The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 15) announced the test results of a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on lap-mei. Around 140 samples were collected and all passed the tests.
 
     A CFS spokesman said, "Lap-mei is popular in winter and the CFS has therefore collected a variety of lap-mei samples including Chinese pork sausages, Chinese liver sausages, preserved duck meat and preserved pork from different retailers including online retailers for chemical tests and nutrition content analyses."
 
     Chemical tests targeted veterinary drug residues and preservatives usually found in preserved food including nitrate and nitrite, as well as other food additives which may be used in the production process such as sulphur dioxide and colouring matters. For nutrition content analyses, the contents of energy, carbohydrates, protein, total fat, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, sodium and sugars of the samples were tested to see if they were consistent with their declared values on the nutrition label.
 
     "Members of the public should maintain a balanced diet and avoid excessive consumption of lap-mei in view of its nitrate/nitrite level and potential risk of nitrosamine, as well as relatively higher sodium, sugar and fat contents in some lap-mei. Infants are highly susceptible to nitrite toxicity and should avoid consuming lap-mei. The intake of lap-mei among young children should also be restricted.
 
     "Furthermore, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization has classified processed meat as 'carcinogenic to humans' (Group 1). The public should avoid excessive consumption of processed meat to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer," the spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman also advised the trade to comply with the legal requirements, follow good manufacturing practice and use permitted food additives in an appropriate manner. Retailers should source food from reliable suppliers and maintain a good recording system in accordance with the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed.
 

     Up to this morning, Tolo Highway had been maliciously blocked. For the safety of citizens and road users, Police have worked with other Government departments to clear the debris on Tolo Highway. Parts of the southbound and northbound Tolo Highway have been re-opened.
 
     Police appeal to all members of the public not to throw any object off the bridge or conduct any illegal acts posing threat to road users. Due to the current situation, drivers are advised to stay tuned when they pass by the location concerned.
 

     â€‹The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (November 15) expressed outrage at the attack on the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, which injured her while she was attending an event in London yesterday (November 14, London time). Pointing out that the attack was barbaric and violated the principles of a civilised society, Mrs Lam said the act should be strongly condemned. She expressed hope that the local police will follow up on the case thoroughly to bring the offenders to justice.

     For days, rioters have been inflicting extensive damage to various districts, and blocking multiple key public routes and harbour-crossing facilities. These acts pose a serious threat to public safety and order. Up to 10am today (November 15), Tolo Highway had been maliciously blocked for over 60 hours, seriously obstructing emergency services and movement of residents in the New Territories.
      
     Police are aware that rioters claimed they would re-open part of the southbound and northbound Tolo Highway at around 6am today to facilitate temporary resumption of traffic. Nonetheless, the highway is still blocked by miscellaneous objects and shattered glass, posing a serious threat to road users’ safety.
      
     When the relevant Government departments attempted to clear the debris on the highway, some rioters used bows, arrows and other hard objects to intimidate the contract workers. Since the highway is still filled with hard objects and devoid of any road signs or traffic cones, re-opening the road would certainly cause danger to road users.
      
     As Tolo Highway remains blocked, to protect the safety of citizens and road users, Police are making immense effort to liaise with other Government departments to remove the debris in a bid to resume normal traffic as soon as possible.
      
     Police express deep regret that the rioters continue to paralyse transport network and blatantly disregard public concern. Police once again appeal to the Chinese University of Hong Kong to keep their promise and help restore social stability and road safety.

     The Road Traffic Legislation (Parking Spaces) (Amendment) Bill 2019 was gazetted today (November 15).
      
     The Bill seeks to provide a legal basis for the operation of a new generation of parking meters with additional features. 
      
     In her 2017 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced that, as a "Smart Mobility" initiative, the Government would install a new generation of on-street parking meters. The new parking meters will replace the existing parking meters, which have been in use since 2003-04 and are approaching the end of their serviceable life.  
      
     The new generation of parking meters will accept multiple electronic payment means. Motorists could also make remote payment for parking time units through a mobile application. New parking meters will be equipped with sensors to detect whether individual metered parking spaces are occupied. Real-time information will be provided to assist motorists in finding vacant on-street parking spaces. The sensors will not collect any personal data or vehicle identification numbers.

     A spokesperson for the Transport and Housing Bureau said, "Upon passage of the Bill, the Government will install the new parking meters in phases. It is expected that installation will be completed in about two years' time starting from the first half of 2020."
      
     The spokesperson added, "The Bill also stipulates that the Government will cease accepting refund applications for e-Park cards with effect from January 1, 2022. Holders of e-Park cards should apply for refunds by the deadline. Details will be announced in due course." 
      
     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on November 27.