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 July 15 to noon today (July 16), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 115 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 68 107 samples of food imported from Japan (including 43 768 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 16 244 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

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

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

 
*"Pro rata ratio" refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant's tendered amount at the "highest yield accepted" level.
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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning July 22, 2024:
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 is 106.4 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     â€‹Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (July 16) that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), pledging mutual co-operation on investment promotion exchanges and support.
      
     The MOU was signed online by the Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, and the Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Ahmed Khalifa Al Qubaisi to foster a closer relationship for the mutual benefit of Hong Kong and the UAE in terms of investment promotion exchanges, and their co-operation with each other in promoting both inward and outward investments in both Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong.
      
     Ms Lau said, "This MOU marks a new milestone between Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi in terms of investment promotion exchanges. Hong Kong offers an efficient, reliable business platform bringing Mainland China and the rest of the world together. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi is a leading economy in the Gulf region and an important source of foreign direct investment in the world. By leveraging Hong Kong's status as the world's 'super connector', companies from Abu Dhabi and the UAE, and those from Asia can strengthen collaboration, tapping into the growing business opportunities across our two regions."
      
     Mr Al Qubaisi said, "This partnership between the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and InvestHK aligns with our strategic goals to leverage the diverse and promising investment opportunities in both markets as it promotes collaborative efforts and trade exchanges, thereby bolstering our joint economic interests.
      
     "Our partnership adds additional and necessary support to the objectives of the 'Gateway to the World' initiative, recently launched by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to expand our international business network, attract multinational corporations, SMEs, investors, and talent to Abu Dhabi, underscoring our commitment to fostering local and global economic growth, ensuring the contribution of the private sector to sustainable development, and facilitating global trade," he added.
      
     The MOU focuses on sharing information on business environments and investment opportunities with a view to promoting investment between the two sides and sharing experiences in attracting foreign investment as well as best practices regarding investment promotion. It also encourages interested local companies in setting up or expanding their businesses within the area of the other jurisdiction and provides support to facilitate inward investment between both Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong.

  

     The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) today (July 16) released the Accident Investigation Preliminary Report and Public Notice PLR-2024-02 on an accident involving a BogdanFly X-wing paraglider, which lost control and landed on a slope at Sunset Peak, Lantau, on June 17, 2024. The pilot did not survive.   

     A spokesperson for the AAIA said that the preliminary report has been published to provide factual information established in the investigation's early-evidence collection phase to both the aviation industry and the general public in a timely manner, and should be regarded as tentative. The full report is available for download from the AAIA webpage (www.tlb.gov.hk/aaia/eng/investigation_reports/index.html).
                
     "The investigation team is conducting a detailed analysis of the data and information collected in order to determine the circumstances and causes of this occurrence with a view to preventing a recurrence in conjunction with identifying areas for further investigation or lines of inquiry to follow up," the spokesperson said.  

     The AAIA, an independent investigation authority formed under the Transport and Logistics Bureau, is responsible for the investigation of civil aircraft accidents and incidents in accordance with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations (Cap. 448B) and with reference to the International Civil Aviation Organization's standards.