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 July 16 to noon today (July 17), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 246 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. 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 50 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 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 68 496 samples of food imported from Japan (including 44 014 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 16 294 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 is 106.4 (same as yesterday's index).

     The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) has set up a booth at the Hong Kong Book Fair, which is being held from today (July 17) to July 23 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the theme "Self/LIBRARY" to introduce the HKPL's rich e-resources.

     The booth is located at A26 in Hall 1C on 1/F. Members of the public can experience the online services and e-resources of the HKPL themselves through touchscreen displays and tablets set up in the booth. Visitors who follow the "Reading is Joyful" Facebook or Instagram pages can upload a photo taken at the booth's special check-in spots and redeem a limited edition souvenir on-site.

     At the booth, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will also introduce social media channels and online resources of its museums to the public. Visitors can gather the exhibition information, programmes and publications of LCSD museums and art spaces. They may follow "Visit HK Museums" social media channels and participate in a prize quiz for a limited-edition souvenir. To learn more about the programmes of LCSD museums, members of the public can visit https://www.museums.gov.hk/en/web/portal/home.html.

     The HKPL has a number of rich electronic collections, including the popular SUEP Chinese e-book database, with book titles suitable for people of different ages, covering famous works of renowned Hong Kong writers, and other titles from areas such as literature and fiction, children's books, business and economics, household knowledge, social sciences, technology and medicines, language learning, education and biography, among others. The platform also provides audiobooks including Jin Yong's martial arts novels, allowing readers to enjoy books anytime and anywhere.

     Readers can also experience the diverse electronic resources of the HKPL through reading a variety of e-magazines and e-books in Kono Libraries and OverDrive electronic collections, and enjoy parent-child reading time using Chinese and English children's books in e-book collections the "FunPark" and the "Britannica Collective". They can also search through extensive collections of journals and scholarly dissertations on business and economics in the "ProQuest Business Collection", as well as the articles of English newspapers and magazines from around the world in "Gale OneFile: News".

     To let members of the public further enjoy the convenience of e-reading, the "Pop-up e-Book" page of the HKPL website (https://www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/collections/pop-up-e-book.html) provides a selection of locally published e-books that can be accessed online without logging into a library account. The e-book selection is updated quarterly and includes book titles from areas of literature, fiction, lifestyle, leisure reading materials, collections for children etc.

     The HKPL provides over 520 000 e-books and more than 82 e-databases. Members of the public can log in to their library accounts to read online or download to computers and mobile devices for e-reading. Hong Kong residents who have never applied for library cards or HKPL e-accounts can visit the HKPL's website to apply for e-accounts and enjoy immediate access to the diverse e-resources.

     Please visit the HKPL's booth at the fair or visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/e-resources/index.html to know more about the e-resources.

      

     The Government announced today (July 17) that a sum of $6 million under the Financial Assistance Scheme for Family Members of Those Who Sacrifice Their Lives to Save Others will be granted to the family members of the late Mr Vinson So Yuet-leung, a brave citizen who gave his life to save another.
 
     On April 11, 2024, the late Mr So sacrificed his life while saving a girl who had committed suicide by jumping into the sea at Aberdeen Harbour near South Horizons.
     
     The Chairman of the grant-approving Committee on Financial Assistance for Family Members of those who Sacrifice their Lives to Save Others and Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, paid tribute to the late Mr So for his gallant act.
 
     "Despite the fact that Mr So was not acquainted with the girl, it did not stop him from trying his best to save her life. His act demonstrated the most admirable courage and selflessness, which commands our greatest respect," Mr Sun said.
 
     "The grant represents the Government's recognition of the late Mr So's exceptional courage. We sincerely hope that the financial assistance can provide some relief to his family members."
 
     The Scheme was set up in January 2002 to provide financial assistance to family members of those who lost their lives when attempting to save or protect others. 

     â€‹The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a food factory in Sham Shui Po to suspend business for 14 days, as the licensee repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by extending the business area illegally.

     The premises, located at Shop C1 on the ground floor of Kwun Wing Building of 353 – 357 Un Chau Street, was ordered to suspend business from today (July 17) to July 30.

     "Two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the shop licensee in March and May of this year. A total fine of $6,800 was levied by the court and 30 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department's demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 14-day licence suspension," a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.

     The licensee concerned had a record of two convictions for the same offence in August and October of last year. A total fine of $4,700 was levied and 30 demerit points were also registered, leading to a seven-day licence suspension this February.

     The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR and other relevant regulations or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.

     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit their licence and a sign at a conspicuous place of the premises, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/licence-foodPremises-search.html).