The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 16) announced that a kind of bottled plum sauce imported from Thailand has been found to contain a preservative, sulphur dioxide, that was not declared on the product's food label, in breach of the food labelling regulations. Follow-up is in progress.

    Product details are as follows:

Product name: Mekhala all natural plum sauce·dressing·dip
Place of origin: Thailand
Manufacturer: Mekhala Living (Thailand) Co Ltd
Packaging: 250 millilitres per bottle
Best-before date: May 30, 2019

    "The CFS took the above-mentioned sample from a shop in Central for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide undeclared on its food label. The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product," a CFS spokesman said.

    The spokesman pointed out that although the level of sulphur dioxide contained (121 parts per million) in the above-mentioned sample is within the legal limit, susceptible individuals who are allergic to sulphur dioxide may experience breathing difficulties, headache and nausea if they consume this kind of food.

    The spokesman urged the trade to observe the relevant laws and regulations. The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that the food ingredients of all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong should be listed out in the list of ingredients. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.

    The CFS will notify the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.
 

     A woman was fined $4,000 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (August 16) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that in June last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), the Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Wing Ping Tsuen in Yuen Long. During the inspection, the OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse on a daily basis.
      
     According to the OLA's records, the guesthouse did not possess a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The woman responsible for managing the premises was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
      
     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and will lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years' imprisonment.
           
     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-lowering ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 6pm today (August 16) will be cancelled.

     The Transport and Housing Bureau announced today (August 16) that an Expert Adviser Team for the Shatin-to-Central Link (SCL) Project was established on August 15, 2018. 

     The Team comprises three senior retired government officers. They are Dr Lau Ching-kwong (former Director of Civil Engineering), Mr Hui Siu-wai (former Director of Buildings) and Mr Wong Hok-ning (former Head of Geotechnical Engineering Office). 

     The Team will conduct an overall review of MTR Corporation Limited's (MTRCL) project management system, and recommend additional management and monitoring measures to be undertaken by MTRCL and government departments as appropriate, in taking forward the SCL Project. In particular, the Team will advise on the most pragmatic methodology for MTRCL to ascertain the structural safety and the as-built condition of the platform slabs and diaphragm walls of Hung Hom Station Extension, consider any further investigations necessary in relation to the construction of key structures in all stations of the SCL Project, and advise on any other matters relevant to the works of the SCL Project.

     In discharging the above duties, members of the Team will be representing the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Government looks forward to MTRCL rendering its full co-operation and support to the work of the Team.

     The Expert Advisers are appointed for a period of one year. They will complete a report on their findings in about nine months' time, and may produce interim report(s) as necessary. Professional staff from the relevant government departments will be deployed to provide technical support to the Team.

     The director of Niron Mobile Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay employees' wages and defaulting on the sums awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT) as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). The director pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (August 16) and was fined a total of $87,000. The director was also ordered to pay a sum of about $124,000 via the court to the three employees.

     The company failed to pay three employees wages within seven days after the termination of employment. The company also failed to pay them the awarded sum of about $124,000 in total within 14 days after the date set out by the terms of the LT award in accordance with the EO. The director concerned was convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.

     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages to employees within the time limit stipulated in the EO and the awarded sums according to the terms of the awards of the LT or Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board. The LD will not tolerate these offences and will continue to make dedicated efforts in enforcing the EO and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," a spokesman for LD said.