As the Lunar New Year approaches, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has announced that new notes and good-as-new notes will be available for exchange at the branches of note-issuing banks from February 3 to 16.

It also encouraged the public to use electronic channels such as the Faster Payment System or other e-wallet services to send lai-see gifts.

The three note-issuing banks - the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) and Bank of China (Hong Kong) - will put in place appropriate measures to ease the exchange of notes, including extended opening hours and offering an online booking services.