Author Archives: hksar gov

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, May 3, 2024 is 105.7 (down 0.3 against yesterday’s index). read more

     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 2 to noon today (May 3), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 300 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 48 061 samples of food imported from Japan (including 31 375 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 12 534 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     The Government gazetted today (May 3) the Deposit Protection Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2024, which seeks to enhance the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) to strengthen the protection for depositors, maintain banking stability and keep u… read more

     Mainly attributing to the warmer than normal sea surface temperature and stronger than usual southerly flow in the lower atmosphere over the northern part of the South China Sea, April 2024 was much warmer than usual. The monthly me… read more

     The Cheung Chau Climbing Carnival will be held at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau, from noon to 6pm this Sunday (May 5). Members of the public are invited to join and have an early experience of the exciting atmosphere of bun scrambling.

     Interested members of the public who are at least one metre in height can participate in the bun tower climbing activity by making an on-site application. They can then climb the approximately 14m-tall bun tower set up for the Bun Scrambling Competition to experience the fun of climbing.

     Members of the China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union will be invited to brief participants on climbing skills and safety matters of bun tower climbing to let them learn more about the sport of climbing while having fun.

     The public can make wishes at the Wishing Bun Tower at the venue. Together with other activities, including an exhibition of winning works from Student Drawing Competitions as well as variety shows, game stalls and handicrafts, the carnival will offer families and friends an eventful holiday.

     The Climbing Carnival is one of the highlights of the 2024 Bun Carnival which is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), with the support of the Cheung Chau Wai Chiu County Association Limited, the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, the Islands District Office and the China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union.

     For enquiries, please contact the Islands District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD on 2852 3220, or visit the department’s website. read more