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 December 30 to noon today (December 31), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 184 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, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 108 228 samples of food imported from Japan (including 70 335 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 24 668 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     The Government today (December 31) announced the reappointment of two Vice-chairmen and eight members, and the new appointment of a Vice-chairman and two members, to the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) for a term of two years with effect from January 1, 2025.

     Mr Ronick Chan Chun-ying and Mr Jimmy Ng Wing-ka have been reappointed as Vice-chairmen. Mr Peter Shiu Ka-fai is appointed as the new Vice-chairman. The reappointed members are Mr Chan Chak-ming, Dr Daniel Chan Ching-yan, Miss Mabel Chan Mei-bo, Ms Cindi Hui Ming-ming, Professor Lin Feng, Dr Desmond Nguyen Gia-hung, Mr Ivan Sze Wing-hang, and Mr Randy Yu Hon-kwan. The newly appointed members are Mr Chong Chong-yip and Mrs Helena Pong Tung Ching-yee.

     The appointments are made by the Chief Executive according to section 5 of the Independent Police Complaints Council Ordinance (Cap. 604) (IPCC Ordinance).

     The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, said, “I am most grateful for the invaluable contributions of the IPCC to safeguarding a fair, effective and transparent two-tier police complaints system in Hong Kong. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Vice-chairman, Mr Frankie Yick Chi-ming, and members Mr Lee Man-bun and Ms Jane Curzon Lo. During their tenure, they actively participated in the work of the IPCC and provided constructive advice, assisting the IPCC in performing its independent monitoring functions with a view to ensuring that complaints from the public were handled fairly and impartially.”

     Mr Tang said that the Government will continue to render full support to the IPCC to give full play to its independent statutory monitoring functions to uphold a fair and impartial police complaints system accountable to the public in Hong Kong.

     â€‹The IPCC, established under the IPCC Ordinance, is an independent statutory body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the investigation of complaints against members of the Police Force. The IPCC Ordinance provides a statutory basis for the IPCC’s role and power as well as the two-tier police complaints system. It also imposes a statutory duty on the Police to comply with the IPCC’s requirements. The IPCC comprises a Chairman, three Vice-chairmen and 14 non-official members. read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 8 600 food samples tested were found to be satisfactory except for six unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.

     A CFS spokesman said about 2 400 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 6 200 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests.

     The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions.

     The samples comprised about 3 300 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 500 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 1 000 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 900 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 1 000 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1 900 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).

     The six unsatisfactory samples comprised an imported sweet potato sample, an imported crab sample and an imported cooked barley sample with excessive metallic contaminants; a fresh beef sample found with sulphur dioxide; a grilled eel sample found with malachite green, and an imported frozen confection sample detected with total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limit.

     The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question.

     The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.

     Separately, in response to the Japanese Government’s discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information. read more

     The Government today (December 31) announced the appointment of two new members and the reappointment of two incumbent members to the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee (CBLPSC) for a term of two years with effe… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The second phase of the enhancement measures of the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) will come into effect tomorrow (January 1, 2025), following the implementation of the first phase on October 1, 2024. (Note)
 
The enhancement measures that will come into effect tomorrow include:
 

• providing enhanced coverage to affected depositors upon a bank merger or acquisition; and
• requiring Scheme members to display the DPS membership sign on their electronic banking platforms.

     The Chairman of the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board (the Board), Ms Connie Lau Yin-hing, said, “We are pleased to witness the smooth implementation of the first phase of the enhancement measures since October. The Board’s publicity efforts across various channels, including TV, social media, and public engagement, have effectively raised public awareness of the enhancement measures, in particular, the increased protection limit of HK$800,000. Looking ahead, we will continue to step up our promotional efforts to raise public awareness of the enhanced DPS.”

Note: The first phase of the enhancement measures included raising the deposit protection limit from HK$500,000 to HK$800,000 per depositor per bank; refining the levy system to enable the DPS Fund to reach its target size within a reasonable timeframe under the increased protection limit; and streamlining the negative disclosure requirement on non-protected deposit transactions for private banking customers. read more