Tag Archives: China

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 26) released the latest grading of water quality for four gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.
      
     Four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
      
Grade 1 beaches are:           

Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Golden Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Silverstrand Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD’s beach thematic website. read more

     ​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (January 26) that it has assisted Hanover Displays, a UK-based company designing and manufacturing passenger information systems for the public transport industry, to open a regional headquarters in Hong Kong.
     
     The Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Dr Jimmy Chiang, congratulated the official opening of the company’s regional headquarters in Hong Kong. He said, “The city is strategically located in the heart of Asia and close to the Mainland. It is an ideal place for Hanover Displays to expand in the region and offer local support to customers.”
     
     Founded in 1985 in the UK, Hanover Displays has been active in the Hong Kong market for 25 years, and has established itself as one of the leading destination display suppliers in the region. The Regional Head of Hong Kong and China, Mr Him Kwan, said that the company is very excited to have its new regional headquarters in Hong Kong, from which it can better serve customers in Hong Kong, the Mainland and the Far East region.
     
     He said, “Asia is one of our key markets, and our operations in the Far East region date back to 1999. We value our customers, and the key factor to open the Hong Kong regional headquarters is to be close to our customers and provide them with quick local support. Doing business in Hong Kong is rewarding, thanks to its excellent infrastructure and convenient access to the Asia-Pacific market.”
     
     “Our Hong Kong regional headquarters encompasses sales, service support and parts warehousing operation. The office is serving not only the local market in Hong Kong but also extends its reach to the Mainland and the wider Far East region,” he added.
     
     The company is committed to innovation and customer satisfaction, constantly rolling out new products ranging from high-resolution LED destination displays to advanced destination controllers and multimedia passenger information screens, to cater to the evolving needs of clients.
      
     To get a copy of the photo, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720314298073.
      
     For more information about Hanover Displays, please visit www.hanoverdisplays.com.

read more

     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 January 25 to noon today (January 26), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 136 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 27 262 samples of food imported from Japan (including 18 176 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 7 718 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     Two red tides were sighted during the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (January 26).

     On January 19, staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department spotted the first red tide at Ting Kau Beach, Tsuen Wan. On January 25, staff of the Marine Department spotted another red tide at Sam Pak Wan, Lantau Island. The red tide at Ting Kau Beach has dissipated while the red tide at Sam Pak Wan persists. No associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.

     A spokesman for the working group said, “The red tide at Ting Kau Beach was formed by Noctiluca scintillans, which is common in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic. The red tide at Sam Pak Wan was formed by Phaeocystis globosa, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters. According to literature overseas, the algal species can produce foam that may affect fish.”

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Ma Wan and Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.

     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD’s proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public. read more

     The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (January 26) the extension of the effective period of the relaxation of waiver application requirement for existing industrial buildings (IBs) to January 31, 2025.  &nb… read more