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 October 16 to noon today (October 17), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 138 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 8 972 samples of food imported from Japan (including 5 845 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 2 656 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The 2023 Hong Kong Youth Music Interflows organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will be held from November 14 to December 2. More than 200 orchestras and bands from local primary and secondary schools will participate in the event, which provides an opportunity for students to conduct musical exchanges and gain performing experience through Chinese Orchestra, String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Band Interflows.
 
     Over 70 orchestras will participate in the six classes of the Chinese Orchestra Interflow at the Auditorium of Tuen Mun Town Hall from November 14 to 16.
 
     About 40 orchestras will take part in the four classes of the String Orchestra Interflow at the Auditorium of the Yuen Long Theatre on November 15 and 16.
 
     About 40 orchestras will perform in the Symphony Orchestra Interflow, with four classes to be held at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on November 21 and 22.
 
     Over 60 bands will take part in the six classes of the Symphonic Band Interflow at the Arena of Queen Elizabeth Stadium from November 28 to December 1. The top two Gold Award Winners of each class (if awarded) will be invited to compete for the Tom Lee Cup in the primary and secondary school categories at the Symphonic Band Extravaganza on December 2. Renowned British saxophonist Professor Gerard McChrystal, together with the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band, will guest perform at the Symphonic Band Extravaganza, bringing an unforgettable musical feast to the audience.
 
     Tickets for the Chinese Orchestra Interflow are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). Those for the String Orchestra Interflow and the Symphony Orchestra Interflow will be available from October 18 and October 24 onwards respectively, while those for the Symphonic Band Interflow will be available from October 31 onwards. Tickets for each interflow are priced at $60. A maximum of two tickets can be bought for the String Orchestra Interflow in each purchase. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2796 1003 (String Orchestra Interflow and Symphony Orchestra Interflow), 2598 8335 (Chinese Orchestra Interflow) or 2158 6470 (Symphonic Band Interflow), or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/activities/musicactivities/hkymi/2023hkymi.html.

     The Transport Department today (October 17) reminded members of the public that the temporary special measures of the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme will expire on October 31 this year.

     To allow more commuters to benefit from the Scheme during the epidemic, the Government had implemented the special measures to temporarily relax the monthly public transport expenses threshold from $400 to $200 and increase the monthly subsidy cap from $400 to $500 under the Scheme since May of last year. The above temporary special measures will expire on October 31 this year. From November 1 this year, the Government will provide a subsidy to commuters amounting to one-third of the actual monthly public transport expenses in excess of $400, subject to a maximum of $400 per month for each Octopus.

     For details of the Scheme, please visit the website (ptfss.gov.hk). Commuters can also check their record of public transport expenses and subsidy amount through the Subsidy Enquiry website (subsidy-enquiry.ptfss.hk), the Octopus App or the Scheme hotline 2969 5500. 

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting tomorrow (October 18) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Taxation on Foreign-sourced Disposal Gains) Bill 2023 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
 
     The Second Reading debate on the Product Eco-responsibility (Amendment) Bill 2023 will also resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     On Members' motions, Mr Shang Hailong will move a motion on following up on President Xi Jinping's important instruction on innovation and technology on June 30, 2022. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Yim Kong and Dr Chow Man-kong will move amendments to Mr Shang's motion.
 
     Mr Lam San-keung will move a motion on comprehensively reviewing the securities market regime for small and medium enterprises. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Edmund Wong and Mr Robert Lee will move amendments to Mr Lam's motion.
 
     During the meeting, the Chief Secretary for Administration will present "The Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No. 80 of July 2023" and address the Council.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (October 17) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach in Islands District; and Hap Mun Bay Beach, Silverstrand Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.