The Government today (June 8) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Yemen) Regulation 2015 (Amendment) Regulation 2018 (the Amendment Regulation), which came into operation today.
 
     "The Amendment Regulation implements sanctions against Yemen as renewed by the United Nations Security Council under Resolution 2402," a Government spokesman said.
 
     The sanctions imposed under the Amendment Regulation include:
 

• prohibition against making available to certain persons or entities any funds or other financial assets or economic resources, or dealing with funds or other financial assets or economic resources of certain persons or entities; and
• prohibition against entry into or transit through the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by certain persons.

     The Government published in the Gazette today (June 8) the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 to stipulate the updated standards for metallic contamination in food.
      
     A Government spokesman said, "The amendments are to enhance the protection of public health, facilitate effective regulation and align Hong Kong's standards with the international ones.
      
     "The standards as set out in the Amendment Regulation were made after making reference to factors including the latest standards on metallic contamination of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, relevant standards of other economies, local food consumption patterns and dietary practices and the results of risk assessment."
      
     The Amendment Regulation will increase the total number of metallic contaminants from the existing seven to 14. The number of maximum levels (MLs) for metallic contaminants in respect of different foods and food groups will be increased from the existing 19 to 144. The Amendment Regulation also provides definitions for individual foods and food groups, replaces or deletes obsolete clauses, and provides the principles for the application of MLs on food in a dried, dehydrated or concentrated form and on compounded food.  There are transitional provisions in the Amendment Regulation to provide different grace periods for different kinds of food.
      
     "Given that the proposed MLs are generally in line with Codex's standards and the principles for establishing MLs for contaminants in food, the amendments are not likely to affect the supply of food in Hong Kong in general. Furthermore, results from the routine food surveillance programme and additional baseline studies conducted by the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene indicate that the levels of metallic contamination in food available in the local market can generally comply with the proposed MLs," the spokesman said.
      
     The Amendment Regulation will be tabled before the Legislative Council on June 13, 2018, for negative vetting.

     The Government today (June 8) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Central African Republic) Regulation 2018 (the 2018 Regulation), which came into operation today.
 
     "The 2018 Regulation implements sanctions against the Central African Republic as renewed by the United Nations Security Council under Resolution 2399," a Government spokesman said.
 
     The sanctions imposed under the 2018 Regulation include:
 

• prohibition against the supply, sale, transfer or carriage of arms or related materiel to the Central African Republic or persons connected with the Central African Republic;
• prohibition against the provision of assistance or training related to military activities or to the provision, maintenance or use of any arms or related materiel to persons connected with the Central African Republic;
• prohibition against making available to certain persons or entities any funds or other financial assets or economic resources, or dealing with funds or other financial assets or economic resources of certain persons or entities; and
• prohibition against entry into or transit through the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by certain persons.

     Global travel tech start-up Hey Travelista announced today (June 8) that it has opened its Hong Kong office as the global headquarters to launch its new online travel platform for affluent travellers in Asia.
     
     Hey Travelista offers its registered members exclusive high-end and unique hotel packages, with additional value-added inclusions, through its new travel platform. It works directly with top hotels and partners so that it can offer competitive rates and inclusions to its members, according to its co-founder Mr Tony Low.
     
     He added that there is a niche in the travel industry for the increasingly wealthy, free and independent Asian travellers whose needs are not yet entirely met by traditional or online travel agents. The company eyes Hong Kong as its base to seize the huge opportunities.
     
     He said, "Hong Kong has a huge tourism market. As Hong Kongers are among the most frequent travellers in the world, we definitely want to be part of this market. In addition, the city is next to the Mainland and its growing number of middle class travellers. It is a perfect place for a travel tech company to launch."
     
     He added, "As an international city, Hong Kong attracts the best and brightest from all around the world. We want to leverage on its international status to develop our business here as well as promote our platform globally through the city."
     
     Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Dr Jimmy Chiang said, "Hong Kong's fast-paced lifestyle gives rise to a genuine demand for luxury travel. With its sophisticated high-tech infrastructure and tech-savvy professionals, the city is the ideal place for Hey Travelista to start its business in the region."
     
About Hey Travelista
     
     Founded by three globally experienced senior executives within the travel, hospitality and digital tech space, Hey Travelista is an online travel platform which offers its registered members access to high-end and unique hotel or resort packages, with value-added inclusions. For more information, please visit www.heytravelista.com.
     
About Invest Hong Kong
 
     Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government tasked to attract foreign direct investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies enrolled as its clients. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

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Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 8) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Repulse Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island and Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.