Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending a radio programme today (June 16):
     
Reporter: If your ultimate goal is to build a smoke-free Hong Kong, so why don’t you start with banning e-cigarettes? What is the consideration of not completely banning e-cigarettes for the first step?

Secretary for Food and Health: Regarding e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn cigarettes, the Government thinks that they are harmful. Therefore, we have to strengthen our existing regulation on these products. In terms of regulation, we have already proposed a number of strengthening measures, in addition to the existing measures. There is a range of regulatory measures that we can do. Of course, banning is also one of the measures in terms of regulation. Our pragmatic approach is to quickly strengthen our existing measures. For example, people who are under 18 would not be able to get these products and advertisements on these products will not be allowed. This is our first step. We will continue to monitor the situation, including international regulations, the recommendations from the World Health Organization, any new or existing research, and also our local smoking prevalence and the use of these products. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and work very closely with medical and health professionals to see if we should come up with an even more stringent regulation. 

Reporter: How many years do you think that Hong Kong would be completely smoke-free?

Secretary for Food and Health: It is very difficult to project the number of years to achieve a smoke-free Hong Kong. This is towards the endgame of building a smoke-free Hong Kong. It is definitely our long term goal. We will continue to protect the health of our citizens and to safeguard them against all these different harmful products. We will come up with a plan of different measures of tobacco control so that our citizens will be protected. We will eventually arrive at decreasing smoking prevalence, and ultimately a smoke-free Hong Kong.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a restaurant in Sham Shui Po to suspend business for 10 days as the operator repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by storing open food improperly on the premises.

     The restaurant, located at G/F, 242 Castle Peak Road, Sham Shui Po, was ordered to suspend business from today (June 16) to June 25.

     “In June and September last year, two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the restaurant. A total fine of $1,900 was levied by the court and 15 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department’s demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 10-day business suspension,” a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.

     The licensee of the restaurant had a record of two convictions for the same offence in June last year. A total fine of $1,600 was levied and 15 demerit points were registered. The breaches led to business suspension for seven days in September last year.

     The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.

     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit a sign, at a conspicuous place near the main entrance, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD’s website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/index.html). read more

     The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a restaurant in Sham Shui Po to suspend business for 10 days as the operator repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by storing open food improperly on the premises.

     The restaurant, located at G/F, 242 Castle Peak Road, Sham Shui Po, was ordered to suspend business from today (June 16) to June 25.

     “In June and September last year, two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the restaurant. A total fine of $1,900 was levied by the court and 15 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department’s demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 10-day business suspension,” a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.

     The licensee of the restaurant had a record of two convictions for the same offence in June last year. A total fine of $1,600 was levied and 15 demerit points were registered. The breaches led to business suspension for seven days in September last year.

     The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.

     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit a sign, at a conspicuous place near the main entrance, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD’s website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/index.html). read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 16) that due to big wa… read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 16) that due to big wa… read more