Author Archives: hksar gov

     The period of visa-free entry for holders of HKSAR passport to Malaysia has been extended from up to 1 month to 90 days.      An Immigration Department spokesman sa… read more

     Following is the speech by the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, at the opening ceremony of “Madame Song: Pioneering Art and Fashion in China” today (July 27):
 
Bernard (Chairman of the M+ Board, Mr Bernard Chan), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. It is my great pleasure to join you tonight at the opening ceremony of the M+’s new special exhibition, “Madame Song: Pioneering Art and Fashion in China”.
      
     Opening to the public this Saturday, this is the first-ever museum exhibition in the world dedicated to Song Huai-Kuei, a legendary cultural icon. The exhibition illustrates Madame Song’s life from the 1950s to the early 2000s. At the time when we mark the 45th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up this year, the exhibition timely offers a lens to the audience to appreciate the diversification and internationalisation of Chinese visual culture covering art, film, music and fashion after the country’s reform and opening up. It also unveils how the Chinese artists, film and fashion creators integrate their unique cultural elements into their works and bring fine traditions of Chinese culture to the world.
      
     With such intriguing cultural offerings presented in the West Kowloon Cultural District, I am pleased to see the number of Mainland and overseas visitors to M+ has continued to increase. During the Labour Day Golden Week holiday this year, M+ recorded a remarkable visitation figure of 74 000 visitors. The museum has become one of the most popular cultural tourism destinations in the city.
      
     Hong Kong has been given a mission in the National 14th Five-Year Plan to develop into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. To expedite our efforts in fulfilling the mission, the current-term Government has established the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund to promote the staging of more international arts and cultural events in Hong Kong. The Madame Song exhibition is one of the first few projects launched with the support of the Fund, with which we aspire to develop Hong Kong into an arts and cultural metropolis and provide opportunities for the arts and cultural sector to thrive.
      
     Looking ahead, we will continue to leverage on the distinctive advantages of the West Kowloon Cultural District and make good use of Hong Kong’s rich cultural resources to tell the good stories of Hong Kong and our motherland.
      
     Last but not least, may I express thanks to Madame Song’s family, all the institutions and corporates that have given support to this special exhibition, as well as the M+ team and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. I wish the event a major success and all of you an enjoyable evening. Thank you. read more

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation and arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (July 27). He met with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and had exchanges with leaders of local commercial and industrial sectors.
      
     In the morning, Mr Lee met with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Noting that Malaysia is Hong Kong’s ninth-largest trading partner and the third-largest among member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Mr Lee said that the bilateral trade in goods between the two places last year recorded a year-on-year increase of seven per cent, reaching US$28.1 billion. He added that the HKSAR Government will further strengthen co-operation and exchanges with Malaysia in such areas as commerce and trade, investment, innovation and technology, as well as culture and tourism. He also expressed his gratitude to Malaysia for supporting Hong Kong’s accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
      
     Mr Lee expressed to the Prime Minister that he welcomed and thanked the Malaysia Government’s extension of the visa-free entry period for HKSAR passport holders to Malaysia from up to one month to 90 days. He said that such an arrangement provides greater entry facilitation for HKSAR passport holders to Malaysia and will further enhance the connections and mutual benefits between the two places.
      
     Mr Lee then attended a luncheon hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Malaysia, Mr Ouyang Yujing. Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Ouyang and the Embassy for the thoughtful arrangements for this visit and the support to the HKSAR Government’s efforts to strive for early accession to the RCEP.
      
     In the evening, the delegation led by Mr Lee attended a dinner banquet with members of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia. Addressing the dinner, Mr Lee said that there is immense potential for strengthening co-operation between Hong Kong and Malaysia in the areas of trade, investment and beyond. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta will continue to work closely with the Chamber and the local business community to enhance bilateral relationships.
      
     Mr Lee will continue his visit programme in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow (July 28). He will visit local enterprises and attend a business luncheon jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to exchange views with local business leaders.

        

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 27) that a fresh beef sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is not permitted to be used in fresh meat. The CFS is following up on the case.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS took the fresh beef sample from an online shop for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 1 700 parts per million. The CFS is following up with the online shop concerned about the irregularity.”

     According to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD), it is an offence to add sulphur dioxide to fresh or chilled meat. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment.

     Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption.

     The spokesman reminded the food trade to comply with the law and not to sell fresh or chilled meat adulterated with sulphur dioxide. Members of the public should purchase meat from reliable market stalls or fresh provision shops. They should avoid buying or consuming meat which is unnaturally red and maintain a balanced diet to avoid malnutrition or excessive exposure to chemicals from a small range of food items.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. read more

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) conducted a joint operation with the Police on July 19. Twenty-nine specimens of endangered turtles, seven suspected turtle eggs and some tools suspected for hunting purposes were seized on some premises in Tai Po and a male suspect was arrested.

     A spokesman for the AFCD said, “The Police received a complaint last October regarding suspected illegal hunting of wild turtles. After investigation and intelligence collection, the Police and the AFCD mounted a joint operation. Twenty-nine specimens, including 14 big-headed turtles (Platysternon megacephalum), which are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I; two yellow-margined box turtles (Cuora flavomarginata), four Southeast Asian box turtles (Cuora amboinensis), two Giant Asian pond turtles (Heosemys grandis) and four wattle-necked softshell turtles (Palea steindachneri), which are listed in CITES Appendix II; and three Reeve’s turtles (Mauremys reevesii), which are listed in CITES Appendix III, were found on the premises of a male suspect in Tai Po. All the turtles are listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586). Furthermore, seven suspected turtle eggs and some tools suspected for hunting purposes were also seized. The investigation is still under way.” 

     The spokesman went on that there are wild populations of big-headed turtles and Reeve’s turtles in Hong Kong. All local wild chelonians are protected by the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170). Since the suspect has indicated in a group chat of a messaging application that turtles were available for sale but did not reveal the sources of the turtles, the AFCD is also investigating along the direction of whether illegal hunting and possession of protected wild animals stipulated under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170) is involved.

     The spokesman added, “Illegal possession of endangered species is a serious offence. Any person contravening the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction. The specimens will also be forfeited. In addition, the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170) also stipulates that unless otherwise permitted, no one shall hunt, wilfully disturb, buy, sell, export, offer for sale or export, possess or control protected wild animals (including all wild chelonians). Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year upon conviction.”

     The spokesman said that the Government is committed to combatting illegal hunting of and trading in wild animals to protect local wild species and endangered species. The AFCD will continue to remain vigilant and monitor various platforms and social media, and proactively take action to deter illegal trade in wild fauna and flora species.

     The AFCD appeals to members of the public to call 2150 6978 or email espint@afcd.gov.hk to report any suspected illegal trading of endangered species.