The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 3) announced that a honeydew berry sorbet popsicle sample was found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit. Follow-up is in progress.

     Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: HONEYDEW BERRY SORBET
Product brand: NICE POPS HONG KONG
Manufacturer/ Packer: Nice Company HK, Limited
Net volume: 82 millilitres
Use by date: December 28, 2018

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to announcing earlier that a honeydew berry sorbet popsicle sample taken from the premises of a frozen confection factory in Ap Lei Chau found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit, the CFS has enhanced surveillance on the products of the premises and has detected from the above-mentioned sample coliform bacteria of 300 per gram, exceeding the legal limit, the result for pathogens test was satisfactory."

     Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform bacteria exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

     "The CFS has informed the premises concerned of the irregularity and advised it to immediately stop production and sale of the affected product. The CFS has provided health education on food safety and hygiene for the person-in-charge and staff concerned again, and has requested them to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection. The CFS has enhanced surveillance of related products," the spokesman said.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     It has come to the notice of HKMC Annuity Limited (HKMCA) that there have been suspected case of individuals purportedly representing the HKMCA to invite the elderly to meet outside the designated branches of Agent Banks or the HKMCA servicing centres such as shopping centre or fast food restaurant chain to discuss life annuity product. The HKMCA today (September 3) would like to remind the public on the following:
 

1. The sales meetings of HKMC Annuity plan will only be conducted in the designated branches of the Agent Banks, the HKMCA Application Servicing Centre located in Cheung Sha Wan (Note 1) or the HKMCA Customer Service Centre located in Sheung Wan (Note 2);
2. Cash payment is not accepted for premium payment of HKMC Annuity Plan.  Application fee is not required. If the applicants pay the premium by crossed cheque, the applicants should only write "HKMC Annuity Limited" as the payee; and
3. Do not provide any personal information to any persons if you have doubt on their identity.

 
     Should the applicants have any doubt regarding the validity of the documents issued by the HKMCA or the identity of persons purportedly representing the HKMCA, the applicants should contact the HKMCA directly (Hotline: 2512 5000).
 
Note 1: The address is 22/F, 909 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.
Note 2: The address is 35/F, Cosco Tower (High Block), Grand Millennium Plaza, 183 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong.

     In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Security Bureau today (September 3) gave the following reply:

     The Security Bureau received a letter from the legal representative of the spokesman of the Hong Kong National Party earlier, requesting an extension of the deadline for making written representations in accordance with section 8(3) of the Societies Ordinance. Having considered the matter, the Secretary for Security has decided to extend the period for representation. The Hong Kong National Party may make representations to the Secretary for Security on or before September 14. The Security Bureau has informed the Hong Kong National Party of the decision.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 3) investigating a suspected outbreak of food poisoning affecting 10 persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The patients, comprising six males and four females aged 10 to 49, developed abdominal pain and diarrhoea about seven to 22 hours after having dinner at a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui on August 31.

     Three of them sought medical attention but none required hospitalisation. All affected persons are in a stable condition.

     "We have alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
• Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hot pot or barbecue meal;
• Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
• Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water;
• Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.

     A 50-year-old Korean male who acted as a check-in facilitator for another person and made false representation to Immigration Officer was jailed after appearing in the District Court today (September 3). Each charge was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. All charges are to run concurrently, making a total of 24 months' imprisonment.
 
     The court heard that, in December 2011, a Mainlander who used a forged Korean passport and a boarding pass bearing the name of the defendant was arrested by Immigration Officers at Hong Kong International Airport (Airport). After investigation, the Mainlander was charged with one count of making false representation to an Immigration Officer and one count of possession of a forged travel document and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment in January 2012. The defendant was identified as being involved after detailed analysis by investigators and he was arrested upon his arrival at the Airport on November 14, 2017.
 
     Under caution, the defendant, after listening to the instruction of a intermediary in December 2011, admitted that he received remuneration for procuring the boarding pass to Sydney, Australia and purported to depart for Sydney, Australia to an immigration officer upon departure clearance before leaving the boarding pass inside a washroom in the Airport's restricted area with a view to transferring it to another person for smuggling to Australia. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain services by deception and one count of making false representation to an Immigration Officer on July 24 this year.
 
     The spokesman warned that under the Theft Ordinance, people who, by any deception, dishonestly obtain services from another shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, to imprisonment for 10 years. In addition, any person who makes false representation to Immigration Officers commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty will be a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years.