The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has long been committed to combating the sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat. The FEHD today (November 5) conducted a raid on a licensed fresh provision shop (FPS) in Yuen Long District, suspecting it of such malpractices.

     During the raid at Tin Shing Market in Tin Shui Wai, FEHD officers marked and sealed about 121 kilograms of suspected frozen beef and about 167kg of prepackaged frozen beef for further investigation. A beef sample was also collected for detection of preservatives. Prosecution will follow if sufficient evidence is found. The licensee of the FPS is suspected of breaching the licensing condition for the display and sale of frozen meat as fresh meat, and the FEHD is proceeding with the cancellation of the FPS's licence.
      
     Moreover, FEHD officers issued a verbal warning to the FPS operator for failing to provide delivery notes for inspection, which is a licensing condition.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The selling of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat breaches the licensing conditions and poses food safety risks. Such operations are unfair to other compliant businesses."

     The spokesman added, "Anyone selling chilled or frozen meat without permission commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment if convicted. The FEHD will continue regular inspections at licensed FPSs and market meat stalls, and handle complaints actively. In detecting any irregularities, the department will carry out investigations promptly and take appropriate enforcement action. In addition, the FEHD also proactively investigates suspected violations from time to time, and conducts surprise inspections and enforcement actions as necessary. Prosecutions will be initiated and follow-up actions will be taken against breaches of licensing conditions or tenancy agreements if sufficient evidence is found. The licences of those FPSs breaching the licensing conditions may be cancelled, while the tenancies of market meat stalls breaching tenancy agreements may be terminated."
      
     The spokesman emphasised the FEHD's deep concern and strong commitment to combating the sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat through stringent enforcement actions.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene visited a modern mariculture demonstration farm established by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) at the Tung Lung Chau fish culture zone today (November 5) to gain a deeper understanding on the latest development of the local mariculture industry.
 
     Accompanied by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, Members received a briefing on the vessel by representatives of the AFCD on the steel truss cage farm design adopted at the demonstration farm. Members learnt that the design can withstand strong wind, waves and ocean currents, allowing the demonstration farm to operate in the open sea with better water exchange at a larger scale.
 
     Upon arrival, Members observed the actual operation of the demonstration farm. They noted that the demonstration farm is equipped with modernised technologies, such as real-time surveillance and water quality monitoring systems, an automated feeding system, a solar and wind power generation system, enabling it to increase production capacity. During the visit, Members also exchanged views with government officials on enhancing the effectiveness of marine fish culture and promoting the sustainable development of the mariculture industry. Members noted that the AFCD will collaborate with the Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium to launch an 18-month commercially operating aquaculture trial project to conduct trials with new aquaculture technologies and provide training for local fishermen at the demonstration farm.
 
     A total of 11 members and non-members of the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene participated in the visit.

      

     Police today (November 5) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Kwun Tong.

     Hui Yuen-ching, aged 21, went missing after she left her residence in Yau Lai Estate on October 28. Her family made a report to Police yesterday (November 4).
         
     She is 1.63 metres tall, 42 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a pointed face with yellow complexion and long straight black hair. She was last seen wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt, black trousers, white sandals and carrying a white handbag.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0331 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The World Health Organization (WHO) commenced a three-day meeting in Hong Kong, China today (November 5) to discuss the development of an International Herbal Pharmacopoeia (IHP).
      
     The establishment of the IHP represents a pivotal step for the WHO in addressing the challenges of regulation, standardisation, and quality assurance of herbal products. This not only provides a globally recognised reference to ensure the quality and safety of herbal medicines but also promotes the rational use of herbal medicines in clinical practice. As the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine, the Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office (CMRO) of the Department of Health (DH) has been requested by the WHO to provide technical inputs for the development of safety and quality standards for herbal medicine.
      
     The WHO meeting on the development of an IHP is being held in Hong Kong, China, starting from today until November 7, with support from the DH. The meeting aims to discuss the roadmap for developing the IHP and other related issues in IHP development, such as the draft outline, scope and framework of the IHP, as well as the working mechanism for its development.
      
     The Director of the Department of Integrated Health Services of the WHO, Dr Rudi Eggers, delivered video opening remarks. "Thank you very much to Hong Kong for your ongoing support; with that we have been able to organise this long-awaited interaction."
      
     Regarding the contribution of Hong Kong to the development of traditional medicine, the Head of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Unit of the WHO, Dr Kim Sungchol, said, "The Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) of Hong Kong is a well-established laboratory, which has been dedicated to setting high standards for the safety and quality of Chinese medicines. With its specialised herbarium focused on Lingnan herbal medicine, the GCMTI serves as a vital resource for comparative studies, demonstrating the synergy between traditional knowledge and modern scientific practices."
      
     Addressing the opening session, the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, said, "Herbal medicines have played a critical role in healthcare for centuries. Across the globe, herbal medicines have been integral to healthcare systems and have assumed a significant role in promoting health and well-being for millions of people."
      
     Dr Lam also updated participants on Hong Kong's progress in developing safety and quality control for Chinese medicines. He said, "The Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HKCMMS) project launched in 2002 has formulated safety and quality standards for local commonly used Chinese herbal medicines. As of now, standards for a total of 330 Chinese Materia Medica have been established under the HKCMMS project, and more are in the pipeline. The scientific research results of the HKCMMS project has been repeatedly cited by overseas reputable authorities and in international journal articles on research related to Chinese medicines."
      
     The DH has been contributing to global public health by supporting the WHO in combating different public health challenges. The CMRO of the DH has been designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine since 2012. The DH will continue to maintain close contact with member states and areas of the WHO on various issues to safeguard public health.
      
     Participants in the meeting include renowned international experts from the WHO and its six regions, namely, Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. An expert from Hong Kong, China was elected as one of the rapporteurs for the meeting.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd. relating to a fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.