Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 14) that a fresh beef sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is not permitted to be used in fresh meat. The CFS is following up on the case.
      
     A spokesman for the CFS said, “Subsequent to announcing earlier that a fresh beef sample taken from a fresh provision shop in Sham Shui Po was detected with sulphur dioxide, the CFS took another fresh beef sample from the same shop for testing during follow-up investigation. A similar irregularity was detected with the test result showing that the sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 560 parts per million.”

     According to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap 132BD), it is an offence to add sulphur dioxide to fresh or chilled meat. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment.
      
     Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.
      
     Sulphur dioxide is a commonly used preservative in a variety of foods including dried fruits, pickled vegetables and meat products such as sausages and grilled burgers, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Nonetheless, individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. This preservative is of low toxicity. As it is water soluble, most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headache and nausea.
      
     The spokesman reminded the food trade to comply with the law and not to sell fresh or chilled meat adulterated with sulphur dioxide. Members of the public should purchase meat from reliable market stalls or fresh provision shops. They should avoid buying or consuming meat which is unnaturally red and maintain a balanced diet to avoid malnutrition or excessive exposure to chemicals from a small range of food items.
      
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action. read more

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, will accompany the Chief Executive to visit Guangzhou from the afternoon of May 16 to May 17.        Mr Nip will return to Hong K… read more

     The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (May 14) officiated at the Qualifications Framework (QF) Partnerships Commendation Ceremony cum QF 10th Anniversary Celebration (Ceremony), and presented certificates of c… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (May 14) the key analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund at the end of April 2018.
      
     Foreign assets, representing the external assets of the Exchange Fund, decreased during the month by HK$39.4 billion to HK$3,558.6 billion.
      
     The Monetary Base, comprising Certificates of Indebtedness, Government‑issued currency notes and coins in circulation, the balance of the banking system and Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued, amounted to HK$1,670.6 billion.
      
     Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$230.5 billion.
      
     Foreign liabilities, representing fees payable to the Exchange Fund’s external managers, amounted to HK$0.4 billion.
      
     The analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund are released in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) and are referred to as the Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank under SDDS (Annex).
 
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     At present, four press releases relating to the Exchange Fund’s data are issued by the HKMA each month. Three of these releases are issued to disseminate monetary data in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS). The fourth press release, on the Exchange Fund’s Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account, is made in accordance with the HKMA’s policy of maintaining a high level of transparency. For the month of May 2018, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
 

     The Statistics Advisory Board held a meeting today (May 14) to discuss official statistics work and its recent developments.      Members noted that the Census and Statistics Department (C&S… read more