise, would the bank be required to acquire the appointment
letter, in writing, from the Chief Secretary for Administration in
exercising Cap. 241n?

Looking forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Rossi

-----Original Message-----

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your email.

In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic situation since 2020, the Hong

Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) considered it necessary to remind banks to

strengthen the protection of bank staff and customers and to facilitate

better business continuity so that they could continue to provide

essential banking services even under extreme pandemic control measures.

 As such, the HKMA issued a circular to banks on 1 June 2021, requiring

all banks to strongly encourage their staff performing client-facing roles

or critical support functions to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

 Considering the potential for severe business disruption to banking

operations in the event of another outbreak, the HKMA issued another

circular on 28 October 2021, requiring banks to expand the scope of their

vaccination arrangement by strongly encouraging all staff to get

vaccinated as soon as practicable.  In view of the surge in COVID-19

infections in early 2022 and drawing reference from the implementation of

"vaccine pass" arrangements by the Government and financial regulators,

the HKMA issued a circular on 18 February 2022 to strongly encourage banks

to consider implementing a "vaccine pass" arrangement for their workplace

that is appropriate for their own office settings.  

Throughout the process, the HKMA's primary focus was the business

continuity of banks amid the evolving pandemic situation.  The HKMA

expected banks to take appropriate measures to implement the requirements

of the circulars and maintain close communication with staff.  Banks were

also reminded to pay close attention to the development of the COVID-19

pandemic and conduct timely assessment of the need to adjust their

workplace safety measures, having regard to the Government's latest

guidance on COVID-19 preventative and control measures.

Best regards,

Florence Lui

Access to Information Officer

Hong Kong Monetary Authority

----------------------------------------- Reply History

-----------------------------------------

To: "FOI requests at Hong Kong Monetary Authority"

<[Hong Kong Monetary Authority request email]>

Cc:

Bcc:

Tips

From: "Rossi" <[FOI #1426 email]>    

28/09/2023 12:34 PM  

Subject Re: Freedom of Information request - HKMA Vaccination Programme

Circular

Dear Hong Kong Monetary Authority,

I am looking forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,

Rossi

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #1426 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[1]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

___________________________________________________________________________________

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are
intended solely for the addressee.

If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any
use, disclosure, copying, printing, forwarding or dissemination of this
e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error,
please notify the sender by reply e-mail, and immediately delete it from
your system.

Recipients are advised to apply their own virus checks to this message.
___________________________________________________________________________________

References

Visible links
1. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

hide quoted sections