â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 30) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Newaygo County of the State of Michigan in the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 16 480 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 7.73 million poultry eggs from the US in the first three months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the American authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     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 April 29 to noon today (April 30), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 173 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 46 930 samples of food imported from Japan (including 30 649 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 12 384 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (Aril 30) that more than 18 000 new extendable niches at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium in Fanling and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Eastern District will be open for applications from May 13 to June 12.

     An FEHD spokesman said, "Under the new round of niche allocation exercise, the FEHD will allocate a total of 18 100 extendable niches, including 8 000 standard niches and 40 large niches at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI, as well as 10 000 standard niches and 60 large niches at Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium. The initial ash interment period for the allocated public niches is 20 years and can be extended at 10-year intervals thereafter. Upon expiry of the interment period, the persons concerned may continue to use the allocated niche provided that he/she extends the interment period and pays the prevailing prescribed fee."

     Applicants should only file one application form to apply for either a large or standard niche for the same deceased person. When applying for a large niche, applicants have to fill in the particulars of at least three deceased people. For a standard niche, applicants must fill in at least one deceased person's particulars.

     The spokesman said, "The FEHD will allocate niches by open drawing of lots and computer random balloting, which is expected to be held in the third quarter of this year, with the exact date to be announced later. After the drawing of lots and computer random balloting, the FEHD will inform applicants of the results of their applications and provide serial numbers of the designated niches allocated to successful applicants. The niches will not be chosen by applicants themselves."

     Starting from May 13, public members can apply online or download the application form from the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk). They can also obtain the application form in person from the Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, District Environmental Hygiene Offices of the FEHD, or Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department, or by fax via hotline 2841 9111.

     The spokesman advises applicants to submit their applications online to avoid postal delay. They can also receive an acknowledgement receipt with a case number shortly after the submission, thus facilitating the follow-up of the application in the future. If the applicant is the same person who has applied for cremation service for the deceased, it is more convenient to submit online application through "iAM Smart" without the need to attach copies of the required documents. If not submitting their application online, applicants shall submit the completed application form together with copies of the required documents by fax (2333 1716), by email (apply_newniche@fehd.gov.hk), by post or in person to the Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Offices within the application period.

     The Talk on After-death Arrangements will be held at 10.30am on May 4 (Saturday) at Yau Tong Community Hall (No. 38 Ko Chiu Road, Yau Tong, Kowloon) to provide the public with more information on the coming public niche allocation, green burial facilities/services and regulation of private columbaria. The talk is free of charge and no prior registration is required. 

     For details of the arrangements of the niche allocation exercise and the information seminar, please visit the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk).

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon to facilitate the Pyrotechnics Display to be held on May 1 (Wednesday).

     The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented by phases, until the crowd has dispersed and the roads are safe for re-opening:

A. Road Closure

     The following roads will be closed:

From 6pm onwards (except for vehicles with permit):

Tsim Sha Tsui East
——————

– Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Hung Lok Road;
– Hung Hom Bypass between Metropolis Drive and Salisbury Road;
– Salisbury Road between Cheong Wan Road and Chatham Road South;
– Salisbury Road underpass;
– Hong Wan Path;
– Mody Road outside The Royal Garden Hotel;
– Mody Lane; and
– Mody Square.

From 7.30pm to 8.30pm:

Central District (except for franchised buses)
———————————————-

Phase 1

     Man Kwong Street outside Central Pier No. 7 and 8.

Phase 2

– Eastbound Yiu Sing Street; and
– Eastbound Lung Wo Road between Yiu Sing Street and Lung Hop Street.

Wan Chai
——–

Phase 1

– The slip road leading from eastbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel to Expo Drive;
– The slip road leading from Lung Wo Road to eastbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel;
– Expo Drive East outside Golden Bauhinia Square (including pick-up/drop-off areas);
– Expo Drive;
– Expo Drive Central;
– Expo Drive East; and
– Eastbound Lung Wo Road between Lung Hop Street and Fleming Road.

Phase 2

– Marsh Road between Gloucester Road and Hung Hing Road;
– Marsh Road between Hennessy Road and Lockhart Road;
– Eastbound Hung Hing Road;
– Wan Shing Street;
– Wan Ying Street; and
– The slip road leading from eastbound Victoria Park Road to Causeway Bay Promenade.

Phase 3

– Westbound Hung Hing Road between Marsh Road and Tonnochy Road;
– Lung Tat Path;
– Northbound Fleming Road between Lung Tat Path and Lung Wo Road; and
– Westbound Lung Wo Road between Fleming Road and westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel portal.

From 7.30pm onwards:

Eastern District
—————-

– Watson Road;
– Glass Street;
– King Ming Road;
– Hing Fat Street to the north of Whitfield Road; and
– Whitfield Road.

B. Traffic diversions

     In connection with the road closure as mentioned above, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:

From 6pm onwards:

– Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Road will be directed to the roundabout at Cheong Tung Road South via Hung Hom Bypass;
– Traffic along eastbound Metropolis Drive cannot turn right to southbound Hung Hom Bypass;
– Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Bypass will be diverted to turn right to westbound Metropolis Drive;
– Traffic along southbound Salisbury Road near Hong Chong Road will be directed to Tsim Sha Tsui East;
– Traffic along westbound Mody Road must make a u-turn to eastbound Mody Road outside Empire Centre;
– Traffic along eastbound Mody Road must make a u-turn to westbound Mody Road outside Tsim Sha Tsui Centre;
– Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South cannot turn left to eastbound Salisbury Road, except for franchised buses;
– Traffic along eastbound Salisbury Road cannot enter Salisbury Road underpass and will be diverted to turn left to northbound Chatham Road South;
– Vehicles exceeding 7 metres in length on southbound Chatham Road South will be diverted to turn right to westbound Salisbury Road;
– Vehicles exceeding 7 metres in length on southbound Science Museum Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Salisbury Road; and
– Vehicles exceeding 7 metres in length on northbound Science Museum Road cannot turn left to Mody Road.

From 7.30pm to 8.30pm:

– Traffic along eastbound Lung Wo Road must turn right to Lung Hop Street;
– Traffic along northbound Fleming Road must turn left to Lung Tat Path or make a u-turn to southbound Fleming Road;
– Traffic along northbound Tonnochy Road must turn left to westbound Hung Hing Road;
– Traffic along March Road must turn left to westbound Hung Hing Road or turn right to Hung Hing Road flyover; and
– Traffic along southbound Man Yiu Street cannot turn left to eastbound Yiu Sing Street.

     Mody Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road will be designated as prohibited zone for vehicles exceeding 7 metres in length from 6pm to 10pm.

C. Suspension of parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas

– All on-street parking spaces within the closed road areas in Tsim Sha Tsui will be suspended from 00.01 am to 11pm;
– The non-franchised bus pick-up/drop-off areas on westbound Salisbury Road opposite Wing On Plaza will be suspended from 5pm until the roads are safe for re-opening; and
– All on-street parking spaces within the closed road area at Expo Drive East outside Golden Bauhinia Square and on Hong Kong Island will be suspended from 5.30pm to 9.30pm.

D. Suspension of car parks

     Vehicles parked in all car parks within the closed road area in Tsim Sha Tsui cannot enter or leave the carparks from about 5.30pm until the roads are safe for re-opening.

     Vehicles parked in car parks and club houses within the above closed areas in North Point, Wan Chai and Central area will not be permitted to enter or leave the car parks during the road closure period.

     All vehicles parked illegally during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.
 
     Actual implementation of traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to use public transport to go to the above areas. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.