The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, November 21, 2024 is 106.4 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     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 20 to noon today (November 21), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 121 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 101 419 samples of food imported from Japan (including 65 096 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 22 662 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The Buildings Department approved seven building plans in September, with three on Hong Kong Island, one in Kowloon and three in the New Territories.

     Of the approved plans, one was for apartment development, one was for commercial development, one was for factory and industrial development, and four were for community services developments.

     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on nine building projects which, when completed, will provide 21 290 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 132 units, and 27 975 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for six building projects.

     The department also issued 16 occupation permits, with five on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 74 896 sq m involving 1 674 units, and 26 784 sq m was for non-domestic use.

     The declared cost of new buildings completed in September totalled about $5.2 billion.

     In addition, nine demolition consents were issued.

     The department received 3 370 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in September and issued 656 removal orders on UBWs.

     The full version of the Monthly Digest for September can be viewed on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).

The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:
 
     The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded "M" Mark status to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Hong Kong Final 2024, which will be held at the Soccer Pitch, Victoria Park from November 22 to 24.
      
     The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (November 21), "Invited by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Hong Kong will host the year-end event of the FIBA 3×3 professional season for the first time. We hope this major sports event will promote local sports development and bring athletes and spectators from around the globe to focus on Hong Kong, thereby attracting more international competitions to Hong Kong and further solidifying its status as the capital of sports events."
      
     The "M" Mark System aims to encourage and help local "national sports associations" and private or non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be granted "M" Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events.
      
     For details of "M" Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk.

     The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is organising the screening programme "Dancing Between Words and Images – Hong Kong Film and Literature", featuring 17 Hong Kong films adapted from or inspired by literary works. In response to the overwhelming feedback on the screening programme, the HKFA will introduce additional screenings of "Red Rose White Rose" (1994) at 7pm on December 15 (Sunday) and "The Mad Phoenix" (1997) at 7pm on January 5, 2025 (Sunday), at its Cinema, so that more audience members can revisit these two classics. 
 
     Adapted from a short story by Eileen Chang and directed by Stanley Kwan and scripted by Edward Lam, "Red Rose White Rose" delicately depicts the struggles between love and married life under patriarchal norms.
 
     "The Mad Phoenix" is adapted from the critically acclaimed stage play of the same title by its playwright Raymond To. It tells the twists and turns of legendary Cantonese opera playwright Kong Yue-kau, and won To a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay.
 
     Tickets for the additional screenings priced at $55 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from November 22 (Friday). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit the HKFA website (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2024/literature/pe-event-2024-literature.html) or call 2739 2139.