Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 10) that a carton of six netted melons from Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan was illegally imported into Hong Kong, breaching the relevant Food Safety Order. None of the product concerned has entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS inspected a consignment of food imported from Japan and found the abovementioned product from Ibaraki Prefecture therein was not accompanied with a radiation certificate and an exporter certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, breaching the relevant Food Safety Order. The Centre has taken a sample of the product concerned for testing of the radiation level and no radiation has been detected. The product concerned has been disposed of.

     “According to the Order, the import of vegetables, fruits, milk, milk beverages and dried milk from four Japanese prefectures, namely Ibaraki, Tochigi, Chiba and Gunma, must be accompanied with radiation certificates and exporter certificates issued by the MAFF of Japan. The CFS conducts a radiation test on each consignment of Japanese food imported, and requires importers not to sell the products until the test result turns out to be satisfactory. The aforementioned illegal import was detected by the CFS during inspection and the product concerned did not enter the market. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the CFS’ gate-keeping work.”

    The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. Investigation is ongoing. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Financial Services Development Council:
 
     The Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) today (October 10) welcomed the Government’s support in the Policy Address for incorporation of the FSDC as well as the plans relating to fostering the asset and wealth management and insurance sectors amongst others in the financial services industry.
 
     The Government stated various measures in the Policy Address to promote the development of marine insurance and underwriting of specialty risks in Hong Kong. It also announced plans to attract more commercial principals in the maritime industry. The FSDC is encouraged by these positive responses from the Government, which echo the recommendations in the FSDC’s recent reports on insurance and maritime leasing (Note 1).
 
     The FSDC is glad to note the commencement of the open-ended fund company regime and the proposal to introduce a limited partnership regime for private equity funds, which accord with the FSDC’s recommendations in its reports on open-ended fund companies and private equity funds (Note 2).
 
     The Government has again affirmed its support for incorporation of the FSDC to strengthen its capacity in conducting strategic studies, providing advice, fostering market development and nurturing human capital. The FSDC is committed to achieving these goals as its mission.  
 
     The Chairman of the FSDC, Mr Laurence Li, said, “The FSDC appreciates the Government’s vision and its commitment to promote the development of Hong Kong as an asset and wealth management centre as well as an international insurance hub. The FSDC is also grateful for the support for our incorporation and beyond. We shall continue to collaborate with the Government, the industry and market practitioners to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness and status as a leading international financial centre in Asia.”
 
About the FSDC
 
     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government established the FSDC in 2013 as a high-level, cross-sectoral advisory body to engage the industry in formulating proposals to promote the further development of Hong Kong’s financial services industry and to map out the strategic direction for development.
 
Note 1:
 
FSDC Report No.27 “Turning Crisis into Opportunities: Hong Kong as an Insurance Hub with Development Focuses on Reinsurance, Marine and Captive” (March 2017) (www.fsdc.org.hk/sites/default/files/FSDC%20Paper%2027%20-%20Reinsurance%2C%20Marine%20and%20Captive%28e%29_1.pdf); and FSDC Report No.34 “Maritime Leasing Paper” (May 2018) (www.fsdc.org.hk/sites/default/files/Maritime%20Leasing%20Paper%20%28Eng%29_revised.pdf)
 
Note 2:
 
FSDC Report No.5 “Proposals on Legal and Regulatory Framework for Open-ended Investment Companies in Hong Kong” (November 2013) (www.fsdc.org.hk/sites/default/files/05%28Eng%29-Proposals%20on%20Legal%20%26%20Regulatory%20Framework%20for%20OEIC%20in%20HK.pdf); FSDC Paper No.17 “A Paper on Limited Partnership for Private Equity Funds” (December 2015) (www.fsdc.org.hk/sites/default/files/LP%20Paper%20-%20Eng-No.17.pdf); and FSDC Paper No.18 “A Paper on the Tax Issues on Open-ended Fund Companies and Profits Tax Exemption for Offshore Private Equity Fund” (December 2015) (www.fsdc.org.hk/sites/default/files/Tax%20Paper%20-%20Eng-No.18.pdf) read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 10) announced that a trace amount of malachite green was found in a grass carp sample. Follow-up is in progress.     &nbsp… read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 10) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs about an outbreak of highly p… read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 9) seized 13 boxes of suspected manufactured fireworks weighing about 80 kilograms in total with an estimated market value of about $2,000 at Shenzhen Bay Control Point.   … read more