The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (October 17) that the new intelligent sports and recreation services booking and information system, SmartPLAY, will be officially launched at 7am on November 9 to replace the current Leisure Link Computerised Booking System which will stop operation from November 6 onward. 

     At present, over 200 000 people have registered as SmartPLAY users, including about 100 000 existing Leisure Link patrons (around 40 per cent of the Leisure Link patrons who frequently use the system). To allow more public members to register in time for using the sports and recreation facilities and services under the new system, the LCSD decides to slightly adjust the launching of the SmartPLAY to November 9. 

     The LCSD reminds the public that all people, including existing Leisure Link patrons, must register with the new system and complete an identity authentication process before using the new system to enrol in programmes and book leisure facilities.

     From November 6 to 8, data transfer between the old system and the new one, report checking and online data verification, as well as re-inspections of all new system equipment including network security devices, will take place to ensure smooth operation of the new system. During these three days, the registration for SmartPLAY will also be suspended. To ensure a smooth transition, the LCSD will implement the following transitional arrangements from late-October to mid-November. Arrangements of balloting applications for hard-surface ball courts will be announced later (Please refer to the annexes for details).

     Meanwhile, starting from November 1, the arrangements of reallocating the leisure facilities for individual users if such are not available for use will be cancelled. If the booked facilities are not available for use, users can apply for a refund through the existing mechanism or SmartPLAY system. 

     Apart from its core functions for booking facilities, the new system will provide more enhanced functions. The capacity of the new system will be enlarged to accommodate 10 000 concurrent users, as opposed to around 1 000 at present, so as to enable a faster login to the system by more members of the public. Moreover, users may enjoy a series of personalised services, like receiving e-notifications according to their own preferences, information on cancelled and released sessions available for booking, as well as checking balloting results and refund status, etc. Users may also receive notifications in case of urgent closure of leisure venues or cancellation of programmes due to inclement weather. The system also provides different means of e-payment. 

     The LCSD has provided 375 new Smart Self-service Stations at around 240 leisure venues (including District Leisure Services Offices in various districts). Members of the public can submit their registration, and complete identity authentication and account activation procedures at these Smart Self-service Stations. 

     To assist members of the public to complete the registration of SmartPLAY user account and to familiarise themselves with the booking of facilities and enrolment of programmes under the new system, a series of "SmartPLAY" Smart Way Workshops (www.smartplay.lcsd.gov.hk/website/en/news/9984.html) organised by the LCSD are now open for application, including some workshops dedicated to citizens aged 60 or above. Members of the public are welcome to join the workshops for free. Those interested are invited to check out details on the above website. 

     For more information on SmartPLAY, please visit the SmartPLAY website (www.smartplay.lcsd.gov.hk), or call the SmartPLAY hotline at 3954 5150.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) released today (October 17) the web version of the Profile of Kindergartens and Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres 2023/24 School Year (www.chsc.hk/kindergarten) to provide basic information on all kindergartens and kindergarten-cum-child care centres (collectively referred to as kindergartens), enhance the transparency of schools and help parents make informed school choices for their children. Mobile applications for iOS and Android versions of the Profile are also available for download.
 
     A spokesman for the EDB said, "The Profile covers information on about 1 010 kindergartens in Hong Kong, including the list of kindergartens joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme in the 2023/24 school year and the approved school fees of kindergartens for the 2023/24 school year. For kindergartens joining the Scheme, the Profile will show their approved school fees after the deduction of government subsidies. Parents can also refer to the Fees Certificate of respective kindergartens for details of the approved fees, including school fees and meal charges, if applicable.
 
     "Other information in the Profile includes the number and overall professional qualifications of the principal and teaching staff, enrolment, the teacher-to-pupil ratio, curriculum details, reference prices of major education items being sold, the application fee and the registration fee, and information on application for admission. All kindergartens joining the Scheme are required to disclose information on the proportion of major expenses in overall expenditure. The Profile also includes columns on 'Support to non-Chinese speaking students' and 'Support to students with special needs' for parents' easy reference."
 
     The spokesman added, "All kindergartens joining the Scheme are required to undergo the Quality Review (QR) for quality assurance. For those kindergartens that have completed the QR process, information on whether they have met the prescribed standards is indicated in the Profile and the latest QR Report can be accessed through the link provided."
 
     The Profile is available in English to help parents of non-Chinese speaking children access information on kindergartens more easily and comprehensively.
 
     Printed copies of the Profile in Chinese and English will be available from October 31 for parents' reference at Regional Education Offices of the EDB, Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department (HAD), Maternal and Child Health Centres of the Department of Health, Integrated Family Service Centres of the Social Welfare Department, public libraries and Support Service Centres for Ethnic Minorities funded by the HAD.
 

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government was notified by the Shenzhen authority that clearance services for goods vehicles carrying fresh food at the Man Kam To Boundary Control Point (BCP) will resume at 7am tomorrow (October 18), while clearance services for other vehicles and passengers will continue to suspend until further notice.

     All goods vehicles carrying fresh food can resume entering Hong Kong through the Man Kam To BCP for inspection by the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. Other vehicles and cross-boundary passengers are advised to use other land BCPs to travel to and from the Mainland.

     The HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close liaison and co-ordination with the Shenzhen authority on further resumption of clearance services at the relevant BCP. Announcement will be made in due course once further details are available.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 16) announced that a sample of prepackaged egg-flavoured noodle was detected with sulphur dioxide, a preservative, at a level exceeding the legal limit, and the functional class and name of the additive were also not declared on the food label. In addition, the CFS found earlier that a sample of prepackaged scallop-flavoured noodle contained sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is allowed to be used in certain foods, but the functional class and the name of the additive were not declared on the food label. When following up on the incident, the CFS found that another sample batch of scallop-flavoured noodle also contained sulphur dioxide but the functional class and the name of the additive were not declared on the food label. Members of the public should not consume the affected batches of the products. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately if they possess it.

     Product details of the egg-flavoured noodle are as follows:

Product name: HONG KONG EGG FLAVOR NOODLE 
Brand: GOURMET ALLEY 
Place of origin: Hong Kong
Net weight: 454 grams
Best-before date: August 15, 2025
Manufacturer: AAA Noodle Product Manufactory (HK) Ltd
Hotline: 2614 2160

     "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample of egg-flavoured noodle from a supermarket in Chai Wan for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 61 parts per million, exceeding the legal limit of 20 ppm. The functional class and name of the additive were also not declared on the food label," a spokesman for the CFS said.

     "The CFS announced earlier that a sample of scallop-flavoured noodle collected from a supermarket in Sham Shui Po was found to contain sulphur dioxide. Although the sulphur dioxide level is below the maximum permitted level under the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD), the functional class and the name of the additive were not declared on the food label of the sample. The CFS detected a similar irregularity in another batch of scallop-flavoured noodle taken from the same supermarket for testing during follow-up investigations," the spokesman added.

     Product details of the scallop-flavoured noodle are as follows:

Product name: Scallop Noodles
Brand: Select
Place of origin: China
Net weight: 454 grams
Best-before date: December 15, 2024
Distributor: PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited
Hotline: 2606 8658

     The CFS has informed the vendors and the manufacturer/distributor concerned of the irregularities and instructed them to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batches of the products. The manufacturer/distributor concerned have initiated recalls according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call the respective hotlines during office hours for enquiries about the recalls. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

     The spokesman reminded the food trade that the use of preservatives in food must comply with the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD). Furthermore, the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that for all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong containing sulphite in a concentration of 10 ppm or more, the functional class of the sulphite and its name shall be specified in the list of ingredients. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.

     Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products. Sulphur dioxide is water soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption.

     The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. Investigations are ongoing.

     Correctional officers at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre today (October 16) intercepted a male remand person in custody smuggling a suspected dangerous drug into the centre by concealing it inside his body.

     The 31-year-old person in custody was remanded for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug on October 13. After undergoing X-ray body scanning, he was suspected to have swallowed the dangerous drug before admission. He was therefore separated and put under close monitoring.

     At 1.57pm today, he discharged one pack of the suspected dangerous drug with a weight of about 18 grams wrapped in a plastic sheet. The case has been reported to the Police for follow-up.

     A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department takes every measure to stop the introduction of dangerous drugs or unauthorised articles into correctional institutions in order to maintain good order and discipline, and a drug-free environment for all persons in custody."