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 (November 21) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 20) urged the public not to consume a kind of prepackaged carrots imported from the United States (US) due to possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O121. The trade should stop using or selling the affected product immediately if they possess any of it.
Product details are as follows:
Product name: Organic Whole Carrots
Manufacturer: Grimmway Farms
Brand: Bunny Luv
Place of origin: US
Net weight: Two pounds per pack
Importer: PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited
Available for sale: Since August 23, 2024 from PARKnSHOP, Taste, Fusion and Great supermarkets
A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS noted a notification from the Food and Drug Administration of the US that the above-mentioned product is being recalled in the US due to possible contamination with STEC O121. The CFS immediately contacted local importers for follow-up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected product concerned."
As a precautionary measure, the importer concerned has stopped selling and removed from shelves the affected product upon the CFS's instructions and has initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the importer concerned at 2606 8658 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.
Some strains of E. coli, e.g. E. coli O121, can cause diseases through the production of a toxin called Shiga toxin. These strains are called STEC. STEC infection is transmitted by faecal-oral route through contaminated food and water, or direct contact with STEC carrying animals. Moreover, due to poor personal hygiene, person-to-person transmission of this pathogen is possible through oral-faecal route. Symptoms of STEC infection include abdominal pain and watery diarrhoea that may in some cases progress to bloody diarrhoea. Fever and vomiting may also occur. Intestinal bleeding and serious complications such as hemolytic uraemic syndrome may also develop in some people. E. coli, including STEC, cannot survive under high temperature and can be killed by thorough cooking.
The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected product immediately if they possess it.
The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.
Regarding the untruthful smearing and unscrupulous attacks made by some government authorities and officials of Western countries (including the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union, Australia, Canada and more), anti-China organisations, anti-China politicians and foreign media on the sentences handed down by the court yesterday (November 19) to 45 convicted individuals in a case of conspiracy to commit subversion in accordance with law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (November 20) strongly condemned and opposed such acts.
A spokesman for the Government said that, "Following as many as 118 days of open hearings and thorough considerations of the relevant legal principles, a massive amount of evidence and submissions from the prosecution and the defence, the Court of First Instance of the High Court had earlier delivered the reasons for verdict which comprises over 300 pages, as well as two annexes totalling over 400 pages which summarised the evidence of the prosecution and defence witnesses, detailing the courts' analysis of the law and evidence as well as the reasons rendering the verdict of conviction. Similarly, the court has also clearly listed out its reasons and considerations in sentencing in its 82-page reasons for sentence. All relevant information is open and can be downloaded from the webpage of the Judiciary.
"Any reasonable and fair person, upon reviewing the court's judgment, would be convinced of the severity of the crime and the guilt of the convicted individuals, supported by irrefutable evidence. Despite these ironclad facts, Western countries, anti-China organisations and politicians, and foreign media continue to distort the truth and maliciously attack. The HKSAR Government must again firmly refute these claims to set the record straight."
The spokesman pointed out, "Evidence adduced in the court revealed that the persons concerned conspired to indiscriminately vote down the Government's budget and public expenditure proposals after securing a majority in the Legislative Council (LegCo) through the so-called 'primary election', such that the Chief Executive would be required to dissolve the LegCo in accordance with Article 50 of the Basic Law; and after re-electing the LegCo, vote down the Budget again, forcing the Chief Executive to resign, thus paralysing the Government. At the same time, they sought to bring Hong Kong society to a standstill through large-scale street riots and other means. Coupled with international political and economic sanctions, causing endless harm and suffering to Hong Kong society and members of the public.
"The objective of the whole scheme was to exert a severe impact on society, the economy and people's livelihood and create a constitutional crisis in the HKSAR. The court stated in its reasons for sentencing that had the so-called 'Project 35+' been carried out to the very end, the adverse consequences would be far reaching and no less serious than overthrowing the Government of the HKSAR. Such an attempt to subvert the state power is indeed a serious act endangering national security and has nothing to do with freedom and democracy.
"The proposed imposition of the so-called 'visa restrictions' on HKSAR officials by the US Government smack of despicable political manipulation to intimidate People's Republic of China and HKSAR officials who resolutely safeguard national security. These grossly interfere in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong's affairs, and violate the international law and the basic norms governing international relations. The HKSAR despises such threats and will not be intimidated by such despicable behaviour. The HKSAR will continue to resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security.
"In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, safeguarding national security is an inherent right of all sovereign states. Many common law jurisdictions, including the US, the UK and Canada, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation to safeguard national security. Turning a blind eye to the facts and making exaggerated remarks, the US and some Western countries, anti-China organisations, anti-China politicians, foreign media, and more, have demonstrated typical despicable political manipulation and hypocrisy with double standards. The HKSAR Government strongly urges them to stop interfering in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs, and stop any untruthful reporting on and malicious smearing of the relevant judgment," the spokesman reiterated.
With an aim to further enhance the corporate governance and operational transparency of national sports associations (NSAs), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has engaged the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) to conduct a comprehensive review on the corporate governance and operations of the NSAs, and formulate a set of code of governance for compliance by all the NSAs. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) has received the review report and the Code of Governance submitted by the SF&OC, and agreed with the recommendations and directions as set out therein.
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, attended a briefing held by the SF&OC today (November 20) for the NSAs on the review report and the Code of Governance. Mr Yeung said, "The sports sector should have a stable, clear and credible governance system. This review sets an important direction in areas on which the NSAs should further improve; the SF&OC has also formulated a detailed and systematic Code of Governance."
The review report and the Code of Governance provide useful recommendations to the NSAs on various aspects of good governance, including the composition and turnover of the governing team, procedures and records on important decisions, review and handling of conflicts of interest, transparency of system, integrity management, selection of athletes, management of coaches and umpires, and administration of membership.
The review report and the Code of Governance by the SF&OC has responded to the call by the Government and met public expectations. Mr Yeung hopes that the NSAs will collaborate and have useful exchanges with the SF&OC in taking forward the recommended measures in the coming two years. With the concerted efforts in implementing the related measures to enhance the corporate governance and operational efficiency of the NSAs, a fair and professional environment is ensured for Hong Kong athletes to realise their potential. The sports sector of Hong Kong can continue its sustainable development under a solid foundation.
Mr Yeung thanked the SF&OC, as well as the three members of the independent steering committee, namely Mr Ma Ching-nam, Dr York Chow and Mr Tang King-shing, for their endeavours and constructive guidance throughout the review process which has greatly enabled the SF&OC in accomplishing this important task.
The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
The Research Grants Council (RGC) today (November 20) held a Workshop on the Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local Self-financing (SF) Degree Sector at the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, covering the RGC Faculty Development Scheme (FDS), the Inter-Institutional Development Scheme (IIDS), the Institutional Development Scheme (IDS) Collaborative Research Grant, and the IDS Research Infrastructure Grant. The event attracted close to 200 academics from 10 institutions in the SF education institution sector.
Organised mainly for teaching and research staff from the SF education institution sector, the Workshop invited faculty members who had successfully obtained research grants to share their stories. The achievements of completed FDS projects were also featured at a poster session organised for the first time in parallel with the Workshop. The Chairman of the Assessment Panel of the Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local SF Degree Sector, Professor Julie Li, together with members of the Panel, also shared their observations on proposals in the latest round of exercise.
The Chairman of the RGC, Professor Timothy W. Tong, said, "Being an important part of the Hong Kong academic research community, the SF education institution sector has been making noticeable contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the past decade. I am pleased to see that many of the funded projects have brought about remarkable research outputs and achievements, in particular in benefitting the progress and development of Hong Kong society.
"The IDS Research Infrastructure Grant has catalysed capacity building within the SF education institutions by supporting various research infrastructure and facilities, such as research centres on healthcare, green business as well as children and youth. This year, for example, the RGC has supported a proposal for an education institution to set up a Caregiving Research and Development Centre, which was timely and relevant to Hong Kong's current social development. In addition, the IDS Collaborative Research Grant has encouraged and supported SF education institutions to conduct high-quality cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional collaborative research projects. Funded projects this year included research on the monitoring of construction tower cranes by artificial intelligence and detection of antibiotics in wastewater, which had high novelty and societal relevance.
"Looking forward, the RGC will continue working alongside institutions and colleagues of the SF degree sector to promote excellence in Hong Kong's research culture and vibrancy of our research ecosystem."
The Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local SF Degree Sector aim at developing the research capability of institutions and faculty members in the sector. Since the launch of the research funding schemes in 2013, the RGC has funded more than 800 projects with a total amount of more than $830 million.
Details of the funding schemes are available on the RGC website:
FDS:
www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/fds/index.html;
IDS Collaborative Research Grant:
ww.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/ids_crg/index.html;
IDS Research Infrastructure Grant:
ww.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/ids_rig/index.html; and
IIDS:
www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/iids/index.html
