The Government launched today (December 16) a public consultation exercise on the proposed amendments to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V). It will last for two months until February 16.

     A Government spokesman said, "One of the initiatives set out in the Supplement of the Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address is to review food safety standards under the Regulations with reference to international standards and practices, with a view to better protecting public health, facilitating effective regulation and promoting harmonisation between local and international food safety standards."

     With reference to latest standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) and major food importing places including Mainland China, the Government proposes to add 27 new maximum levels (MLs) for specified metals (including lead, cadmium and methylmercury) in specified foods (food pairs) and update nine MLs for lead in the existing relevant food pairs. The total number of MLs will increase from 144 to 171 after the amendment.

     The Government proposes that a transitional period of 18 months be given after the enactment of the amended legislation, so that the food trade and other stakeholders will have reasonable time to make adjustments to comply with the amended Regulations.

     The consultation document is available on the websites of the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. 

     Members of the public are welcome to offer their views on the proposals by email (metal_consultation@fehd.gov.hk), fax (2893 3547) or post (43/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong) within the consultation period.

     The Government will also conduct consultation forums to collect views from the public. For details of the consultation forums, please visit the CFS website.

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, today (December 16) extended her congratulations to Hong Kong, China swimming athlete Siobhan Bernadette Haughey on winning a gold medal in the Women's 200m Freestyle at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) Budapest 2024.
      
     Miss Law said, "Siobhan Bernadette Haughey once again triumphed in an international competition following her outstanding performance at the Paris Olympic Games this year. Not only did she display her extraordinary capabilities, but she also let Hong Kong athletes come into the world's spotlight. We are very proud of her superb performance, our thanks also go to her coaches and support team for their relentless hard work."

     The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) today (December 15) organised the Police Recruitment Experience and Assessment Day (READ) at the Hong Kong Police College with the theme of "Next Station: Police College". Participants were able to gain a better knowledge of the selection process, the foundation training programmes at the Police College, and the diversified police duties through a series of experiential activities, encouraging potential applicants to join the Force and embark on a new chapter to serve the community.
 
     The event consisted of three thematic sessions: (1) Selection workshops for Probationary Inspector/Police Constable; (2) Interactive Police Unit Display, Sharing of Training Experience and Range Course Experience Station; and (3) Physical Fitness Test Workshops. Participants were able to submit applications on the spot and undergo part of the initial screening process.
 
     The "Simulated Shooting Range Station" and "Indoor Range Shooting Experience Station" were first introduced in READ to allow participants to experience the intensity of firearms and learn more about Police firearms training. As for the selection workshops, the Recruit Police Constable (RPC) "2-in-1 Express" was held in READ for the first time. Applicants with outstanding performance in the Group Interview stage will be advanced to the Final Interview on the same day through the "2-in-1 Express", further optimising the selection process.
 
     In addition, the "Diploma of Applied Education – Police Cadet Training" (Cadet) Programme in the 2025/26 academic year is now open for application, and on-site interview sessions were arranged by the Recruitment Division in READ. The Cadet Programme provides practical knowledge and preparatory training for persons interested in joining the Force. Students who successfully complete the programme and pass the Police Constable selection process may commence foundation training at the Police College upon graduation.
 
     The READ was attended by 1 620 participants, amounting to 2 264 attendance. A total of 464 on-spot applications were received, of which 111 for Probationary Inspector posts, 253 for RPC posts, 29 for Police Constable (Auxiliary) posts, and 71 for the Cadet Programme. Applicants included students of local and overseas tertiary institutes and working people.
 
     The Force accepts job applications year-round. Persons who are interested in applying for the posts of Probationary Inspector, Recruit Police Constable or Police Constable (Auxiliary) may submit their application forms online or through the "HKPF Recruit" mobile application, in addition to mailing the completed forms to the Police Recruitment Division. For more information, please visit the Police recruitment webpage at www.police.gov.hk/recruitment.

            

     The Education Bureau (EDB) organised the Family Fun Party cum Prize Presentation Ceremony today (December 15) at Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre to encourage parents and children to practise healthy lifestyles through engaging in outdoor recreation and sports activities. Around 220 parents and children participated in a parent-child treasure hunt competition under the theme of developing healthy lifestyles, and completed various parent-child challenges together. 

     The EDB presented awards to the winning schools, students and parents of the parent-child treasure hunt competition as well as the Healthy Living, Happy Family Series – Picturise Your Messages Sticker Design Competition at the prize presentation ceremony of the Fun Party in recognition of their participation in the events of the Positive Parent Campaign and promotion of healthy living. 

     Speaking at the ceremony, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, said that self-image as well as the physical and psychological well-being of children and adolescents are closely related to the family. He hoped that parents and children could recognise and experience the importance of developing healthy lifestyles through this experiential activity and incorporate these experiences into their daily lives. 

     The EDB has earlier organised the Healthy Living, Happy Family Series – Picturise Your Messages Sticker Design Competition to encourage parents to develop healthy lifestyles with their families to enable the happy and healthy development of their children. The competition comprises three groups, namely kindergarten, primary and secondary groups. It was well received and over 4 000 entries were recorded from more than 5 600 parents and students. Participants conveyed the message of developing healthy lifestyles in different ways, and most of the entries were creative and echoed the theme of heathy living. The adjudication panel had earlier selected 15 outstanding entries in each group for online voting by the public. 

     The EDB has been running the Positive Parent Campaign since June 2020 to promote positive parent education through extensive and diversified channels with a view to fostering parents' positive thinking and promoting proper ways and attitudes of nurturing children, thereby developing in parents a positive and optimistic mindset that contributes to the effective learning and happy development of children. For the latest information of the Positive Parent Campaign, please visit the EDB Smart Parent Net website (www.parent.edu.hk/en) or follow the Facebook (www.facebook.com/parents.edu.hk) and Instagram pages (www.instagram.com/parents.edu.hk) of the Smart Parent Net.

      

     The Civil Aid Service (CAS) held the 89th Recruits Passing-out Parade at its headquarters today (December 15). The parade was reviewed by the Controller of the Government Flying Service (GFS), Captain West Wu.
 
     Speaking at the Parade, Captain Wu said that the CAS had been working closely with the GFS over the years. Members of the CAS Mountain Search and Rescue Company (MSaR) were on duty at the headquarters and the Kai Tak Division of the GFS on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. When members of public encountered hiking accidents, the crewmen of the GFS, together with CAS MSaR members, would head to the site swiftly in a helicopter to provide appropriate assistance. Every year, the CAS also works with other government departments, including the GFS and other organisations, to organise the Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day to advocate mountaineering safety to the public. The number of cases of requests for assistance by hikers has decreased from over 1 000 in 2022 to about 400 in the third quarter of this year. From this, it can be seen that the CAS has spared no efforts in enhancing mountaineering safety awareness.
 
     Captain Wu said that the CAS also provides rescue services. For instance, during Typhoons Yagi and Toraji, the CAS deployed more than 200 personnel to help members of the public in need in various districts. Recently, under the combined effects of a spring tide and Typhoon Man-yi, flooding took place in various parts of the territory. CAS members provided assistance to the public in Sha Tau Kok, Tai O and Lei Yue Mun. In addition, the CAS deploys more than 100 people every weekend to the Kai Tak Sports Park to participate in drills and perform crowd management duties in test events, in preparation for the 15th National Games next year.
 
     Captain Wu said that the CAS attaches great importance to the development of national security. In recent years, the CAS has been expanding the scope of youth exchange activities, and has incorporated visits to the National Security Exhibition Gallery into the training programmes for new recruits in order to strengthen their sense of belonging to the country.
 
     Captain Wu said that loving the motherland and Hong Kong is the core spirit of the community and an essential foundation for the steadfast and successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" arrangement. He added that the graduates' strong commitment to serving Hong Kong is indispensable to maintaining the community's prosperity and stability, safeguarding national security and upholding the "one country, two system" principle. He encouraged graduates to learn from their experiences, face challenges with determination, stay true to their original aspirations, and move forward. He firmly believes that they will unite, work hard, and grow stronger together, upholding the CAS pledge of "Provide Emergency Relief, Serve the Community" to wholeheartedly serve the public.
  
     Captain Wu presented awards to outstanding recruits at the ceremony. The graduates also performed a fire fighting and a rescue demonstration to showcase their learning outcomes.
 
     A total of 52 recruits from diverse backgrounds of society were reviewed at the parade. The CAS Recruit Training Certificate Programme has been recognised under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework as meeting the accreditation standards at Level 3 by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications. Graduates will be awarded the Certificate in Auxiliary Forces Basic Training (Civil Defence). The graduates will apply their acquired knowledge and skills to serve society.
 
     Recruitment of CAS Grade IV Officers and Grade I Members is open for application throughout the year. Recruitment details and application forms are available on the CAS website (www.cas.gov.hk/eng/adult_recruitment.html).