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     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the opening ceremony of the “HKSARG’s Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Reform and Opening Up of the Country: ‘Joint Development．Shared Prosperity’ Exhibition” today (December 11):
 
Consuls general, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Welcome to this exhibition celebrating the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. The exhibition spotlights Hong Kong’s unique position as both an enabler and beneficiary of our country’s miraculous transformation.
 
     Forty years ago, Hong Kong’s pioneering business community of local and international entrepreneurs were among the first to invest their capital, expertise and ideas in the Mainland, and in the process successfully grew their own business and contributed to Hong Kong’s transition to a service economy.
 
     Today, Hong Kong’s global outlook and international connectivity will provide the gateway for Mainland enterprises to explore a world of opportunities as they progress to their next stage of development.
 
     This exhibition traces the remarkable journey of our country and our city, a journey of exploration and collaboration not just in business and finance, but also in culture, sports and much more.
 
     As a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”, we continue to strengthen the advantages as our country’s premier hub for international business and finance, with new opportunities including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative emerging. With an outward-looking tradition and a cosmopolitan culture, Hong Kong will continue to connect and excel, seizing the many opportunities available to us as our country deepens its reform and opening up.
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, anniversaries should look to the future as well as the past. I am confident that, working together, Hong Kong’s best has yet to come. Please enjoy the exhibition. 
 
     Thank you very much.

    

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will pay a duty visit to Beijing from December 15 to 18. The Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will join the visit.

     During the stay in Beijing, Mrs Lam will meet with state leaders and brief them on the latest economic, social and political situation in Hong Kong. She will also officiate at the opening ceremony of “The Oral Legacies: Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” Exhibition Month, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, at Prince Kung’s Mansion Museum in the evening on December 15.
 
     During Mrs Lam’s absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive. read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 11) that a fresh pork sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is not permitted to be used in fresh meat. The CFS is following up on the case.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS took the fresh pork sample from a fresh provision shop in Sha Tin for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 14 parts per million.”

     According to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap 132BD), it is an offence to add sulphur dioxide to fresh or chilled meat. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment.

     The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the above-mentioned irregularity.

     Sulphur dioxide is a commonly used preservative in a variety of foods including dried fruits, pickled vegetables and meat products such as sausages and grilled burgers, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Nonetheless, individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. This preservative is of low toxicity. As it is water soluble, most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headache and nausea.

     The spokesman reminded the food trade to comply with the law and not to sell fresh or chilled meat adulterated with sulphur dioxide. Members of the public should purchase meat from reliable market stalls or fresh provision shops. They should avoid buying or consuming meat which is unnaturally red and maintain a balanced diet to avoid malnutrition or excessive exposure to chemicals from a small range of food items.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action. Investigation is on-going. read more

     Police today (December 11) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Kwai Chung.      Kwok Fat-yu, aged 72, went missing after he was last seen at Kwai Chung Estate las… read more

     Police today (December 11) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sham Shui Po.      Chen Xicun, aged 47, went missing after he was last seen at Shek Kip Mei Park la… read more