The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 is 105.2 (up 0.4 against yesterday's index).

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on August 6 to noon today (August 7), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 364 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 74 361 samples of food imported from Japan (including 47 815 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 17 346 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     â€‹The services provided by Mobile Library 5 have resumed after completion of urgent repairs to the mobile library van, a Leisure and Cultural Services Department spokesman announced today (August 7).
 
     â€‹The service points of Mobile Library 5 are Ta Kwu Ling in North District; Hin Keng Estate, Kam Ying Court, Kam Tai Court, Mei Tin Estate, Yan On Estate and Yiu On Estate in Sha Tin; Ming Tak Estate, Yee Ming Estate and Mang Kung Uk Road in Sai Kung; and Tai Wo Estate, Nai Chung, On Ho Lane, Fu Shin Estate and Fu Heng Estate in Tai Po.

     â€‹For enquiries about Mobile Library 5 services, please call 2696 5842.

     The Labour Department will hold a seminar on the Minimum Wage Ordinance on September 4 (Wednesday) at 2.45pm at the Lecture Hall, the Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Enrolment is now open.

     The main provisions of the Minimum Wage Ordinance and family-friendly employment practices will be introduced in the seminar. Employers, employees and human resources practitioners are welcome to attend.

     The seminar will be conducted in Cantonese and admission is free. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and the enrolment deadline is August 23. The enrolment form can be downloaded from the Labour Department's website (https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/MWOseminar2024.htm). For enquiries, please call 2852 3861.

     Hong Kong Customs on August 5 detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 3.3 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $1.6 million.

     A 64-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, via Helsinki, Finland, on that day. During Customs clearance, about 3.3kg of suspected ketamine were found concealed in five health supplements packaging in his check-in luggage. The man was subsequently arrested. 

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Following the increasing number of visitors to Hong Kong, Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).