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.

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)

     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.

     A CFS spokesman said, "Subsequent to finding of a grass carp sample and a grass carp fish maw sample containing trace amounts of malachite green, the CFS has enhanced surveillance on grass carp available for sale in the local market. The CFS therefore took 12 grass carp samples at retail level for testing for malachite green. One of the grass carp samples, which was collected from a stall in Shek Tong Tsui Market, was found to contain a trace amount of malachite green at a level of 0.96 parts per billion. The remaining 11 samples passed the tests.

     "Malachite green is a type of industrial dye and has been used for treating infection in fish. Major agricultural economies such as the Mainland, the European Union, Canada and the United States prohibit the use of the chemical in food fish. 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 has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and is following up on the unsatisfactory result, including tracing the source and taking samples for testing.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action.

     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 pathogenic H5N6 sub-type avian influenza in Fenghuang County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hunan Province, it has followed the existing approach for control of highly pathogenic avian influenza and taken recommendations from the World Organisation for Animal Health into account to suspend the import of poultry and poultry products, including poultry eggs, from an area within a radius of 3 kilometres from the said place for a period of 90 days, and from an area within a radius of 13km for 21 days, with immediate effect for the protection of public health in Hong Kong.

     A spokesman for the CFS said that according to information from the General Administration of Customs, the outbreak does not affect any registered Mainland poultry farms that export to Hong Kong. No registered poultry meat or poultry egg processing plants are currently situated within the import restriction zone concerned.

     The CFS will closely monitor the latest developments of the avian influenza case in the province and take appropriate follow-up action as necessary.

     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.

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming private car at Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday afternoon and found the batch of suspected manufactured fireworks in the boot of the car.

     The 34-year-old male passenger was arrested. Investigation is ongoing.

     The goods have been handed over to the Police.

     Under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, any person involved in possessing the prohibited goods commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.

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