The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, May 13, 2024 is 106.1 (up 0.1 against last Saturday's index).
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, May 11, 2024 was 106 (same as last Friday's index).
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 May 10 to noon today (May 13), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 426 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category, in the past three days (including last Saturday and Sunday). 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 150 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 50 631 samples of food imported from Japan (including 32 855 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 13 036 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.
Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 13) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.
The Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, in collaboration with the Education University of Hong Kong, will rerun the music training programme Innovative Music Making: MO x e-Orch from October to July next year. The training programme aims to promote the integration of music and technology on school campuses. Interested primary and secondary schools are invited to join the programme.
Training targets of the Innovative Music Making: MO x e-Orch programme are Primary Four to Primary Six students and Secondary One to Secondary Three students. With the use of tablets, participants from each school will form a digital music orchestra (e-Orch), learn musical knowledge and music creation, and receive training on ensemble performance and collaborative creation. Upon completion of the training, students will join hands with the Western and Chinese instrumental ensembles of the Music Office to perform on stage at a public concert. Various awards and certificates of attendance will be presented to participating students at the public concert as encouragement.
Interested schools can download application forms from the Music Office's website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/activities/schoolprogrammes/arttech.html). Completed forms must be returned to the Music Office on or before June 3 by e-mail (moarttech@lcsd.gov.hk) or by fax (3104 1352). The Music Office will acknowledge schools' applications by e-mail. For enquiries, please call 2158 6467 or 3842 7776.
Police today (May 13) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.
Ho Hiu-pang, aged 28, went missing after he left his residence in Wang Tau Hom Estate yesterday (May 12) morning. His family made a report to Police on the same day.
He is about 1.7 metres tall, 70 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round-shaped face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a dark blue short-sleeved T-shirt, dark green trousers, white sports shoes and carrying a black rucksack.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0331 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
