The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 17) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Komi Republic in Russia and Rural Municipality of Maple Creek No. 111 of Saskatchewan Province in Canada, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Russia for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 50 tonnes and 20 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Russia and Canada respectively in the first six months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Russian and Canadian authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (October 17) reminded members of the public that temporary road closures will be implemented in phases at various locations in New Territories South, Kowloon West and Tsim Sha Tsui from 1am on Sunday (October 22) to facilitate the holding of the Hong Kong Cyclothon.

     The 50 kilometre and 30km rides will start at Salisbury Road near Empire Centre in East Tsim Sha Tsui, while the finishing point will be located at Salisbury Road opposite to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The 50km ride will be routed via Kowloon Park Drive, Austin Road West, Nga Cheung Road Flyover, Jordan Road, Lin Cheung Road, West Kowloon Highway, the Cheung Tsing Tunnel, the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Ting Kau Bridge, turn back and be routed via the Nam Wan Tunnel, the Stonecutters Bridge to the Eagle's Nest Tunnel, and then return to the finishing point via the West Kowloon Highway along the same outbound route. The race route of the 30km ride will be similar to the 50km ride, but will not be routed via the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Ting Kau Bridge and the Eagle's Nest Tunnel. Subject to the race arrangements and progress, the above road sections along the race routes in New Territories South and Kowloon West will be temporarily closed until around 11am on that day.

     Roads in the vicinity of the Urban Council Centenary Garden in East Tsim Sha Tsui, including Salisbury Road, Mody Road, Mody Lane and Science Museum Road, as well as Hung Hom Bypass and Hung Hom Road, will also be temporarily closed until around 5.45pm for the holding of other events and races of the Cyclothon including the UCI Class 1.1 Road Race.

     During the road closure period, 144 bus routes (including 62 KMB routes, 29 Citybus routes, 28 cross harbour bus routes, 24 Long Win Bus routes and one New Lantao Bus route) and 15 green minibus routes will be affected and subject to diversion, truncation, suspension or relocation of stops in phases until the reopening of roads. The Star Ferry Pier Public Transport Interchange and the China Hong Kong City Public Transport Interchange will be suspended from 2.30am until around 11am; and the Tsim Sha Tsui East (Mody Road) Bus Terminus will be suspended from 11am until around 5.45pm on Sunday. Roadside parking spaces within the closed roads will also be suspended.

     The above road closure arrangements will not affect vehicles from Hong Kong Island/Kowloon/New Territories East heading for the airport and Lantau Island. Both bounds of the Western Harbour Crossing will also remain in normal operation. Due to the closure of the Ting Kau Bridge (Kowloon bound), motorists travelling from New Territories West to the airport and Lantau Island via Tuen Mun Road or the Tai Lam Tunnel will be diverted via Tsuen Wan Road, Tsuen Tsing Interchange, Tsing Tsuen Road, the Tsing Tsuen Bridge, Tam Kon Shan Interchange, Tsing Yi North Coastal Road heading for the Tsing Ma Bridge.

     The TD appeals to the public to pay attention to the temporary road closures and public transport service adjustment arrangements on that day. Due to extensive road closures, the TD anticipates that Kowloon-bound traffic on the Lantau Link, Tsim Sha Tsui bound on Ferry Street, sections of Canton Road south of Jordan Road and in the vicinity of Harbour City will be more significantly congested compared with normal Sundays. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to the affected areas, and in case of traffic congestion, motorists should exercise patience, drive with care and follow the instructions of the Police on site.

     Members of the public should plan their journeys early to avoid unexpected delays, and use public transport services (particularly railway services) as far as possible, and pay attention to the arrangements of temporary route diversions and relocations of stops. Those heading to the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Kowloon Station for the Airport Express Line or boundary control points including Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the China Ferry Terminal (China Hong Kong City) are advised to plan their journey early to avoid any delay caused by road closures and traffic diversions. They may browse the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) or mobile application "HKeMobility" for information about the special traffic and transport information, or they may also browse relevant public transport operators' websites or mobile applications for details of service changes.

     The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation. Other temporary road and traffic control measures, including adjusting the extent of road closures, and alteration or suspension of public transport services may be implemented by the Police at short notice depending on the actual traffic conditions. Members of the public are advised to stay alert to the latest traffic news through the media.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 is 106.6 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     Hong Kong Customs on October 4 seized about 8 400 suspected counterfeit goods and about 260 litres of suspected duty-not-paid liquor at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound. The total estimated market value was about $11 million, with a duty potential of about $ 260,000.
      
     Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected a 40-foot container, declared as carrying mobile phone accessories, footwear and daily necessities and arriving in Hong Kong from Nansha, Guangdong. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected duty-not-paid liquor and suspected counterfeit goods, including mobile phones, mobile phone parts, earphones and watches therein.
      
     An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected duty-not-paid liquor and suspected counterfeit goods would be transhipped to overseas regions.
      
     An investigation is ongoing.
      
     Customs will continue to combat smuggling activities and cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities and interception at source to combat illicit liquor activities for protection of revenue with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
      
     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
      
     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting 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 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 October 23, 2023: