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 June 20 to noon today (June 21), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 263 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 61 082 samples of food imported from Japan (including 39 519 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 14 992 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     â€‹The Government announced today (June 21) that the Chief Executive has appointed Mr Philip Chen Nan-lok and Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, and reappointed Mr Justice Jeremy Poon Shiu-chor and Madam Justice Carlye Chu Fun-ling as members of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission (the Commission) for the period from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026.  

     Meanwhile, Mrs Pamela Chan Wong Shui and Professor Liu Pak-wai, serving members of the Commission, will retire from the Commission on June 30, 2024.

     "We wish to express our gratitude to Mrs Pamela Chan Wong Shui and Professor Liu Pak-wai for their invaluable advice rendered to the Commission during their term of office, and for their contributions to upholding Hong Kong's judicial independence," a Government spokesman said.

     The functions of the Commission are to advise or make recommendations to the Chief Executive regarding the filling of vacancies in judicial offices, representations from a judicial officer concerning conditions of service referred to it by the Chief Executive, and any matter affecting judicial officers which may be prescribed or which the Chief Executive may refer to it.

     The membership list with effect from July 1, 2024, is as follows:

Ex-officio Chairman
———–
Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal

Members
———–
Secretary for Justice (ex-officio member)
Mr Justice Jeremy Poon Shiu-chor
Madam Justice Carlye Chu Fun-ling
Mr Victor Dawes, SC 
Ms Melissa Kaye Pang
Mr Carlson Tong
Mr Philip Chen Nan-lok
Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs today (June 21) reminded members of the public to stay alert to an unsafe racket projectile toy. Test results indicated that the toy could pose an injury risk to children. To avoid an accident, parents should immediately stop their children from playing with the racket projectile toy. Traders should also remove the racket projectile toys from their shelves.

     Customs officers earlier test-purchased various models of projectile toys from retailers in different districts for safety testing. Test results revealed that one model of racket projectile toy could launch objects other than its original accessories. It could cause injury if the objects were shot at one's eyes or faces. Customs also found that the toy did not carry a safety warning about the risk of choking caused by the small balls it contains. Moreover, the identification markings of the toy did not comply with the related requirements prescribed by the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (TCPSO). 

     Customs later conducted an operation to search the retailer's premises in connection with the case. No other suspected unsafe racket projectile toys were found, and a prohibition notice was served at the same time to prohibit the continued sale of the unsafe racket projectile toy by the retailer.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds members of the public to observe the following safety tips when purchasing and playing with projectile toys:

     • Pay attention to age recommendations shown on labels;
     • Pay attention to and follow the instructions associated with the toys;
     • Do not put items other than original accessories into toys for shooting;
     • Do not shoot items into eyes or faces;
     • Beware of whether the small parts of toys are easily detachable. Detached small parts may block a child's throat and lead to suffocation if swallowed;
     • Check the structure of the toys to see, for example, whether they have an easily broken structure, hidden sharp points, rough surfaces, sharp edges or gaps that may pinch children's fingers;
     • Throw away plastic packages of toys and children's products to avoid children being suffocated; and
     • Stop children from playing with the toys immediately if any damage is observed.

     Customs is committed to the protection of consumer interests and regularly conducts spot checks and safety tests on toys and children's products to ensure that they are reasonably safe for use by consumers.

     Under the TCPSO, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import unsafe toys or children's products. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on a subsequent conviction.

     Members of the public may report information relating to suspected unsafe toys or children's products via Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

    

     The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, today (June 21) attended the Public Fuxi Commemoration Ceremony 2024 in Tianshui City in Gansu Province on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.　

     Fuxi is the humanistic root of the Chinese nation, while Tianshui City is Fuxi's birthplace and the origin of Fuxi culture. The Public Fuxi Commemoration Ceremony, jointly organised by the Gansu Provincial People's Government, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, is a significant event held annually in Gansu Province to promote Chinese traditional culture.

     Miss Mak said that the Public Fuxi Commemoration Ceremony is important to the Chinese national identity. By attending the ceremony, Hong Kong compatriots can enhance their sense of belonging to the nation and strengthen the affection for the Chinese people. She expressed gratitude for being invited to attend the meaningful event. Miss Mak added that Tianshui City is not only the source of Fuxi culture, but also an important node city on the Silk Road, containing a strong cultural ambience. She encouraged Hong Kong youth to visit the motherland more often, to gain in-depth understanding of the history and culture of the country and look for the origin of national culture, so as to deepen their sense of national identity, serve society and contribute to the country in the future.

     During her visit to Tianshui City, Miss Mak met with Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress Mr Shohrat Zakir; the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Ji; the Secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Gansu Provincial People's Congress, Mr Hu Changsheng; and the Deputy Secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and Governor of Gansu Province, Mr Ren Zhenhe.

     Miss Mak will conclude her visit and return to Hong Kong this afternoon.

    

     The Chief Executive in Council has authorised the scheme for sewerage works in Ma Wan Chung and Shek Mun Kap, Tung Chung for Tung Chung New Town Extension. The notice was gazetted today (June 21).

     The sewerage scheme comprises the following:
 

1. construction of about 1 700 metres of gravity sewers, associated manholes and facilities; and 
2. ancillary works including temporary closure and reinstatement of carriageways, footpaths and open space or parts thereof.

     Details of the sewerage scheme were published in the Government Gazette on November 25, 2022, December 2, 2022, July 28, 2023, and August 4, 2023.