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

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

 
*"Pro rata ratio" refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant's tendered amount at the "highest yield accepted" level.
 
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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning January 1, 2024:
 

     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 December 21 to noon today (December 22), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 161 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 21 571 samples of food imported from Japan (including 14 326 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 5 966 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, December 22, 2023 is 104 (down 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     Hong Kong Customs on December 20 seized about 47.1 kilograms of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $37 million at Hong Kong International Airport. Four persons suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.

     Through risk assessment, Customs on that day selected a consignment, declared as carrying ornaments and arriving from Malaysia, for inspection. Upon examination, Customs officers found that the batch of suspected heroin was molded into two pieces of ornaments, weighing about 47.1kg in total, with surfaces coated. 

     Upon a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted controlled delivery operations and arrested a 25-year-old male consignee who claimed to be unemployed and a 58-year-old male driver at Yau Tong yesterday (December 21). Later, Customs further arrested a 32-year-old man and a 21-yeard-old woman, who claimed to be an insurance agent and a clerk respectively, in Central and Western District.  

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items in and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
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     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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 Government announced today (December 22) that the Chief Executive has made reappointments to the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service (SCCS) and the Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service (SCDS). The reappointments of members will be effective from January 1, 2024, for a period of two years.
 
     For the SCCS, the Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Chan Chun-ying, Mrs Betty Yuen So Siu-mai, Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung and Mr Victor Lam Hoi-cheung as members. 
 
     For the SCDS, the Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Herbert Hui Leung-wah, Dr Sigmund Leung Sai-man, Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen, Mr Ivan Sze Wing-hang, Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay and Ms Loretta Fong Wan-huen as members. Mr Hui and Dr Leung are also reappointed as Chairman of the ICAC Sub-committee and the Police Sub-committee of the SCDS respectively. 
 
     The SCCS tenders advice to the Chief Executive on matters concerning pay and conditions of service of non-directorate civilian civil servants. It is currently chaired by Dr Pang Yiu-kai. Other serving members are Ms Christina Maisenne Lee, Dr Miranda Lou Lai-wah, Mr Joseph Luc Ngai, Ms Vena Cheng Wei-yan, Ms Ada Leung Ka-lai, Mr Laurence Li Lu-jen, Mr Adrian Wong Koon-man, Ms Irene Chow Man-ling, Ms Ivy Cheung Wing-han and Dr Billy Mak Sui-choi.
 
     The SCDS advises the Chief Executive on issues relating to the pay and conditions of service of the disciplined services. It is currently chaired by Dr Chui Hong-sheung. Other serving members are Mr Wilfred Wong Kam-pui, Mr Mac Chan Ho-ting, Mr Dennis Ho Chiu-ping, Ms Sonia Cheng Chi-man, Mr Peter Yan King-shun and Ms Lisa Lau Man-man.