MPF Corner

Members can enquire about contribution details and fund prices, and change investment choices via BEA Online's internet channel.

To register for BEA Online and enjoy convenient, round-the-clock access to BEA's MPF services, simply call the BEA (MPF) Hotline +852 2211 1777 (operated by Bank of East Asia (Trustees) Limited).

Please click here for the First Time Login Guide for BEA Online.

Branches Addresses

Our professionally trained Customer Services Officers are always available to answer your MPF enquiries.

Now you can check your MPF balance/contribution records and switch your choices using the BEA mobile applications for iPhone and Android.

Enjoy MPF services at your fingertips by downloading the applications for free. Simply go to the App Store or Play Store and search for "BEA" now!

A landmark international report on cancer prevention from the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, titled Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, found that around a third of all cancers are directly linked to the foods we eat, how much exercise we get, and how well we manage our weight.

Risk Factors

• Alcohol

  Alcohol can cause of cancer of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx, oesophagus, and breast cancer. There is convincing evidence of a link between alcohol and colorectal cancer for men, with a probable link for women as well. If people choose to drink, it is recommended that they limit themselves to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

• Processed meat

  Processed meat is one of the causes of bowel cancer. Processed meat refers to any meat that is preserved by salting, curing, smoking, or adding chemical preservatives: ham, bacon, hot dogs, and some sausages, for example.

• Red meat

  Red meat, including beef, lamb and pork, is a cause of bowel cancer. People are recommended to eat no more than 500g of red meat per week.

• Salt

  Salt is a possible cause of stomach cancer. People are recommended to avoid salty foods and to consume less than 6g of salt per day.

• Smoking

  Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer, increasing the risk of contraction by 10 to 20 times. Smoking can also cause leukaemia and cancer of the oral/nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oesophagus, liver, stomach, cervix, kidney, bowel, and bladder. Stopping smoking early can reduce the risk of cancer to almost normal levels.

• Body fat

  Fat deposited around the waist is linked with bowel cancer, and can also cause postmenopausal breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, cancer of the gall bladder, and endometrial cancer.

Protective Measures

• Breastfeeding

  Breastfeeding (exclusively, for the first 6 months) protects the mother against breast cancer, and is thought to protect the child against obesity later in life, which in turn reduces the risk of cancer.

• Spring onion and garlic

  Spring onion and garlic are thought to protect against bowel cancer.

• Fruit

  Eating a wide range of fruit is thought to protect against cancer of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx, oesophagus, lung, and stomach. It is recommended to eat at least five portions of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables every day.

• Lycopene

  Lycopene, which is found in tomatoes and other red fruits, is thought to protect against prostate cancer.

A simple, long-term adjustment of your diet can decrease the risk of cancer. Why not eat healthy and take care of yourself, starting with your next meal?

The Bank of East Asia ("BEA") offers a series of critical illness and medical insurance plans providing comprehensive protection, giving you added peace of mind as you keep healthy and combat the risk of cancer. For more information, please go to the BEA Insurance Services website, call the BEA Insurance Services Hotline on (852)3608 2928, or visit any BEA branch.

This article is provided by U Care Hong Kong Medical Limited.

Both employers and employees encounter issues related to labour legislation in the workplace from time to time. Below, we answer some of the more frequently-asked questions on this topic.

Long Service Payment and Severance Payment

According to the Employment Ordinance, Cap 57, employees may be entitled to long service payment or severance payment.

Q1: Under what circumstances should an employer pay severance payment to his employee?

A1: An employer should pay severance payment when an employee, who has been employed under a continuous contract for not less than 24 months, is dismissed by reason of redundancy or is laid off.

Q2: Under what circumstances should an employer pay long service payment to his employee?

A2: An employer should pay long service payment when an employee who has been employed under a continuous contract for no less than 5 years:

1. is dismissed by reason other than serious misconduct or redundancy;
2. is certified by a registered medical practitioner or registered Chinese medicine practitioner as permanently unfit for the present job and he resigns;
3. is aged 65 or above and he resigns; or
4. dies in service.

Q3: Is there any difference in the calculation of long service payment and severance payment?

A3: No difference. Long service payment and severance payment are calculated as follows:

* Note: The sum should not exceed 2/3 of HK$22,500 (i.e. HK$15,000). Service of an incomplete year should be calculated on a pro rata basis.

Q4: Can long service or severance payments be offset against MPF?

A4: Yes, according to the Employment Ordinance, employers can offset the long service or severance payment paid to the employee against the accrued benefits derived from the employer's contributions.

Q5: What is BEA MPF’s offsetting sequence for employer reimbursement?

A5: BEA MPF’s offsetting sequence for employer reimbursement is as below:

1. Employee’s vested benefits derived from the employer’s voluntary contributions, if any;
2. Accrued benefits derived from the employer’s mandatory contributions.

Q6: What should employer pay attention to before applying offsetting LSP/SP arrangement?

A6: The employer should first communicate their intention to the concerned employees with regard to LSP/SP claim to the trustees before making any decision on the offsetting arrangement.

Q7: Will employers and employees be informed after the completion of offsetting procedure?

A7: For BEA MPF scheme members, both of the employers and employees will receive a notification after the completion of offsetting procedure, which lists out the offsetting amount in the employee’s MPF account.

The above information is adapted from the information provided on the Labour Department website and is for reference only. For details, please visit the Labour Department website at www.labour.gov.hk