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 January 15 to noon today (January 16), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 146 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, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 110 819 samples of food imported from Japan (including 72 150 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 25 470 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     The Buildings Department approved nine building plans in November, with two on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and four in the New Territories.
 
     Of the approved plans, two were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, four were for commercial developments, and three were for community services developments.
 
     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on six building projects which, when completed, will provide 18 938 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 363 units, and 52 301 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for one building project.
 
     The department also issued 17 occupation permits, with two on Hong Kong Island, seven in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories.
 
     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 238 110 sq m involving 4 141 units, and 53 441 sq m was for non-domestic use.
 
     The declared cost of new buildings completed in November totalled about $11.9 billion.
 
     In addition, four demolition consents were issued.
 
     The department received 2 446 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in November and issued 517 removal orders on UBWs.
 
     The full version of the Monthly Digest for November can be viewed on the Buildings Department’s homepage (www.bd.gov.hk). read more

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at the Opening Ceremony of the Education & Careers Expo 2025 organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today (January 16):
 
Margaret (Executive Director of the HKTDC, Ms Margaret Fong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     It is great to be back again. Margaret reminded me I was here for the opening about two years ago. It is great to be back again at this exciting event. As Margaret said, this year is going to celebrate its 34th edition of the Education & Careers Expo. It sounds a bit old, but I think the exhibition keeps on reinventing itself every now and then. Please do come and visit the event because there will be new things, exciting new additions every year.

     As Margaret said, this year we are welcoming 820 higher education institutions, professional associations, enterprises, and including government departments from a total of 22 countries or regions. We are also recruiting, so we want to reach out and invite young people to join the Government. It really showcases that Hong Kong is a truly international hub. We are very delighted to have Consuls General from France, Germany, the Philippines and other countries as well here in Hong Kong. Thank you very much for being with us.

     The title of this event is a combination of education and developing your career. As you know, the Hong Kong Government keeps investing into education. The money and resources we put into education are huge and keep on growing. By now 73 per cent of our young people are getting post-secondary education. That is almost three out of four, which is quite an impressive figure. Ten years ago, it was two out of three, or 67 per cent. So, we are seeing improvement. As a result of our continued investment in education, our workforce is becoming more educated and more productive. Currently, 45 per cent of our workforce in Hong Kong has a post-secondary education. This ensures that we have a more productive workforce. As you can predict, looking forward five or 10 years down the road, we are going to reach a point where more than half of our workforce will have a post-secondary education or beyond. This will greatly enhance the productivity of Hong Kong.

     And also, we are placing more attention and priority on reinventing our VPET (vocational and professional education and training). As you know, right now two universities have been designated as universities of applied sciences. It’s a way to make sure that Hong Kong keeps on having the right people and the right skills to grow our economy. This is for young people, who have the opportunity to get educated, starting as students.

     We also have a large number of people already in the workforce. They did have the luxury when they were young to get a higher education, but they do want to keep updating their skills and stay relevant. For that, we have a very important organisation here called the Employees Retraining Board (ERB). Every year, we provide all sorts of courses and different skill upgrading programmes to help those in the workforce in their middle age – mid-30s, mid-40s, mid-50s. So we keep on providing new things. Starting from now, apart from employment-based and skill-based training, we are also lifting the educational restrictions. Before this year, all the courses were only available to those with up to a sub-degree level. Those with a degree were not allowed to join the ERB for courses due to resource allocation. But from now on, the ERB courses are open to all, irrespective of education level. This also recognises that degree holders now account for quite a significant portion of our workforce.

     Also, we have a Continuing Education Fund. Again, this is opening to all. We look forward to our workforce making use of the credit available to them, upgrading themselves, and learning some new things so that they can stay relevant and make the best out of their talents.

     And clearly, for Hong Kong to go ahead and grow, we have to work together with our whole society as well as partners both locally and abroad. I am very glad that with this Education & Careers Expo, we are making a start on that. I know that there will be a tour for me later on. I do look forward to, apart from renewing my connection with the existing exhibitors, also some new exciting openings and doing something that is quite unusual for me, so I do look forward to the tour. I encourage all of you to have a look, and I wish you all a very enjoyable day today and great success at this year’s Education & Careers Expo. Thank you very much.

          

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited relating to a fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. read more

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. read more