The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 23) that the import into and sale in Hong Kong of romaine lettuce produced in Salinas, California, the United States (US), has been suspended with immediate effect, as the product might have been contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7. The CFS urged the trade to stop using and selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it. 

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The Centre, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notice from the US Food and Drug Administration about the investigation of an outbreak of E. coli infections that was likely linked to the consumption of romaine lettuce produced in Salinas, California, which was suspected to be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately suspended the import into and sale within Hong Kong of romaine lettuce produced in the area concerned."

     The spokesman said that CFS preliminary investigations found that a supplier, Wing Kee Product Ltd, had sold a kind of prepackaged salad mix that contained the romaine lettuce concerned. The retailer concerned removed from shelves, stopped sale of the affected product and initiated a recall according to CFS' instructions. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the hotline at 2299 1133 during office hours.  

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: baby spring mix
Brand: organicgirl
Place of origin: Salinas, California, US
Net weight: 5 ounces /142 grams

     The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the abovementioned affected product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.  

     The spokesman said that the CFS would also enhance surveillance of romaine lettuce produced in the US at import and retail levels.

     People will contract E. coli causing gastro-intestinal disease through consumption of contaminated water or undercooked and contaminated foods. Intestinal bleeding and serious complications such as hemolytic uraemic syndrome may also develop in some people. Moreover, due to poor personal hygiene, person-to-person transmission of this pathogen is possible through the oral-faecal route. E. coli cannot survive under high temperature and can be killed by thorough cooking. 

     The CFS has informed the US authorities concerned of the import suspension and alerted the trade to the incident. The Centre will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is on-going. 

     In response to the violent incidents in the Polytechnic University (PolyU), a number of rioters remain on campus. Police have all along emphasized two fundamental principles: 'peaceful resolution' and 'flexibility'.
      
     Some of those remain on campus are underage. For those under 18 years old, Police reiterate today (November 23) that Police will arrange an appropriate adult to accompany them. All underage persons leaving the campus are required to have their personal particulars registered and to be photographed. They will not be arrested at scene but Police reserve every right to pursue or take any legal actions in the future.
      
     In the past few days, Police actively engaged with different sectors for dialogues and solutions, including Poly U staff, principals, social workers, lawyers, Legislative Councillors, religious leaders and clinical psychologists.
      
     Police reiterate that a peaceful resolution is always our aim to solve the ongoing conflicts. Police appeal to all staying in the campus to leave in a peaceful manner and pledge to bring offenders to justice in a fair manner.

     Taking into consideration transportation service disruptions, and to ensure the safety of patients and staff members, the Department of Health today (November 23) announced that its methadone clinics with evening services will be closed earlier at 9pm today.

     Please visit the following website for the information of methadone clinics: www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_mc.html.

     The Registration and Electoral Office today (November 23) made the following statement to clarify online rumours about facial recognition system in polling stations:

     The ballot is secret. There is no "facial recognition system" installed in any polling station of the 2019 District Council Ordinary Election. Poll of electors will not be filmed. The relevant rumor online is incorrect.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (November 23):

Reporter: Mr Cheung, just a few English questions. Just how likely can the tunnel for really reopen by the end of next weekend? And also, how likely is that the tolls will, there will be a free charge for tolls for at least several days? And second question, because the court has temporarily reinstated the mask ban, does the government expect that reinstatement will affect the election tomorrow where the police will be empowered to stop people wearing masks entering the polling stations and given the current string relationship between the public and police, aren't the high profile patrol will spark tensions, spark conflicts?

Chief Secretary of Administration: First of all, the Hung Hom Cross Harbour Tunnel. We are very concerned about its re-opening. That's why we are leaving those unturned, trying to re-open it as soon as possible to restore its normal operation as soon as possible. I must say that I am very grateful to all department colleagues concerned. We've mobilised 380 staff members and contract staff yesterday throughout the day on the repair work in order to make sure that the tunnel can be re-opened as soon as possible.

     Our target is that we strive to open it towards the end of next week, but much depends on the progress on the repair works particularly over the next 48 hours. So by next Monday afternoon, we should have a very good grasp of the exact re-opening time, whether it can be opened towards the end of the week or not. We will do our very best. In fact, we are now, as I said, doing our very best to speed up the repair work across the board, including the toll stations as well.

     The second question is about the election. We are determined and committed to hold an orderly, peaceful, fair and honest election tomorrow. So I appeal to all members of the community, all members of the public to co-operate, to protect the election. It's a very important election because it's the first time that every single seat is contested. It's a real democratic exercise. I really want people to treasure it, to value it, exercise their right to vote, very importantly, exercise their civic right to vote. The presence of the police is important because, for every polling station, we must ensure that there is enough police present to deter any interference and also to really maintain law and order, to maintain safety of the polling staff as well as the electors and the candidates. So I don't think the high profile patrol of police will deter any people. On the other hand, if anything, it will encourage people to feel a sense of security that the police are around to protect them and also maintain law and order.

Reporter: Will people be stopped from wearing masks into the stations?

Chief Secretary of Administration: According to the rules, in fact they should take away anything covering their face, otherwise how can the staff recognise their identity? So before they enter the polling station, they will be encouraged and advised to take away, to remove their masks so that we know who they are, matching their identity with their ID card.