Author Archives: hksar gov

     In response to the Japanese Government’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
      
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on November 29 to noon today (December 2), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 358 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the “aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt” category, in the past three days (including last Saturday and Sunday). No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS’s thematic website titled “Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan” (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
 
     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 150 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO’s website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 103 160 samples of food imported from Japan (including 66 456 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 23 214 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:        This press release summarises the decisions of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 138th meeting held in November 2024.   Renewal of… read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, December 2, 2024 is 106.5 (up 0.3 against last Saturday’s index).

     â€‹The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, November 30, 2024 was 106.2 (up 0.1 against last Friday’s index). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:      The Judiciary today (December 2) announced the appointment of Mr Lee Siu-ho as a District Judge. The appointment will take effect from December 3, … read more

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

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (December 4) at 11 am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
 
     The Public Health and Municipal Services (Amendment) Bill 2024 and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2024 will also be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debates on the Bills will be adjourned.
 
     On Members’ motions, Mr Kenneth Fok will move a motion on exploring the reform of mechanisms on all fronts to strengthen the role of events capital. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Ms Chan Yuet-ming, Mr Yiu Pak-leung, Dr Hoey Simon Lee, Mr Vincent Cheng and Mr Michael Tien will move separate amendments to Mr Fok’s motion.
 
     Ms Carmen Kan will move a motion on strengthening the governance systems and further reinforcing the closely intertwined relations between the “three centres”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Dr So Cheung-wing will move an amendment to Ms Kan’s motion.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats. read more