Tag Archives: China

     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 11 to noon today (October 12), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 178 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 8 161 samples of food imported from Japan (including 5 262 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 2 406 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene cancelled the licence of a fresh provision shop in Yuen Long today (October 12), as the licensee breached a licensing condition by displaying and selling chilled pork as fresh pork. The shop concerned has had to cease operation with immediate effect.
 
     The fresh provision shop is located at Shop B10 on the ground floor of Hop Yick Plaza, Mau Tan Street, Yuen Long.
      
     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said, “The FEHD will not tolerate the sale of chilled or frozen meat/poultry as fresh meat/poultry in fresh provision shops. Suspected cases will be promptly investigated with enforcement actions taken where appropriate. Those breaching the relevant licensing condition are liable to immediate cancellation of the licence concerned.”
      
     People should call the FEHD’s hotline at 2868 0000 to report such irregularities, or when they have doubts about meat and poultry being sold at retail outlets.
      
     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit a sign, at a conspicuous place near the main entrance, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD’s website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/index.html).
  read more

     The Government Property Agency is inviting quotations for a three-year tenancy of Shop No. 503 on the First Floor, Passenger Clearance Building, 33 Shun Fai Road, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port, Lantau, Hong Kong, subject to the provisions for renewal for a further term of two years.

     The premises should only be used for general retail and/or services purposes excluding storage, sale or display of:

(1) dutiable goods as defined under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), unless the Premises have been issued with a warehouse licence under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109);

(2) duty-paid goods as defined under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109); and

(3) goods, merchandise or commodities that are from time to time prohibited from import into Hong Kong under the laws of Hong Kong.

     The decision of the Landlord as to what constitutes goods, merchandise or commodities under paragraph (3) above shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Tenant. All references in the Form of Tenancy Agreement to the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109) shall include any regulations made thereunder and any amending legislation.
 
     The quotation notice was uploaded today (October 12) to the Agency’s website: www.gpa.gov.hk. Quotation documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, except public holidays. The document can also be downloaded from the Agency’s website.

     Interested bidders who wish to conduct a site inspection of the premises should make a prior appointment with the Agency by calling 3842 6916 on or before October 18.

     Bidders must submit their quotations by placing them in the Government Property Agency Quotation Box placed at the Ground Floor Lobby, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, before noon on November 2. Late quotations will not be accepted. read more

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Yuen Long this morning (October 12) in which a 79-year-old man died.      At 7.29am, a light goods vehicle (LGV) driven by a 66-year-old man was travelling along Tai Tong Road towards K… read more

     A property owner who persistently failed to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123) was convicted and fined over $100,000 at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts last week.
 
     The order involved several unauthorised structures of a total area of about 450 square metres and an unauthorised canopy at Ping Che Road, North. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.
 
     Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD in 2018 and was fined about $27,000 upon conviction by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the BD instigated prosecution for the second time and the owner was convicted again. The owner’s representative explained to the court that the required removal works were being arranged. The owner was fined $102,190 at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on October 3.
 
     A spokesman for the BD said today (October 12), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who have failed to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, so as to ensure building safety.”
 
     Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues. read more