Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 28) released the latest grading of water quality for six gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.
 
     Six beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
  
Grade 1 beaches are:          

Casam Beach	Golden Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Lido Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Silverstrand Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
 
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
 
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD’s dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast). read more

     Police today (January 28) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Ma On Shan.      Wong Hau-pong, aged 89, went missing after he left his residence on Kam Ying Road y… read more

     The 2025 Shenzhen-Hong Kong marathon and the 15th National Games (NG) athletics (marathon) test event will be held in Shenzhen and Hong Kong on February 23 (Sunday) morning. The event is organised by the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, and hosted by the Executive Committee for the 15th NG, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) in Shenzhen and the People’s Government of Nanshan District, Shenzhen, with the support of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong), the Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, and the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality, as well as the Guangdong Athletics Association. The Chinese Athletics Association serves as an advisor, while the Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates and a Shenzhen agency act as the executive units.

     The Shenzhen Bay Bridge will serve as a link connecting Shenzhen and Hong Kong during the event. A closed-loop arrangement will be adopted throughout the event. To ensure the smooth running of the event, operating hours of the Shenzhen Bay Port will be adjusted as appropriate on the event day. The Executive Committee for the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG in Shenzhen and the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) will announce later the details of closure time of the Bridge and arrangements for vehicles and traffic.

     Members of the public and visitors are advised to pay attention to the relevant announcements and duly arrange their itineraries that day. read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 28) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 6 700 food samples tested were found to be satisfactory except for eight 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 4 300 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 1 800 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 400 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 900 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 900 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 800 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1 900 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).

     The eight unsatisfactory samples comprised a frozen snake meat sample found with a metallic contaminant exceeding the legal limit, two prepackaged candied winter melon samples and a dried soybean curd sample detected with non-permitted preservatives, three ice cream samples detected with coliform bacteria and total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limits, and a soft ice cream sample detected with a total bacterial count 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  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.

Summary of food surveillance programme for 2024
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     Concluding the food surveillance programme for 2024, the spokesman said that apart from routine food surveillance, the CFS also conducted a number of targeted, seasonal and popular food surveillance projects.

     “About 66 900 samples were tested by the CFS last year. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8 per cent, which was comparable to the results in recent years. This indicates that food safety has been maintained at a high standard in Hong Kong,” he said.

     “The exceedances or breaches for most of the unsatisfactory samples were not serious and would not pose adverse health effects to the general public. For individual food items with unsatisfactory test results, the CFS has taken prompt and effective risk management actions to safeguard public health,” he said.

     He added that in planning the food surveillance programme, the CFS will take into consideration a number of factors such as the food consumption level and the risk of the food concerned in deciding on the number of samples to be tested and the frequency of sampling as well as the testing parameters. In addition, the CFS will also suitably adjust its food surveillance programme and strengthen relevant testing with regard to local and overseas food incidents as well as past surveillance data, in particular breaches of regulatory requirements that occurred more frequently, so as to safeguard food safety in Hong Kong. read more

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (January 28) appealed to members of the public to keep places clean and mind their safety while watching the Chinese New Year Fireworks Display on January 30 (the second day of the Chinese New Year).
 
     The LCSD, together with the law enforcement teams of relevant departments, will strengthen patrols at LCSD venues where large crowds are expected.
 
     These venues include the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Salisbury Garden, the Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Urban Council Centenary Garden, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Park, Kai Tak Sky Garden, Kai Tak Promenade, Kwun Tong Promenade and Cha Kwo Ling Promenade along the Kowloon waterfront, as well as Tamar Park, the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section), the Wan Chai Temporary Promenade and East Coast Park (Phase 1) on the waterfront of Hong Kong Island.
 
     The LCSD reminded members of the public to take their belongings with them when leaving the venues and not to leave trash behind.
 
     The LCSD also reminded people that the above venues will be very crowded during the fireworks display. Visitors should be careful and patient, pay attention to their safety, observe the crowd management measures at the venues, and comply with the Police’s instructions. read more