The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) today (May 31) published its Annual Report for 2017. The Report reviews the business performance, corporate governance, and initiatives on corporate social responsibility of the HKMC in 2017.
 
     The Report is now available on the HKMC website (www.hkmc.com.hk).
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, May 31, 2018 is 99.7 (down 0.4 against yesterday's index).

     â€‹Four renovation and construction workers and contractors, who illegally deposited a large amount of construction waste and bamboo poles on the roadside of Minden Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui last November, were fined a total of $20,000 at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (May 31) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received a public report last November that some waste had been illegally deposited on the roadside of Minden Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui. The total volume of the waste was about five cubic meters, causing obstruction to the pavement. The member of the public also provided a video recording he captured during the incident to assist the EPD's investigation. With the licence plate information captured and the reported information, the EPD were able to trace the four persons involved. After evidence gathering, they were prosecuted in accordance with the WDO.

     It is unethical and unlawful to dispose of construction waste in public places or on the roadside. An EPD spokesman reminded those involved in building renovation, construction works and transportation sector that they should dispose of construction waste properly in accordance with the law. Reusable materials or waste with a recycling value should be collected by recyclers, while non-recyclable waste should be delivered to appropriate waste management facilities, such as public fill banks or landfills, for proper treatment or disposal. Under the WDO, it is an offence for anyone to dispose of waste in public places. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment. 

     The spokesman urged members of the public to report to the department if they witness any vehicle illegally dispose of waste. They can report the case by providing videos or photos or call the EPD departmental hotline at 2838 3111 to help combat illegal dumping.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 11 000 food samples tested were satisfactory except for four samples. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
 
     A CFS spokesman said about 900 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, some 2 400 samples were taken for chemical tests and the remaining 7 700 (including about 7 200 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 2 900 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; 600 samples of meat and poultry and their products; 1 700 samples of aquatic and related products; 600 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; 700 samples of cereals, grains and their products; and 4 500 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
 
     The four unsatisfactory samples comprised two vegetable samples detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limits and two popsicle samples found to contain total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limit.
 
     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 April 30 this year, the CFS has taken over 141 800 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.
 
     The spokesman also 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.

     A Basic Law roving exhibition organised by the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will be held this Saturday and Sunday (June 2 and 3) in West Kowloon.

     In addition to an exhibition introducing the content and implementation of the Basic Law, members of the public may also gain a better understanding of the Basic Law by participating in computer and stall games.

     The roving exhibition will be held at the Central Atrium, G/F, Olympian City 2, 18 Hoi Ting Road, West Kowloon, from 11am to 7pm. Admission is free.