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 September 17 to noon today (September 19), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 259 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category, in the past two days. 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 100 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, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 85 125 samples of food imported from Japan (including 54 427 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 19 504 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

The following press release is issued on behalf of the Independent Commission Against Corruption:

     The ICAC Regional Office (New Territories North West) at G/F, Fu Hing Building, 230 Castle Peak Road – Yuen Long, Yuen Long, New Territories, is temporarily closed from 3.30pm today (September 19) for urgent repairs. The office is expected to reopen next Monday (September 23).

     During the temporary closure of the office, members of the public may lodge corruption complaints or make enquiries through the following channels:

• calling the ICAC's 24-hour report corruption hotline 25 266 366;
• visiting the ICAC Report Centre (24-hour service) in the ICAC Building at 303 Java Road, North Point; or
• calling or visiting other ICAC Regional Offices during office hours (9am – 7pm, Mondays to Fridays except public holidays) (Contact details of Regional Offices are at www.icac.org.hk/en/rc/channel/ro/index.html).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, September 19, 2024 is 103.3 (down 0.3 against Tuesday's index).

     The Highways Department (HyD) is organising the Fun along the Way – Photo Contest for Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, and cordially invites members of the public to submit creative photographs from October 1 to 31, sharing the joy in celebrating the 75th National Day.

     Participants should take photographs at selected spots among 21 designated locations of different themes and design styles of streetscape beautifications across the 18 districts, through the appreciation of Hong Kong's community streetscapes from different angles, adopting the theme of celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

     The photo contest is composed of an Open Group for Hong Kong residents and a Student Group for full-time primary and secondary school students in Hong Kong. Each participant is required to enrol as an individual in either one of the groups and submit a maximum of three entries. Each group will have a champion, a first runner-up, a second runner-up and seven merit awards. Winners will be awarded with gift vouchers, trophies/souvenirs and certificates by the HyD.

     For more details of the photo contest, please visit the designated webpage: www.hyd.gov.hk/75A_photocontest.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED) and the Communications Authority (CA) today (September 19) jointly launched a public consultation on the proposed arrangements for the reassignment of 50 MHz of spectrum in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band for the provision of public mobile services as well as the related spectrum utilisation fee (SUF).
 
     The 50 MHz of spectrum in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band is currently deployed for the provision of fourth generation (4G) mobile services, with the existing assignments due to expire in May 2028. The good radio propagation characteristics of spectrum in the band facilitates the deployment of radio base stations with wider geographical coverage, enabling the continued provision of public mobile services in a cost effective manner.
 
      "As there are likely to be competing demands for the spectrum, the CA proposes to reassign it by way of auction. Under the technology neutral approach, prospective spectrum assignees may make use of the spectrum acquired for the provision of 4G, 5G or more advanced mobile services to meet the future demand for high-speed mobile broadband services and other innovative mobile technology applications," a spokesman for the CA said.
 
     Similar to other spectrum assigned for public mobile services by way of auction, the SCED proposes that the SUF should reflect the full market value, and will set the auction reserve prices nearer the time.
 
      "The auction ensures that spectrum as a scarce public resource will be put into the hands of those who value it the most and will consequently put it to the most efficient use, thereby benefiting the general public at large," a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) said.
 
     Views and comments from the industry and other interested parties on the consultation paper are welcome on or before October 31. After taking into account the views and comments received, the SCED and the CA target to make their respective decisions no later than May 2025, thereby giving a three-year advance notice to the incumbent spectrum assignees before the expiry of the existing assignments.
 
     The consultation paper can be downloaded from the websites of the CEDB and the CA.