The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 12) announced the test results of a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on lap-mei. Around 140 samples were collected and all passed the tests.
 
     A CFS spokesman said, "Lap-mei is popular in winter and the CFS has therefore collected a variety of lap-mei samples including Chinese pork sausages, Chinese liver sausages, preserved duck meat and preserved pork from different retailers including online retailers for chemical tests and nutrition content analyses."
 
     Chemical tests targeted veterinary drug residues and preservatives usually found in preserved food including nitrate and nitrite, as well as other food additives which may be used in the production process such as sulphur dioxide and colouring matters. For nutrition content analyses, the contents of energy, carbohydrates, protein, total fat, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, sodium and sugars of the samples were tested to see if they were consistent with their declared values on the nutrition labels.
 
     "Members of the public should maintain a balanced diet and avoid excessive consumption of lap-mei in view of its nitrate/nitrite level and potential risk of nitrosamine, as well as relatively higher sodium, sugar and fat contents in some lap-mei. Infants are highly susceptible to nitrite toxicity and should avoid consuming lap-mei. The intake of lap-mei among young children should also be restricted.
 
     "Furthermore, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization has classified processed meat as 'carcinogenic to humans' (Group 1). The public should avoid excessive consumption of processed meat to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer," the spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman also advised the trade to comply with the legal requirements, follow good manufacturing practice and use permitted food additives in an appropriate manner. Retailers should source food from reliable suppliers and maintain a good recording system in accordance with the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has recently received enquiries from members of the public about mobile applications serving to aggregate financial information from different bank accounts or stored value facilities (SVFs).
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that these service providers may not be in co-operation with the banks or SVFs concerned and the services provided are therefore not subject to the HKMA's supervision.
      
     These service providers have required customers to provide login information for e-banking services or SVFs. Members of the public must bear in mind that both their login user name and PIN/password are important personal information, which should be kept with great care. While the HKMA is open-minded to financial innovation, the public must get to know how the service providers collect, use and store their customers' personal information, and understand clearly the terms and conditions of the services when opting for the above services.

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 12) reminded interested parties to join auctions which will start next Monday (November 19) for stalls at the 2019 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs in the New Territories.
 
     The nine LNY fairs will be held at Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan, Yuen Wo Playground in Sha Tin, Kwai Chung Sports Ground in Kwai Tsing, Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground in Yuen Long, Shek Wu Hui Playground in North District, Tin Hau Temple Plaza in Tuen Mun, Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square in Tai Po, Man Yee Playground in Sai Kung and Po Hong Park in Tseung Kwan O, with a total of 652 wet goods stalls, 293 dry goods stalls and six fast food stalls. Auctions for the stalls of these LNY fairs will be held on the following dates from 9.30am until completion of the auctions.
 
      Details of the auctions and opening prices are as follows:
 
Sha Tsui Road Playground (Tsuen Wan)
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Auction date: November 19 (Monday)
Auction venue: Assembly Hall, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices
Stall types: Dry goods and wet goods
Opening prices:
Dry goods: $14,140
Wet goods: $2,950
 
Yuen Wo Playground (Sha Tin)
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Auction date: November 20 (Tuesday)
Auction venue: Wo Che Community Hall, Sha Tin
Stall types: Dry goods and wet goods
Opening prices:
Dry goods: $7,610
Wet goods: $5,970
 
Kwai Chung Sports Ground (Kwai Tsing)
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Auction date: November 22 (Thursday)
Auction venue: Assembly Hall, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices
Stall types: Dry goods and wet goods
Opening prices:
Dry goods: $3,750
Wet goods: $820
 
Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground (Yuen Long)
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Auction date: November 23 (Friday)
Auction venue: Yuen Long Town East Community Hall
Stall types: Dry goods, wet goods and fast food
Opening prices:
Dry goods: $2,250
Wet goods: $1,170
Fast food: $9,130 (Stall size: 5 metres x 4m)
 
Shek Wu Hui Playground (North District)
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Auction date: November 26 (Monday)
Auction venue: Luen Wo Hui Community Hall, Fanling
Stall types: Dry goods and wet goods
Opening prices:
Dry goods: $2,560
Wet goods: $1,190
 
Tin Hau Temple Plaza (Tuen Mun)
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Auction date: November 27 (Tuesday)
Auction venue: Tseng Choi Street Community Hall, Tuen Mun
Stall types: Dry goods, wet goods and fast food
Opening prices:
Dry goods: $3,570
Wet goods: $2,490
Fast food: $9,130 (Stall size: 7.6m x 4.8m)
 
Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square (Tai Po)
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Auction date: November 28 (Wednesday)
Auction venue: Tai Po Community Centre
Stall types: Dry goods, wet goods and fast food
Opening prices:
Dry goods: $2,410
Wet goods: $3,790
Fast food: $9,130 (Stall size: 5m x 4m)
 
Man Yee Playground (Sai Kung)
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Auction date: November 30 (Friday)
Auction venue: Hang Hau Community Hall, Sai Kung
Stall types: Dry goods and wet goods
Opening prices:
Dry goods: $750
Wet goods: $630
 
Po Hong Park (Tseung Kwan O)
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Auction date: November 30 (Friday)
Auction venue: Hang Hau Community Hall, Sai Kung
Stall types: Dry goods, wet goods and fast food
Opening prices:
Dry goods: $2,560
Wet goods: $1,390
Fast food: $7,610 (Stall size: 5m x 4m)
 
     Bidders for LNY fair stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily resident in Hong Kong.
     
     Anyone can bid for more than one stall. A bidder must pay the bid price and register in person with his or her own name as the licensee of the stall immediately after successfully bidding for a stall. The bidder is also required to sign at once a licence agreement with the FEHD, or will forfeit the rights to operate the stall.
 
     An FEHD spokesman said, "Successful bidders shall comply with all the stipulations and provisions as set out in the licence agreement. Otherwise, the department is entitled to terminate the agreement and the licensee shall immediately vacate the stall."
     
     Details of the 2019 LNY fairs such as the public notice, the locations and layouts of the fair venues, commodities allowed for sale at the fair stalls, open auction arrangements and related rules, and a sample of the licence agreement are available at the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the FEHD hotline 2868 0000.

   The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will hold the 16th Cantonese Opera Day on November 25 (Sunday) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) and the Hong Kong Space Museum. Admission is free.
 
   This entertaining annual event includes a film about Cantonese opera, which will start at 10.30am at the Hong Kong Space Museum Lecture Hall, and a variety of activities for family enjoyment to be held at the Piazza, Foyer, Exhibition Gallery and conference rooms of the HKCC, starting at 1pm.
 
   Programmes will include performances of Cantonese opera excerpts and operatic songs; talks; demonstration workshops on Cantonese opera stylised movement and posture; Cantonese opera costume sewing techniques, make-up and dressing-up; Cantonese opera music and singing styles; game stalls; and a Cantonese opera exhibition. Cantonese opera virtuosos Ng Chin-fung, Wan Fai-yin, Sun Kim-long, Nam Fung, Hong Hai, Chan Ka-ming, Wan Yuk-yu, Ko Lai, Wai Chun-fai, Tang Mi-ling, Lam Tin-yau and Cheng Wing-mui will also be present for autograph signing.
 
     To further Hong Kong's image as a centre of Chinese and Western culture, Putonghua and English guided tours will be available to introduce this legendary art form to visitors.
 
     Since 2003, the cultural sectors of Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong have designated the last Sunday of every November as Cantonese Opera Day to promote the valuable vernacular art of Cantonese opera. By holding this territory-wide activity on a regular basis, it is hoped that a broader audience base can be developed to hold the torch of Cantonese opera alight for future generations.
 
   For more information, please refer to the programme leaflet or visit the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_668.html. For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325.

     Three illegal workers, comprising two Indians and a Vietnamese, were jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts on November 9.

     Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators received referrals from the Police to further investigate an illegal employment case in September. Two male Indian illegal workers, aged 27 and 28, were arrested at Tseung Kwan O. When intercepted they were working as delivery workers. Upon identity checking, they produced for inspection recognisance forms issued by the ImmD, which prohibit them from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that they were non-refoulement claimants.
 
     In addition, during an anti-illegal worker operation mounted on November 7, ImmD investigators raided a restaurant in the Mid-levels. A female Vietnamese illegal worker, aged 47, was arrested. When intercepted, she was washing dishes. Upon identity checking, she produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits her from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that she was a non-refoulement claimant. In addition, she was also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged identity card. An employer suspected of employing the illegal worker was arrested and the investigation is ongoing.
  
     The three illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts on November 9 with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. They pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment. In addition, the Vietnamese illegal worker was also charged with using a forged Hong Kong identity card and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. All sentences are to run concurrently, making a total of 18 months' imprisonment.
 
     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases.
      
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
      
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat and coercion in the recruitment phase, and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments.