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Author Archives: hksar gov

CFS finds malachite green in samples of freshwater grouper and roast eel

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 27) announced that malachite green was found in a freshwater grouper sample and a prepackaged frozen roast eel sample. Follow-up is in progress.

     Details of the roast eel sample are as follows:

Product name: Not available in English
Brand: Not available in English
Place of origin: China
Importer: Nisoon Frozen Food Hong Kong
Best-before date: February 27, 2021

     A CFS spokesman said, “The CFS collected the above-mentioned freshwater grouper sample from a stall in Po On Road Market, Cheung Sha Wan and the above-mentioned roast eel sample from a shop in Kwun Tong for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that they contained malachite green at respective levels of 1.3 parts per billion (ppb) and 26.3 ppb.

     “The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and instructed them to stop sale of the affected products. The importer of the roast eel product has also initiated a recall according to the CFS’ instruction. Members of the public may call its hotline at 2850 7568 during office hours for enquiries about the recall,” the spokesman added.

     Malachite green is a type of industrial dye and has been used for treating infections in fish. Malachite green is possibly both genotoxic and carcinogenic. According to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), there is no safe level of residues of malachite green or its metabolites in food that represents an acceptable risk to consumers. Currently, malachite green has been prohibited for use in food producing animals in many countries. According to the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap 132AF), no food sold in Hong Kong is allowed to contain malachite green. Offenders will be prosecuted and will be liable to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

     The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action, including tracing the sources of the affected products. Investigation is ongoing. read more

Applications invited for Outreach Music Interest Courses including rerun of Choral Conducting Workshop and new STEAM Music Workshop

     The Outreach Music Interest Courses organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will be held from September 2019 to January 2020. Over 100 courses, ranging from Chinese and Western musical instrument classes to music workshops are now open for members of the public to apply.
 
     The Choral Conducting Workshop receiving an overwhelming response last year and will be rerun this year. Topics on pre-rehearsal preparation, selection of repertoires, rehearsal strategies and basic conducting skills will be covered. School music teachers, conductors and music instructors of community and church choirs are welcome to apply. The course fee is $320.
 
     Following the recent trend of cross-subject education under the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) approach, the Music Office is introducing the new STEAM Music Workshop. Participants will learn to invent digital music instruments with electronic building blocks, and also to compose and perform simple music pieces. A parent-child workshop and an adult workshop will be held. The incorporation of STEAM into music lessons will also be introduced in the adult workshop so that music teachers participating in the workshop can put knowledge to practice. Course fees for the adult workshop and the parent-child workshop are $160 and $320 respectively.
 
     Courses on ocarina, keyboard, ukulele, classical guitar and classical vocal singing; Western music theory (Grades 1 and 2); aural training; instrumental enrichment courses of yangqin, cello, flute, xiao and clarinet; and ensemble training of Chinese traditional music, saxophone, Western strings and Western chamber music will also be offered. The course fees range from $215 to $1,005.
 
     The Outreach Music Interest Courses also provide basic training on xiao, liuyeqin, zhong-ruan, pipa, yangqin, zheng, dizi, erhu, clarinet, saxophone, flute, trumpet, percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad), violin, viola and cello. The course fee is $1,070.
 
      All courses are conducted in small groups in Cantonese and will be held at different venues throughout Hong Kong, namely the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Sha Tin Town Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Tai Po Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library and the Music Office’s music centres in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan.
 
     Online applications can now be made through the Music Office website www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice. Course prospectuses and application forms are also available at various performance venues of the LCSD and music centres of the Music Office. The deadline for applications is July 25. Oversubscribed courses will be processed by ballot. For courses not fully taken up after the first round of application, places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis from August 28.
 
     For enquiries, please call 3842 7773, 2598 8335 or 2596 0898. read more