The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 16) announced that a follow-up sample of bottled preserved bean curd was found to contain an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus. Members of the public should not consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: (Not available in English)
Place of origin: Hong Kong
Net weight: 255 grams
Best-before date: August 7, 2025
Manufacturer: LIU MA KEE LIMITED

     "The CFS announced earlier that a sample of bottled preserved bean curd collected under its routine Food Surveillance Programme from a retail outlet in Sai Ying Pun was found to contain an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus. When following up on the incident, the CFS further collected the above-mentioned sample from a retail outlet in Yau Ma Tei on July 9 for testing. The test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 1 300 000 per gram. According to the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, if ready-to-eat food contains Bacillus cereus at a level of more than 100 000 per gram, it is considered unsatisfactory," a spokesman for the CFS said.

     The spokesman stated that despite previous instructions to the manufacturer, the result of the follow-up sample has remained unsatisfactory. The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and has instructed the vendor to stop sales and to remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. The manufacturer concerned has initiated a recall of the affected batch of the product according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call the manufacturer's hotline at 2730 2968 during office hours for enquiries about the product recall.

     Earlier the CFS has also inspected the food factory concerned, provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the food factory, and requested it to review and improve the food production process and carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

     "Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea," the spokesman said.

     â€‹The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.

     To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of renowned culture figure James Wong, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) will stage the exhibition "A Laugh at the World: James Wong" from tomorrow (July 17). Around 140 sets of exhibits, selected from collection items of various museums of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and loan exhibits, will be displayed to illustrate the pop culture master's contributions to music, film, television, advertising, literature and more. Members of the public will be able to learn about the cultural integration of his works, as well as how he translated traditional contents into contemporary pop culture creations. The exhibition will run until February 10 next year with free admission.
 
     Addressing the opening ceremony of the exhibition today (July 16), the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that Hong Kong's pop culture reflects its eclecticism and contains cultural elements of the East and the West, of old and new and of high and low. Cantonese pop songs, movies and TV dramas showcase the blossoming of Hong Kong's pop culture scene since the 70s and 80s in the last century. The thriving in Hong Kong's pop culture industry was attributable to the efforts paid by artists in the music, television and film industries as well as the production crew members behind the scenes. Credits should also be given to talented local creators, one of whom is Dr Wong Jum-sum, aka James Wong. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of Wong. The LCSD specially presents the "A Laugh at the World: James Wong" exhibition, relish his classic works to appreciate his unique creativity, deep knowledge and great dedication, and feel the immense charm of Hong Kong's pop culture.
 
     He added that the exhibition is a key programme of the second Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival. The second edition this year features "Arts & Action" as its theme and has attracted over 400 000 participants as at late June. The first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival presented by the LCSD last year organised a total of 21 programmes drawing over 530 000 participants.
 
     Other officiating guests included the eldest son of Wong, Mr Johan Wong; the Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Douglas So; the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Eve Tam; and the Museum Director of the HKHM, Mr Brian Lam.
 
     James Wong (1941-2004), born Wong Jum-sum, was a renowned cultural figure and literary genius in Hong Kong. Wong, who moved to Hong Kong with his family in his childhood, was raised and received education in the city. He was a complete local. Having been active in various cultural and performing arts media platforms since the 1950s, Wong was good at writing lyrics, writing and composing music, writing columns, making movies, advertising creations and stage performances. He had been contributing articles to newspapers since the age of 12, and later became a professional writer. His columns and articles on newspapers had reached 10 million words. Wong's musical tastes spanned a diverse spectrum, encompassing Western classical, European and American pop, Indian, and avant-garde styles. He took an eclectic approach in adopting the various musical styles, while actively passing on traditional Chinese opera culture. His life coincided with several important development stages of post-war Hong Kong, making a significant impact on the development of the city's pop culture.
 
     Wong created many popular songs, four of which are used to connect Wong's life in the exhibition. The song "Below the Lion Rock" portraits the spirit of Hong Kong people sharing joys and sorrows and staying united in times of trouble. The exhibition begins with this song which tells the story of Wong moving from the Mainland to Hong Kong in the 1940s and seeing trams on the Hong Kong Island for the first time. The second part "Ask Me" reveals how Wong's literature and music teachers enlightened him during his years of studying in Hong Kong, which paved the way for his achievements in the future. The third part "Breadth and Depth of Mountains and Waters" introduces Wong's participation and creative works in different media, such as the advertising song "Two is Enough" that Wong wrote for the publicity campaign on birth control launched by the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong. The final section "It's him, you and me" allows visitors to learn more about how Wong had had close ties with cultural celebrities and stories behind his classic works.
 
     Selected collection items from the HKHM, the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Film Archive and the Hong Kong Central Library as well as loan exhibits are on display in this exhibition. They include precious record covers of the popular TV drama series theme song "Below the Lion Rock" with lyrics by Wong and composed by his music collaborator Joseph Koo, and another classic work by the pair, the theme song of TV drama series "The Bund"; as well as the classic children's song "It's a Small World" for which Wong wrote the Cantonese lyrics. The exhibits also include two film posters for "The Love Eterne" and "Lady General Hua Mulan", in which Wong provided backing vocals, and the film poster for "In-Laws, Out-Laws", which stars Wong as one of the actors and marked his final film appearance.
 
     The exhibition also showcases many exhibits related to Wong and his friends, such as the painting of Joseph Koo and Wong painted by Koo based on a photograph of the pair, courtesy of Koo's family; script and lyrics manuscripts for the major musical "Liuyi's Letter" produced by Roman Tam with Wong as the script writer and lyricist; and a photo of Wong and Eddie Lau.
 
     Visitors can scan the QR codes in the gallery to listen to sound clips of Wong's audio interviews and watch his interview videos to understand his thoughts and feelings about creative works and life. A lyrics room is set up to show projections of lyrics written by Wong with music playing.
 
     To tie in with the exhibition, a series of cultural activities will be held by the HKHM. They include two talks by renowned scholars to be held on August 10 and August 31 on Wong and the heyday of Hong Kong's pop culture, and characteristics of Wong's music composition. The music sharing "James Wong’s Greatest Hits on Vinyl" to be held on September 14 will revisit Wong's signature playlists. A workshop on laughter yoga to be held on October 5 and November 16 will pay a special tribute to Wong for his enduring legacy in infusing positive energy into his lyrics. In addition, the HKHM will hold a film screening of "Peking Opera Blues" (1986) with a post-screening talk on November 23 about Wong's musical works for the film. In January, 2025, a workshop "A Stroke of Luck: Having Fun with Festive Couplets" will be organised in which local artist Vivian Chia will reinterpret Wong's finest lines on festive couplets with her signature style of "typing" calligraphy.
 
     Other programmes centered on Wong by the LCSD include "The Hong Kong Musicians Series: Music Document Highlights of Joseph Koo & James Wong" exhibition being held by the Hong Kong Public Libraries. Meanwhile, Tai Kwun is staging Summer Show "Soundtrack of Our Lives: Joseph Koo x James Wong x the Rise of Cantopop".
 
     The "A Laugh at the World: James Wong" exhibition is presented by the LCSD and organised by the HKHM. For details of the exhibition, please visit
hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/exhibitions/data/james-wong.html, or call 2180 8188 for enquiries.
 
     The exhibition is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024. The LCSD presented the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival last year to great acclaim. This year's second edition features "Arts & Action" as its theme, taking audiences on a journey through time to show the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within Hong Kong's pop culture. The 2024 festival lineup offers a diverse range of formats including thematic exhibitions, film screenings, stage performances and outreach activities. Its rich content spans across literature, various art forms and martial arts, clearly showcasing how Hong Kong's vibrant and diverse pop culture stands out from the rest. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.

                          

     â€‹The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will remove two Old and Valuable Trees (OVT) at South Bay Beach in Southern District and the Hong Kong Railway Museum in Tai Po District on July 22 (Monday), in view of their poor health and structural conditions.

     The tree at South Bay Beach is a Casuarina equisetifolia, listed on the Register of OVTs (registration number LCSD S/16). 

     The tree is around 15 metres tall. Its health and structural conditions have been deteriorating since 2023, showing signs such as an imbalanced crown, sparse crown density, splitting of co-dominant stems, and wood decay at the trunk base and limbs. The LCSD has carried out regular inspections and maintenance of the tree, including application of fungicides, cabling, and pruning and removal of decayed branches to alleviate the tree risk. Despite the implementation of various measures thus far, the health and structural conditions of the tree were found to be deteriorating, and it is considered irrecoverable.

     The tree at the Hong Kong Railway Museum is a Ficus microcarpa, listed on the Register of OVTs (registration number LCSD TP/9). 

     â€‹The tree is around 17 metres tall. It was confirmed to have brown root rot disease (BRRD) infection in July 2020. Despite immediate tree management work carried out by the LCSD, including regular inspections and specific maintenance work, a crown reduction, cabling and application of fungicides, the health condition of the tree has been deteriorating since 2023. Decreasing foliage density and obvious signs of wood decay at the roots and trunk base have been found, indicating that the BRRD infection is becoming worse, causing irreversible health and structural damage to the tree.

     Considering the heavy visitor traffic at the trees' locations, they will be removed by the LCSD for protection of public safety.

     To facilitate the removal of LCSD TP/9, the Hong Kong Railway Museum will be temporarily closed on July 22 (Monday) and reopen on July 24 (Wednesday). Please note that Tuesday is the museum's closing day.
 
     The LCSD has consulted and obtained the support of the Urban Forestry Advisory Panel through the Tree Management Office on the proposed removal of the two trees. The LCSD will replant Terminalia catappa or Barringtonia acutangular at the nearby locations.

     A spokesman for the LCSD reiterates that the department will continue to adopt a prudent approach in inspecting and managing trees under its care. Removal of problematic trees will be considered only when no other viable risk mitigation measure is available.

     The period of visa-free entry for holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports to Thailand has been extended from up to 30 days to 60 days.

     An Immigration Department spokesman said, "Thailand is along the Belt and Road, and is a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The two places have a close relationship in people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, this extension of the period of visa-free entry will bring greater travel convenience to holders of HKSAR passports and strengthen the tourism, cultural and economic ties between the two places."

     As of today, 172 countries and territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to holders of HKSAR passports. Please visit the following website for details:
www.immd.gov.hk/eng/service/travel_document/visa_free_access.html
or scan the QR code in the attachment.

     A man who went missing in Tseung Kwan O has been located.

     Heung Man-ki, Jacky, aged 30, went missing after he left his residence in Ming Tak Estate on July 15 morning. His family then made a report to Police.

     The man was located at MTR Mei Foo Station today (July 16) afternoon. He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.