The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 15 100 food samples tested were satisfactory except for 17 samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
      
     A CFS spokesman said about 1 600 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, some 4 600 samples were taken for chemical tests and the remaining 8 900 (including about 8 300 taken from food imported from Japan) were collected to test radiation levels.
      
     The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygienic indicators, while the chemical tests included pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others.
      
     The samples comprised about 4 500 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; 700 samples of meat and poultry and their products; 1 900 samples of aquatic and related products; 1 200 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; 1 000 samples of cereals, grains and their products; and 5 800 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
      
     The 17 unsatisfactory samples comprised five vegetable and fruit samples detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limits; three sorbet samples detected with total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limit; two samples of ham and egg bun, a sample of rice vermicelli with roast duck, and a sample of soybean curd dessert detected with excessive Bacillus cereus; a fresh beef sample and a fresh pork sample found to contain sulphur dioxide; a sample of dry noodles detected with Salmonella; a ginger powder sample found contaminated with aflatoxins; and a mushroom sample found to contain sulphur dioxide undeclared on its food label.
      
     The CFS has taken follow-up action on the unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items and tracing the sources of the food items in question.
      
     Since the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap 132CM) came into effect on August 1, 2014, as of July 31 this year, the CFS has taken over 152 800 food samples at the import, wholesale and retail levels for testing for pesticide residues. The overall unsatisfactory rate is less than 0.2 per cent.
      
     The spokesman added that excessive pesticide residues in food may arise from the trade not observing Good Agricultural Practice, e.g. using excessive pesticides and/or not allowing sufficient time for pesticides to decompose before harvesting. The maximum residue limits (MRLs) of pesticide residues in food set in the Regulation are not safety indicators. They are the maximum concentrations of pesticide residues to be permitted in a food commodity under Good Agricultural Practice when applying pesticides. In this connection, consumption of food with pesticide residues higher than the MRLs will not necessarily lead to any adverse health effects.
      
     Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
      
     The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food for sale is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.

     The Hong Kong Space Museum's new Omnimax show, "National Parks Adventure", will be launched tomorrow (September 1). The film shows the audience the breathtaking landscapes of national parks in the United States by following the footsteps of world-class mountaineer Conrad Anker and two other adventurers, and explores what national parks mean to people.
 
     The national parks not only contain spectacular scenery and display the results of nature conservation, but also offer a place for seeking excitement, purifying minds and creating artworks. The audience will witness the family ties between Anker and Max Lowe, the son of Anker's deceased climbing partner and now his stepson. At the same time, the audience will also see the friendship among the two of them and a young artist, Rachel Pohl.
 
     The show was filmed in more than 30 national parks in the United States. When viewing the film on the dome screen at the museum's Stanley Ho Space Theatre, members of the audience may feel as if they are inside Yellowstone National Park or at Devils Tower, in addition to appreciating the magnificent work of nature.
 
     The 43-minute show will be screened until February 28 next year at the museum's Stanley Ho Space Theatre. It will be screened daily at 1.30pm, 5pm and 8.30pm.
 
     Tickets priced at $24 (front stalls) and $32 (stalls) are available at the Hong Kong Space Museum Box Office and URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). The museum is closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays).
  
     The Hong Kong Space Museum is located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. For further information, please call 2721 0226 or visit the website at hk.space.museum.

        

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 31) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
        
     Twenty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 18 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:        

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Shek O Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Castle Peak Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Silverstrand Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Anglers' Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3. 
      
     "The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
 
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk and www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Police will implement special traffic arrangements to facilitate a public event to be held on Hong Kong Island next Monday (September 3).

Road closure
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The layby on westbound Lung Wo Road outside City Hall will be suspended from 9am on September 1 to 1pm on September 3.

The following roads will be closed from 5.30am to 11am on September 3:

– The northern section of Edinburgh Place; and
– The western kerbside lane of the eastern section of Edinburgh Place.

Traffic diversions
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Traffic along the eastern section of northbound Edinburgh Place cannot turn left to the northern section of westbound Edinburgh Place from 5.30am to 11am on September 3.

Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

Police will implement special traffic arrangements this Sunday (September 2) to facilitate a public event to be held on Hong Kong Island.

From 5am to 12 noon

Road closure
—————–

– The slow lane of southbound Man Yiu Street near eastbound Yiu Sing Street;
– Yiu Sing Street;
– The slow lane of southbound Man Yiu Street near eastbound Lung Wo Road;
– eastbound Lung Wo Road; and
– Road A2.

Traffic diversions
———————-

– Traffic along southbound Man Yiu Street cannot turn left to Yiu Sing Street;
– Traffic along southbound Man Yiu Street cannot turn left to eastbound Lung Wo Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Man Po Street cannot enter Yiu Sing Street;
– Traffic along eastbound Man Cheung Street cannot enter eastbound Lung Wo Road; and
– Vehicles on eastbound Lung Wo Road heading for Road A2 will be diverted via southbound Man Yiu Street, eastbound and southbound Connaught Place, eastbound Connaught Road Central, eastbound Harcourt Road, northbound Tim Mei Avenue, eastbound Lung Wui Road, northbound Lung Wo Road, and eastbound and northbound Road P2.

Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precinct of the special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior notice.

Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.