Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 25) urged the public not to consume two kinds of prepackaged anchovy fillets as they were found to contain histamine. The trade should stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess them.

     Details of the product are as follows:

(1) Product name: Filetti di Acciughe in Olio d’Oliva con Tartwfo (Anchovy Fillets with Truffle in Olive Oil)
Brand: TartufLanghe
Place of origin: Italy
Net weight: 90 grams per pack
Best before date: August 31, 2018

(2) Product name: Flat Fillets of Anchovies With Capers in Olive Oil
Brand: ROCCA
Place of origin: Italy
Net weight: 100 grams per bottle
Best before date: July 31, 2019

     A CFS spokesman said, “The Centre collected the two abovementioned samples from the city’super supermarket in Causeway Bay for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that the samples contained histamine at levels of 220 milligram (mg) per 100 gram (g) and 260mg per 100g respectively.”

     “The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularities. The vendor has removed from shelves and stopped sale of the affected products, and initiated a recall according to CFS’ instructions. Members of the public may call the vendor’s hotline at 2736 3866 during office hours for enquiries about the recall,” the spokesman added.

     The spokesman said that histamine is commonly found in certain kinds of fish such as tuna, sardine, mackerel and anchovy, as a result of bacterial spoilage. Consumption of fish containing high levels of histamine can cause foodborne intoxication. Symptoms of histamine poisoning include tingling and burning sensation around the mouth, facial flushing and sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, palpitations, dizziness and rash. The onset of intoxication symptoms is within a few hours after consumption and these symptoms will normally disappear in 12 hours without long term effect, the spokesman noted.

     The CFS will alert the trade to the incident and will continue to  monitor the case and take appropriate follow-up action. Investigation is ongoing.
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 25) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places of visit. The case is detailed below: 
 

Sex	Female
Age	55
Affected area involved	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
High-risk exposure	Nil
Hospital	Prince of Wales Hospital
Condition	Stable
MERS-Coronavirus preliminary test result	Negative

 
     “Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV),” a spokesman for the CHP said.    

     Locally, the CHP’s surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed fever or lower respiratory symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization’s latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP’s health advice on MERS. read more

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Ngau Tau Kok today (June 25) in which a 41-year-old man died.             At about 12.40pm, a motorcycle driven … read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (June 27) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex.  During the meeting, Members will consider a motion under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance.
 
     The motion, to be moved by Dr Cheng Chung-tai, states: “That this Council appoints a select committee to inquire into the incident of the MTR Corporation Limited’s suspected concealment of the alleged substandard construction works carried out at the new platforms of Hung Hom station of the Shatin to Central Link, and other related matters, and that in the performance of its duties the committee be authorised under section 9(2) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap. 382) to exercise the powers conferred by section 9(1) of that Ordinance.”
 
     Meanwhile, Dr Kwok Ka-ki will move a motion on the Report of the Subcommittee on Issues Relating to Bazaars.  The motion states: “That this Council notes the Report of the Subcommittee on Issues Relating to Bazaars.”
 
     Ir Dr Lo Wai-kwok will move a motion on expediting the promotion of smart city development. The motion states: “That, since smart city is one of the four major areas of focused development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong, the Administration released the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong in December 2017, mapping out the policies and measures to be implemented in the next five years in six areas, namely smart mobility, smart living, smart environment, smart people, smart government and smart economy; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to proactively allocate resources to perfect various policies and ancillary measures, so as to expedite the promotion of smart city development; the relevant measures include facilitating the research and development and application of innovation and technology, upgrading the technological infrastructure of Hong Kong, promoting the intellectualisation of infrastructure and green architecture, facilitating the opening of data by public and private organisations for development and application, setting up a platform for sharing big data, making optimal use of innovation and technology for improvement of people’s daily living, as well as developing a low-carbon green and smart community, with a view to fostering the sustainable development of Hong Kong and facilitating the people in leading a quality life.”
 
     Mr Christopher Cheung, Mr Tony Tse, Mr Alvin Yeung, Dr Elizabeth Quat, Mr Hui Chi-fung and Mr Charles Peter Mok will move separate amendments to Ir Dr Lo Wai-kwok’s motion.
 
     On Government Bills, the Ferry Services (Amendment) Bill 2018 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading.  The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
 
     The Second Reading debate on the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2018 and the United Nations Sanctions (Amendment) Bill 2018 will resume. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Reading, they will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council.  After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bills and their reports are adopted by the Council, the Bills will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     On Government motions, the Chief Secretary for Administration will move two proposed resolutions under the District Court Ordinance and the Small Claims Tribunal Ordinance respectively to amend the District Court Ordinance and the Small Claims Tribunal Ordinance as set out in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2.
 
     The Secretary for Development will move a proposed resolution under the Construction Industry Council Ordinance to amend the Construction Industry Council Ordinance as set out in Appendix 3.
 
     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare will move a proposed resolution under the Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance to amend the Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance as set out in Appendix 4.
 
     During the meeting, the Chairman of the Panel on Public Service, Mr Poon Siu-ping, will present the “Report of the Panel on Public Service 2017-2018” and address the Council.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies. 
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk).  Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex.  They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours.  Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. read more

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, attended the Third Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Mumbai, India, today (June 25).

     In the morning, Mr Lau joined the Governors’ Seminar at which participants shared their views on how governments can help create an environment conducive to mobilising finance for infrastructure.

     Mr Lau took part in the Governors’ Business Roundtable session in the afternoon. The session explored how the AIIB can better finance Asia’s infrastructure priorities.

     On the margins of the annual meeting, Mr Lau also met with the President of the AIIB, Mr Jin Liqun. He thanked Mr Jin for supporting Hong Kong’s participation in the AIIB and said he looked forward to the AIIB making good use of Hong Kong’s capital markets, asset management professionals and financial and legal experts in areas like bond issuance, project financing and arbitration services.

     Mr Lau also met with the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the AIIB, Mr Thierry de Longuemar, and the Vice Chairman of HSBC’s Global Banking, Mr Kevan Watts, respectively to exchange views on Hong Kong’s strengths in infrastructure financing and green finance.

     Tomorrow (June 26), Mr Lau will attend the opening ceremony and the inaugural plenary session of the Asian Infrastructure Forum. He will also meet with the Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the AIIB, Dr D J Pandian, before concluding his visit in the evening. Mr Lau will be back in Hong Kong in the morning of June 27.

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