The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 2) that in view of a notification from the General Veterinary Inspectorate of Poland about outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Górowski District of DolnoÅ›lÄ…skie Region, Siedlecki District of Mazowieckie Region and IÅ‚awski District of WarmiÅ„sko-Mazurskie Region in Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 3 480 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland in the first nine months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Polish authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

The following is issued on behalf of the Environmental Campaign Committee:

     To commend companies, organisations and schools for their outstanding contributions to environmental protection in 2023, the Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) Presentation Ceremony was held today (December 2) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, congratulated the winning companies, organisations and schools in a video speech at the ceremony. He commended the winners for their efforts in environmental protection and recognised their contributions to creating a greener Hong Kong. He said that he looks forward to the collaboration of different sectors with the Government to foster green development and to build a beautiful China and a beautiful Hong Kong.

     This year's ceremony was divided into morning and afternoon sessions. The officiating guests of the morning session for the business sectors included the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Chairman of the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) Committee, Dr Eric Cheng; the Chairman of the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC), Professor Simon Wong; the Awards Committee Chairman of the HKAEE, Dr Conrad Wong; and the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Miss Janice Tse. Before the ceremony, the Senior Director and Head of International Affairs and Sustainable Finance of the Securities and Futures Commission, Ms Christine Kung, shared information on sustainability reporting. The five gold award winners also shared their award winning experiences.

     The officiating guests of the afternoon session for the schools sector included the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai; Dr Cheng; Professor Wong; the Convenor of the Education Working Group under the ECC, Mr Wong Chi-keung; and the Commissioner for Climate Change of the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB), Mr Wong Chuen-fai. The Green School Information and Experience Session running in parallel with the afternoon session featured interactive information exhibitions, game booths and sharing sessions. Participants had the opportunity to learn from the green school awardees and deepen their knowledge of practising low-carbon living.

     The HKAEE commends organisations that have demonstrated outstanding environmental performances in 14 different sectors. The three judging criteria are green leadership, programme and performance, and partner synergy. The Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (HKGIA) announced on the same occasion aims to encourage local organisations to tackle environmental challenges using new ideas that will benefit the environment. The three assessment criteria are level of innovation, environmental achievements, and practicability and contribution to society. After two rounds of assessment by technical consultants, participants were assessed by the final adjudicating panels comprising the ECC and representatives from major chambers of different sectors in Hong Kong for the selection of gold, silver and bronze winners.

     The number of entries competing for the 2023 HKAEE reached a record high of 3 584, more than an eightfold increase compared with the figure for 2008 when the awards were launched. A total of 53 organisations won gold, silver or bronze awards this year, and 158 received certificates of merit. There were 78 entries in the 2023 HKGIA, a figure around five times higher than that of 2011 when the HKGIA was established. To commend company management members and employees for their dedication to enhancing the environmental performance of their companies and the community, one Most Outstanding Green Achiever, four Outstanding Green Achievers and five Green Achievers were selected. In addition, 38 organisations were honoured as Outstanding Promotional Partners. The detailed list of awardees can be accessed from the HKAEE website (www.hkaee.gov.hk).

     The HKAEE, with funding support from the ECF, is jointly organised by the ECC, the EEB, the Advisory Council on the Environment, the Business Environment Council, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Productivity Council.

            

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 2) investigating a case of suspected mad honey poisoning, and reminded the public to buy honey from a reliable source or apiary.

     A 57-year-old male developed dizziness and syncope around three hours after consuming honey on November 29. He was taken to North Lantau Hospital on November 30 and was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment. His clinical diagnosis was suspected mad honey poisoning. The patient is in stable condition after treatment.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had consumed honey brought to Hong Kong by a friend from Nepal. The poisoning might have been caused by grayanotoxin. The investigations are ongoing.

     "Mad honey poisoning is caused by ingestion of honey containing grayanotoxins derived from plants belonging to the Ericaceae family, including rhododendrons. Grayanotoxins are neurotoxins which can affect nerves and muscles. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, hypersalivation and paraesthesia shortly after ingestion. In severe cases, hypotension, bradycardia or shock may occur," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Members of the public are reminded to take heed of the following preventive advice:

• Buy honey from a reliable source or apiary;
• Discard honey with a bitter or astringent taste – grayanotoxin-containing honey may cause a burning sensation in the throat; and
• Pay special attention to honey from India, Nepal and the Black Sea region of Türkiye as there have been grayanotoxin poisoning cases connected with honey from these areas.

     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.

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 non-domestic television programme service (non-domestic TV) licence of Sun Television Cybernetworks Enterprise Limited (Sun TV)
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     The CA approved the application by Sun TV for renewal of its non-domestic TV licence for 12 years, from November 8, 2025, to November 7, 2037 (both dates inclusive). Currently, there are nine non-domestic TV licensees providing around 150 satellite television programme channels for the Asia Pacific region.
 
Broadcast complaint
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     The CA considered a complaint case about the television programme promotions for "You Are Not Alone" broadcast on April 9 and 10, 2024, on the Jade and the then J2 Channels of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). The CA decided that TVB should be advised to observe more closely the relevant provisions of the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Standards. Details of the case are at the Appendix.