Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 19) announced that two chocolate flavour sorbet samples were found to contain total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limit. Follow-up is in progress.

     “Subsequent to announcing that a sample of chocolate flavour sorbet taken from a retail outlet of frozen confections in Quarry Bay was found to contain a total bacterial count exceeding the legal limit, the CFS detected similar irregularities in a further two chocolate flavour sorbet samples of the same kind but of different manufacturing dates taken respectively from the same retail outlet and the frozen confection factory manufacturing the product concerned for testing during follow-up investigations. The test results showed that the two samples contained total bacterial counts of 610 000 and 730 000 per gram respectively, exceeding the legal limit,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

     Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 50 000 bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months’ imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the total bacterial count 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 vendor concerned of the irregularities. The vendor has already, according to the CFS’ instructions, stopped selling the affected kind of sorbet at all retail outlets and will dispose of the remaining stock of the affected product. The frozen confection factory concerned has also stopped its production. The CFS has provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the vendor, and requested it to review and improve the food production process and carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection in the frozen confection factory. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be instituted. Both unsatisfactory samples were taken before sale of the affected product was stopped,” the spokesman said. read more

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and representatives from the electrical and mechanical (E&M) trade today (July 19) concluded their four-day visit to Shenzhen and Guangzhou to keep abreast of the lat… read more

     Three illegal workers, comprising two Vietnamese and an Indian, were jailed by Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (July 18).
      
     During an anti-illegal worker operation mounted on July 16, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators raided a restaurant in San Po Kong. A male Vietnamese illegal worker and a female Vietnamese illegal worker, aged 35 and 50, were arrested. When intercepted they were working in the kitchen. Upon identity checking, the female illegal worker was found to be an illegal immigrant while the male one produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant. An employer suspected of employing the illegal workers was arrested and the investigation is ongoing.
      
     Furthermore, during operation “Twilight” conducted on July 16, ImmD investigators raided a restaurant in Central. A male Indian illegal worker, aged 35, was arrested. When intercepted he was conveying dishes. Upon identity checking, he produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant. One employer suspected of employing the illegal worker was arrested and the investigation is ongoing.
      
     The three illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday 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.
      
     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. read more

     A Mars perihelic opposition will occur on the night of July 27 (Friday), followed by a total lunar eclipse in the early morning of the next day. The two astronomical events will be visible if weather permits.
 
     During Mars opposition, Mars, the Earth and the Sun lie on a straight line, with Mars and the Sun located exactly on the opposite sides of the Earth. When Mars is at its perihelion (Note) during the opposition, it is called the Mars perihelic opposition (Figure 1). During the event, Mars is also closest to the Earth, and therefore the planet will look brighter than usual. Mars perihelic opposition occurs every 15 or 17 years. The last Mars perihelic opposition took place in 2003, and members of the public may have the chance to witness the event again with the naked eye on July 27. Mars will appear as a bright reddish orange dot in the nights around the opposition, with its brightness second only to the Moon and Venus in the night sky. Details of the coming Mars perihelic opposition are as follows:
 

Date	Hong Kong Time	Phenomenon	Elevation	Direction (Azimuth)
July 27 (Friday)	1.13pm	Mars opposition	Below the horizon	—
	7.06pm	Sunset	-1 degree	West-northwest (291 degrees)
	7.18pm	Mars rise	-1 degree	East-southeast (117 degrees)
July 28 (Saturday)	0.34am	Mars transit	42 degrees	South (180 degrees)
	5.51am	Mars set	-1 degree	West-southwest (242 degrees)

  
     Members of the public may also observe the second total lunar eclipse of the year in the early hours of July 28. The eclipse will begin at 1.13am, with the stage of total eclipse lasting for 1 hour and 44 minutes, the longest duration since 2000. The event will be visible at most places with an unobstructed view to the southwest till moonset at 6am (Figures 2 and 3). Details of the total lunar eclipse are as follows:
 

Date	Hong Kong Time	Phenomenon	Elevation	Direction (Azimuth)
July 27 (Friday)	6.45pm	Moonrise	-1 degree	East-southeast (111 degrees)
July 28 (Saturday)	1.13am	Moon enters penumbra	46 degrees	South-southwest (197 degrees)
	2.24am	Moon enters umbra	39 degrees	Southwest (217 degrees)
	3.30am	Total eclipse begins	29 degrees	Southwest (231 degrees)
	4.22am	Maximum eclipse	19 degrees	West-southwest (239 degrees)
	5.14am	Total eclipse ends	9 degrees	West-southwest (245 degrees)
	5.53am	Sunrise	-1 degree	East-northeast (69 degrees)
	6.00am	Moonset	-1 degree	West-southwest (250 degrees)
	6.19am	Moon leaves umbra	Below the horizon	—
	7.30am	Moon leaves penumbra	Below the horizon	—

 
     Members of the public can watch the whole event via a webcast to be jointly provided by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre, the Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College and the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Solar Tower‧Camp on the following webpage:
www.hko.gov.hk/gts/event/webcast-20180728.htm.
 
     For the weather on July 27 and 28, please refer to the latest nine-day weather forecast issued by the Hong Kong Observatory at the following webpage:
www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/currwx/fnd.htm.
 
     As regards the astronomical observation conditions for that night, please refer to the “Weather Information for Astronomical Observation” webpage:
www.hko.gov.hk/gts/astronomy/astro_portal.html.
 
     The next lunar eclipse visible in Hong Kong will occur on July 17, 2019, and will be a partial lunar eclipse.
 
Note: Perihelion is the point in the planet’s orbit when it is closest to the Sun. read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, after officiating at the “Plastic Free Beach, Tableware First” campaign today (July 19):
 
Reporter: Secretary, two questions. Firstly, on the levy of glass bottles, some lawmakers argue today it may not be effective to really promote glass recycling, what do you think of that? Do you think the cost will be passed to customers? Secondly, on this campaign, the restaurants are just trying to avoid plastics, there is no total ban. Do you think that’s good enough?
 
Secretary for the Environment: On the first question about the Producer Responsibility Scheme (PRS) on Glass Beverage Containers, we are making reference to overseas successful practices. So we think that it would be useful and would result in a higher level of recycling for Hong Kong, since under the scheme we engage the contractor and set a performance pledge to improve Hong Kong’s recycling level of glass incrementally. So we are confident that it should be okay. Certainly, all these kind of PRSs are based on the polluter pays principle. That means the more you use, you have to be responsible for the associated cost. It’s a fair system. Under the new scheme, we set the performance (pledge). The recycling level will be incrementally improved, it will be our goal. Your second question about these schemes set in other cities or countries – an incremental approach is also being taken. One very important thing is public education and campaign. Today’s launch is to promote wider public education. The gazetted beaches, in particular during summer time, will be a very good timing and venue for us to talk about this. It is a very good venue associated with the ocean and marine lives. We can work together with our volunteers and green groups to promote that change. But we are not stopping here. As I have said, we will have other initiatives to promote similar practices in the government premises managed by the government and owned by the government. At the same time, we have the R&D (research and development team) to consider the overseas relevant laws and how they could be applied to Hong Kong. So we have a stepped-up approach to achieve our objective, that is to reduce disposable plastic in the ocean in Hong Kong and elsewhere.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more