The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 2) investigating a case of suspected mad honey poisoning, and reminded the public to buy honey from a reliable source or apiary.

     A 57-year-old male developed dizziness and syncope around three hours after consuming honey on November 29. He was taken to North Lantau Hospital on November 30 and was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment. His clinical diagnosis was suspected mad honey poisoning. The patient is in stable condition after treatment.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had consumed honey brought to Hong Kong by a friend from Nepal. The poisoning might have been caused by grayanotoxin. The investigations are ongoing.

     "Mad honey poisoning is caused by ingestion of honey containing grayanotoxins derived from plants belonging to the Ericaceae family, including rhododendrons. Grayanotoxins are neurotoxins which can affect nerves and muscles. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, hypersalivation and paraesthesia shortly after ingestion. In severe cases, hypotension, bradycardia or shock may occur," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Members of the public are reminded to take heed of the following preventive advice:

• Buy honey from a reliable source or apiary;
• Discard honey with a bitter or astringent taste – grayanotoxin-containing honey may cause a burning sensation in the throat; and
• Pay special attention to honey from India, Nepal and the Black Sea region of Türkiye as there have been grayanotoxin poisoning cases connected with honey from these areas.

     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 November 29 to noon today (December 2), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 358 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category, in the past three days (including last Saturday and Sunday). 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 150 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 103 160 samples of food imported from Japan (including 66 456 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 23 214 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, December 2, 2024 is 106.5 (up 0.3 against last Saturday's index).

     â€‹The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, November 30, 2024 was 106.2 (up 0.1 against last Friday's index).

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary today (December 2) announced the appointment of Mr Lee Siu-ho as a District Judge. The appointment will take effect from December 3, 2024.

     The appointment is made by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission. 

     The biographical notes of Mr Lee is as follows:

     Mr Lee was born in Hong Kong in 1968. He obtained his LL.B. and P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1991 and 1992 respectively. He obtained a Master of Laws Degree from the University of London in the United Kingdom in 1996. He further acquired a Second Bachelor Degree in Chinese Law from Tsinghua University and the University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education in 2006 and a Master of Arts Degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2012. He became a Mediator accredited by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution in 2011. He was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in 1992. He was in private practice from 1993 until he was appointed as Permanent Magistrate in 2014.

The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
 
     This press release summarises the decisions of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 138th meeting held in November 2024.
 
Renewal of non-domestic television programme service (non-domestic TV) licence of Sun Television Cybernetworks Enterprise Limited (Sun TV)
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     The CA approved the application by Sun TV for renewal of its non-domestic TV licence for 12 years, from November 8, 2025, to November 7, 2037 (both dates inclusive). Currently, there are nine non-domestic TV licensees providing around 150 satellite television programme channels for the Asia Pacific region.
 
Broadcast complaint
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     The CA considered a complaint case about the television programme promotions for "You Are Not Alone" broadcast on April 9 and 10, 2024, on the Jade and the then J2 Channels of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). The CA decided that TVB should be advised to observe more closely the relevant provisions of the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Standards. Details of the case are at the Appendix.