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Author Archives: hksar gov

Test results of seasonal food surveillance project on hairy crabs all satisfactory

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 1) announced the test results of the seasonal food surveillance project on hairy crabs. All samples passed the tests.

     The tests included veterinary drug residues (such as nitrofurans and malachite green), metallic contaminants (such as cadmium and mercury), synthetic hormones, colouring matters (such as Sudan dyes) and pesticide residues, as well as dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS collected 33 hairy crab samples originating from Japan and the Mainland at the import and retail levels for chemical tests and the test results were all satisfactory. The CFS advises people to observe the ‘Five Keys to Food Safety’ in purchasing, storing, preparing and cooking hairy crabs to prevent food-borne illnesses and enjoy the seasonal food safely.”
      
     The “Five Keys to Food Safety” for consumers are:
      
Choose wisely
* Buy hairy crabs from reliable and hygienic shops with relevant permits; and
* Buy crabs with intact, shiny shells and without a foul smell.
      
Keep clean
* Brush and wash the crab shells and claws before cooking; and
* Wash hands thoroughly with running water and soap before consumption.
      
Separate raw and cooked food
* Put the raw crabs in a container with a cover and store them separately from other foods in the refrigerator to avoid cross-contamination.
      
Cook thoroughly
* Avoid eating raw crabs. Cook thoroughly and remove internal organs completely before consumption. Condiments such as salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi cannot kill bacteria or parasites that may be present.
      
Safe temperature
* Cooked crabs should be consumed as soon as possible. Leftovers should be cooled promptly and stored in the refrigerator within two hours. 
      
     Traders should have obtained relevant permits or written permission granted by the FEHD for selling hairy crabs, and the hairy crabs being sold must be accompanied with health certificates issued by the relevant authorities of the exporting economies. They should source hairy crabs from reliable suppliers and comply with the relevant regulatory requirements. Moreover, hairy crabs for sale must be kept in a refrigerator. read more

East Asia

Speech by CE at “Hong Kong Week 2018 – Greater Bay Area Showcase” in Tokyo (English only)

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at “Hong Kong Week 2018 – Greater Bay Area Showcase” in Tokyo today (November 1):
 
Ms Zeng (Director of the Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Ms Zeng Yingru), Helena (Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Ms Marie Helena de Senna Fernandes), Kikuma-san (Vice Chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents, Mr Jungo Kikuma), Peter (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Peter Lam), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon. It is with great pleasure that I join you here in Tokyo, at this important event organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

     For decades, Hong Kong and Japan have been enjoying a close relationship in various areas, and tourism is certainly no exception. 

     With visa-free arrangement and frequent flight connections between Hong Kong and 13 cities in Japan, Hong Kong and Japan are each other’s fourth largest source market of tourists. 

     I am confident that the number of visitors will continue to grow, for 2019 has been designated as Hong Kong-Japan Tourism Year with a series of promotion activities to be launched.

     There are now new reasons to visit Hong Kong, or stay a bit longer in Hong Kong. With the opening of the 26-kilometre Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high speed train in September and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge last week, you will find making short day trips to the neighbouring cities so much more convenient. 

     With travelling time significantly shortened, visitors will be able to sample the charm of Macao’s heritage and her world-class resorts and entertainment facilities, as well as the cultural and entertainment attractions, scenic historical spots, and tasty Cantonese cuisine offered by the Greater Bay Area Mainland cities.

     For those who love art and culture, the West Kowloon Cultural District, one of the world’s largest cultural quarters in the making, is something not to be missed. By end of this year, the Xiqu Centre, the Cultural District’s dedicated Chinese opera house, will open. This will be followed by two world-class museums, namely the M+ museum for contemporary arts and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which will feature the artefacts of Chinese art and culture from the imperial collection of the Beijing Palace Museum.

     For today’s Greater Bay Area Showcase, I would like to thank our friends from the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Administration and the Macao Government Tourism Office for joining us in showcasing the many attractions of the Greater Bay Area.

     For our Japanese friends, please come to visit these three diverse and yet captivating destinations to enjoy a vacation that is three times as thrilling, three times as enticing, and three times as memorable!

     I look forward to welcoming you all in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Thank you very much. read more

East Asia