The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, March 7, 2019 is 103.3 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     A manager of a restaurant and a food wholesaler were convicted and fined $4,000 and $6,000 respectively today (March 7) at Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts for supplying food to which a false trade description was applied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Hong Kong Customs earlier received information and conducted a test-buy operation at a restaurant in Tuen Mun for a dish of baked grouper rice with cheese.

     Upon examination by the Government Laboratory, it was confirmed that the fish fillets of the dish were catfish, different from what had been declared.

     Further investigation revealed that the food wholesaler made a false claim to the restaurant manager and claimed the catfish fillets sold were sole fish fillets. The restaurant manager produced a dish using the batch of fish fillets and falsely claimed it was grouper rice.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure products at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (March 7) announced that the department tested 44 water samples collected from cooling towers in 41 buildings in its routine inspections in February this year. None of them was detected to have a total legionella count at or above the upper threshold, which is 1 000 colony-forming units per millilitre. The latest statistics are set out in Annex 1.

     The EMSD also announced the locations of buildings which were served with nuisance notices during the preceding three-month period as the total legionella count was found in the fresh water cooling towers to be equal to or above the upper threshold. Details can be found in Annex 2. The EMSD publishes the latest statistics of the above information on a half-monthly basis on its website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/other_regulatory_services/cooling_towers/water_sampling/index.html).

     The EMSD reminds the owners of fresh water cooling towers that they have the responsibility to design, operate and maintain cooling towers properly. They should arrange regular inspections, timely maintenance and periodic testing of the water quality in their cooling towers in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers issued by the department to prevent the proliferation of legionella.

     The Constitution and Basic Law Roving Exhibition organised by the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will be held this Saturday and Sunday (March 9 and 10) at L5 Atrium of MegaBox, 38 Wang Chiu Road, in Kowloon Bay.
 
     The exhibition will introduce the content of the Constitution and the Basic Law; members of the public may also participate in computer and stall games to deepen their understanding of these matters.
 
     The roving exhibition will open from 11am to 7pm. Admission is free.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

    The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (March 7) that the Environmental Protection Department has classified the water quality at Silver Mine Bay Beach in Islands District as Grade 3, which means the water quality has improved and the beach is suitable for swimming. The red flag has been lowered.

     The red flag was hoisted at the beach earlier on due to the water quality being classified as Grade 4 and unsuitable for swimming.