The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 15) announced that a sample of bottled honey was detected to contain an antibiotic. The CFS is following up on the case.
 
Details of the product are as follows:
 
Product name: Natural Bee Honey
Brand: Hero
Place of origin: Egypt
Importer: Sims Trading Company Ltd
Packing: 12.7 ounces/360 grams per bottle
Best-before date: September 18, 2020
 
     "Following up on a case referred by a relevant organisation, the CFS collected the above sample from a supermarket in Hung Hom for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained an antibiotic, metronidazole, at a level of 75 parts per billion. The CFS has notified the vendor concerned of the test result and instructed it to stop selling the affected product. The Centre is tracing the source and distribution of the food in question," a CFS spokesman said.
 
     "According to Codex Alimentarius Commission, food should not contain residues of metronidazole because it may constitute a hazard to the health of the consumers," he added.
 
     According to section 52 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, any person sells to the prejudice of a purchaser any food which is not of the nature, substance or quality of the food demanded by the purchaser shall be guilty of an offence, which is liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months upon conviction.
 
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard public health. Investigation is on-going.

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Research Bureau of the People's Bank of China (PBoC) jointly hosted a seminar on "Mainland and Hong Kong Green Finance Opportunities" in Hong Kong today (15 June), to discuss the developments and opportunities in the Mainland and Hong Kong green finance markets.
 
     The seminar covered the green finance policy and market developments in the Mainland and Hong Kong; as well as how Hong Kong can support the national strategies of the Central People’s Government and capture the related green finance opportunities.  The seminar was attended by more than 500 participants including policymakers and market participants from all over the world.  Speakers at the seminar included senior representatives from the PBoC, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the Green Finance Committee of the China Society for Finance and Banking, the HKMA, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, and leading financial institutions and green bond issuers.
 
     The Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, "Hong Kong has always been the gateway between Mainland China and the world, and is uniquely positioned to connect these two markets in green finance.  Hong Kong has an increasingly vibrant green bond market, with over US dollar 5 billion issuance so far this year, by corporates, financial institutions and multilateral development banks.  The HKMA will continue to promote green bond issuance and enhance cooperation with the Mainland."
 
     The Director-General of the Research Bureau of the PBoC, Mr Xu Zhong, said, "Mainland China is a leader in global green finance. Meanwhile, leveraging its advantage as an international financial centre, Hong Kong has also made major progress in this area. The Mainland and Hong Kong should further enhance exchanges and cooperation, and contribute to the international consensus on green finance."

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for North District Hospital (NDH) today (June 15) announced the review report and recommendations on an incident concerning a missing autopsy specimen.
 
     An expert review panel was set up following the announcement by NDH in April this year on an incident concerning a missing autopsy specimen.  The panel was tasked to review the root cause of the incident and also make improvement recommendations. The review report was completed and submitted to the Hospital Authority Head Office. Regarding the case of the missing autopsy specimen, it was reported to the Police and the investigation is still ongoing.
 
     A number of improvements have been recommended by the panel to enhance the management and security of autopsy specimen storage and handling in public hospitals. The HA has accepted the report and its recommendations and will consider the necessary actions.
 
     NDH is very concerned about the incident and will follow up to put in place the recommendations to prevent recurrence of similar incidents. The hospital has already implemented the following enhanced measures after the incident:
 
1. Lock all storage rooms for autopsy specimens and specific documents all the time and restrict access to designated persons only;
2. Implement security control strictly and enhance regular patrol of the mortuary;
3. Enhance traceability and handling procedures for specimens; and
4. Install an access control system and additional CCTV to monitor the situation in the mortuary.
   
     The hospital has communicated with the family of the deceased patient on the review recommendations and again extended its apologies.  Appreciation was also expressed to the Chairman and members of the expert review panel for their contributions and recommendations.  Membership of the panel is as follows:
 
Chairman:
Dr Gavin Chan
Consultant, Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital
 
Members:
Mr Steve Chan
Cluster General Manager (Administration Services), New Territories West Cluster
 
Mr Wong Wing-ming
Department Manager, Department of Pathology, Tseung Kwan O Hospital
 
Dr Flora Tsang
Senior Manager (Patient Safety & Risk Management), HA Head Office

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the Donor Appreciation Cocktail Reception of the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation today (June 15):
 
Ms Chen (Foundation Chair of the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, Ms Judy Chen), Mr Kung (Chairman of Ocean Park, Mr Leo Kung), Ms Gendron (Foundation Director of the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, Ms Suzanne Gendron), Dr Fong (Associate Professor of Lingnan University, Mr Jonathan Fong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. It is my honour to join you again this year at the Donor Appreciation Cocktail Reception of the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation. When I was approached to lend my support to host this meaningful fund-raising event at Victoria House, I did not hesitate for a moment as wildlife conservation is always a subject dear to my heart.
      
     Ocean Park Conservation Foundation has been a committed and valued partner of us when it comes to conservation of Asian wildlife. As revealed from this year's theme "giant panda conservation", it further underlines the Foundation's commitment and dedication in promoting the biodiversity in the region with an emphasis on giant pandas. The reason is obvious – not only are they iconic endangered species, but also "umbrella species", meaning protecting the species would indirectly protect the many other species that make up the ecological chain of its habitat.
      
     To this end, the Foundation has supported numerous projects on giant panda over the years. The flagship project being the two-year Jockey Club Giant Panda Junior Volunteer Programme jointly organised by the Ocean Park and the Foundation launched in 2016. A custom-designed initiative for secondary school students, the programme encourages participants to nurture a love for nature through first-hand experiences, develop a sense of responsibility to protect wildlife and the natural environment and take concrete actions through volunteer work.
      
     The highlight of this two-year programme was a five-day trip to Wolong National Nature Reserve attended by some 60 secondary students aged between 12 to 16 during May to July last year. Upon return to Hong Kong, the students were trained to become "conservation ambassadors" to share their experiences with people in Hong Kong. So far, they have reached out to over 72 000 local and foreign visitors visiting Ocean Park, Hong Kong Wetland Park and country parks to promote wildlife conservation awareness, contributing over 3 000 voluntary hours in the past two years. During my visit to Sichuan last month, I was thrilled by the compliments from my counterparts there on the remarkable contribution made by the concerted efforts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong community including the Ocean Park to the reconstruction of the national nature reserve and restoration of infrastructure in Sichuan.
      
     The Foundation is also a devoted partner of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in the promotion of marine animal conservation. This cross-sector partnership has successfully established an effective response programme to attend to every stranding case in Hong Kong swiftly and conduct follow-up investigation timely and professionally. Since its establishment in 2006, the programme has handled over 380 stranding cases from which samples collected have provided us valuable basis for the development of science-based conservation plans for these species and their habitats.
      
     Looking ahead, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to join hands with the international community in preserving our environment. To control ivory trade for protection of elephants, we have brought into operation the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants (Amendment) Ordinance since May this year. Accordingly, a three-step plan is being taken forward to ban the commercial possession of all ivory (except antique ivory) in Hong Kong by end-December 2021.
      
     On this encouraging note, I would like to thank the Foundation again for their sterling support for advocating, facilitating and participating in effective conservation of Asian wildlife. Much of the success in this respect relies heavily on the generosity of donors including many of you over the years. I appeal for your continuous support for preserving the precious wildlife habitats. Together, we can build a more liveable and harmonious environment for our next generation to share with other species on earth. Thank you!

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) and its Committees will hold 15 open meetings during the week from June 18 to 22 in the LegCo Complex. Details of the meetings are available in the meeting schedule attached.
 
     The information in the meeting schedule is subject to change. Please refer to the "LegCo Calendar" on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk) for the latest details of meetings.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to observe open meetings of LegCo and its Committees. Interested individuals and groups are advised to make advance booking of seats by calling the LegCo Secretariat at 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also listen to or watch all open meetings via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.