The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has all along been committed to combating the sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat, and raided two licensed fresh provision shops (FPSs) in Wong Tai Sin District and Tuen Mun District suspected of selling frozen meat as fresh meat today (January 26).
 
     During the operations, FEHD officers raided two licensed FPSs at Tsz Wan Shan Market in Wong Tai Sin and Yan Tin Market in Tuen Mun, and destroyed around 552 kilograms and about 177kg of suspected frozen beef seized respectively. Samples were also collected for testing for preservatives, and prosecutions will be initiated should there be sufficient evidence. The licensees of the FPSs are suspected of breaching the licensing condition for the display and sale of frozen meat as fresh meat, and the FEHD is proceeding with the cancellation of the FPSs' licences. 
 
     Verbal warnings were also given to the licensees for non-compliance with the relevant licensing condition by failing to provide delivery invoices for inspection.
 
     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The selling of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat breaches the licensing condition and causes food safety problems. Also, the operation of these profiteers is unfair to other shops that comply with the requirements."
 
     The spokesman added, "Anyone selling chilled or frozen meat without permission commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment on conviction. The department will continue to conduct regular inspections at licensed FPSs and market meat stalls, and will deal with the complaints promptly. In detecting any irregularities, the FEHD will carry out immediate investigations and take appropriate enforcement action. In addition, the FEHD also proactively investigates suspected violations from time to time and conducts surprise inspections and enforcement actions as necessary. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecutions will be initiated and follow-up action will be taken on any breach of licensing conditions or tenancy agreements. The licences of those FPSs breaching licensing conditions may be cancelled, while the tenancies of market meat stalls breaching tenancy agreements may be terminated." 

     The spokesman stressed that the FEHD is very concerned and has been committed to combating the sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat by taking stringent enforcement actions against the violations.

    

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 25) seized 72 eggs of suspected scheduled and endangered parrot species with an estimated market value of about $450,000 at Hong Kong International Airport.
     â€‹
     A 35-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from South Africa via Ethiopia yesterday. He was intercepted for customs clearance at the arrivals hall of the airport. Customs officers found the batch of parrot eggs inside plastic boxes in his carry-on baggage. Upon inspection by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the parrot eggs were suspected to be endangered species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong.

     The case has been handed over to the AFCD for follow-up action. Hong Kong Customs reminds the public not to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.

     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited. 

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

    

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Home Affairs Department (HAD) today (January 26) to learn about the work and challenges facing the department and meet with its staff from various grades.
 
     Mrs Yeung said, "The new-term District Councils (DCs) after the improvement of district governance have assumed office early this month. One of the keys to effective implementation of district work hinges on maintaining positive interaction between civil servants and the DCs. I hope that we can have candid communication to harness the collective wisdom for taking practical actions to resolve district problems and promote district development. The HAD serves as a bridge between the Government and the people. Collecting public opinion allows the Government to keep close tabs on the pulse of the community to ensure effective communication between the Government and the public so that the Government will be able to formulate policies and services that better meet the needs of the people."
 
     Mrs Yeung, together with the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, met with the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Alice Cheung, and directorate staff and received an update from them on the department's work in promotion of district governance.
 
     She also met and exchanged views with staff representatives from various grades. Mrs Yeung commended colleagues for their dedication in serving the public and thanked them for their commitment and diligence in their work for the DC election last month. She also encouraged them to continue to actively promote district work and to respond to the aspirations of the public.
 
     Mrs Yeung visited the divisions responsible for supporting and overseeing the District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams), supporting building management and promoting social enterprises. She was briefed by frontline staff on how to co-ordinate with the 452 Care Teams in various districts to strengthen support for district work and district networks. Mrs Yeung was pleased to learn that all District Offices would join hands with the DCs and collaborate with Care Teams of their district before the Lunar New Year to launch a series of care activities locally, so as to provide care and support to the elderly and those in need in the district.
 
     Mrs Yeung also visited the offices of the Wan Chai District Council Secretariat, the Community Affairs Section and the District Management and Administration Section to get an idea of their work in co-organising community activities and liaison with the DCs. Lastly, she visited the Wan Chai Home Affairs Enquiry Centre to learn about its general enquiry and free oath/affirmation service for members of the public.

            

The following is issued on behalf of the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee:
 
     The Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) Committee announced today (January 26) the below statement on the implementation of the municipal solid waste (MSW) charging scheme in Hong Kong.
 
     The ECF Committee has been advising the Government over the years on providing funding support to environmental protection projects proposed by local organisations. We strongly believe that, like many other advanced cities around the world, MSW charging will bring a positive impact to the sustainable development of Hong Kong and the realisation of a better environment.
 
     In the past six years, the ECF Committee has approved funding for more than 300 environmental projects supporting local non-profit making organisations and environmental groups in implementing a wide range of projects, and has organised various education and promotion activities through the Environmental Campaign Committee. These projects and activities included initiatives which were implemented in concert with the early preparation and publicity for the introduction of the MSW charging scheme. The ECF Committee will keep on providing funding support to suitable organisations and work hand in hand with the Government to enhance the understanding and active participation of all stakeholders in the MSW charging scheme.
 
     We appreciate that the success of the MSW charging scheme requires public collaboration and it is of vital importance for the public to understand the value of the scheme. To put the scheme in practice, different business and service sectors require hands-on practice and adaptation to cope with different operational circumstances. We fully support the Government in explaining specifically to the community the value and operational details of the MSW charging scheme through scenario-based illustrations before the new legislation takes effect, so as to demonstrate the operability of the MSW charging scheme by facts.
 
     We will continue to work together with the Government to strive for an effective implementation of the MSW charging scheme. At the same time, we will appeal to every partnering organisation of the ECF to support the MSW charging scheme, work in collaboration to turn Hong Kong into a greener, cleaner and more liveable city, and achieve a better living environment for us and our future generations, while contributing to the sustainable development of Hong Kong.

     The Government announced today (January 26) the further extension of the appointment of Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing as the Inspector to investigate the affairs of Next Digital Limited (NDL) by six months up to July 27, 2024.
 
    The Financial Secretary, pursuant to the power conferred on him by sections 841(2) and (3) of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), had appointed Mr Chan as the Inspector to investigate the affairs of NDL. As the Inspector has indicated to the Financial Secretary that the above investigation was still ongoing, the Financial Secretary has decided to further extend the Inspector's appointment by six months.