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 March 14 to noon today (March 15), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 201 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 36 444 samples of food imported from Japan (including 24 391 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 10 078 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     The annual Hong Kong Flower Show extravaganza opened at Victoria Park today (March 15) with some 420 000 flowers on display, including about 40 000 angelonias, this year’s theme flower.

     Officiating at the opening ceremony were the wife of the Chief Executive, Mrs Janet Lee; the President of the Legislative Council, Mr Andrew Leung; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Miss Anita Fung; Miss Hong Kong 2023 Hilary Chong; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu.

     Under the theme “Floral Joy Around Town”, this year the landscape displays along the showground axis take their creative cues from fairy tales. Setting off from the Hing Fat Street entrance, visitors first step into the Journey to the West section through the South Heavenly Gate, where they will find topiaries in the shape of magic weapons wielded by the Monkey King, such as the all-powerful banana leaf fan and the cloud that takes him thousands of miles in one somersault. The resplendent flowers and red lanterns remind one of the fireballs in the Flaming Mountains. Next to it is the Arabian Myths section inspired by One Thousand and One Nights. Visitors marvel at a majestic palace consisting of over 10 000 flowers and plants, losing themselves in its exotic beauty.  

     Near the Sugar Street entrance are two other landscape displays inspired by fairy tales – The Wizard of Oz as well as Jack and the Beanstalk. The former showcases a rainbow-coloured hill and the mysterious Land of Seven Colours, where visitors are greeted by the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Lion. The latter features giant vines reaching the clouds and hens laying golden eggs – a wonderland of fantasy for visitors to embark on an adventure uniquely their own.

     The Jockey Club Student Drawing Competition held today attracted approximately 2 200 children, who enjoyed drawing the flowers and plants. Crowds of visitors also gathered to take photographs of the exhibits such as the horticultural displays, the three-dimensional theme flower wall, flower plots, seas of tulips and the sunflower field.

     Meanwhile, the flower show is hosting an online voting campaign called “My Favourite Garden Plot”. Voters can choose their favourite from the garden plots of the 18 districts at the flower show, with the chance of winning free air tickets.

     This year’s flower show has enhanced environmental protection measures, and participating organisations, contractors, volunteers and visitors are encouraged to join hands in creating a “Green Flower Show for All”. Waste separation bins and recyclables collection points are available at the showground to collect carton boxes, plastic flower pots, glass bottles, wilted flowers, soil and more. To support environmental protection, visitors are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and green shopping bags.

     Additionally, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold a Green Recycling Day after the flower show. Students and volunteers will assist in sorting and collecting recyclables at the showground. Flowers and plants suitable for replanting will be distributed to schools, environmental groups, non-governmental organisations and members of the public.

     The flower show is organised by the LCSD. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is supporting the flower show for the 12th consecutive year and has been its major sponsor since 2014. The Club’s support for the Hong Kong Flower Show, like all its charity donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate employment, tax and charity support for the community.

     This year’s flower show is one of the events under “Art March” of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. The flower show is running until March 24 from 9am to 9pm daily. For more details of the flower show and its admission fee arrangements, please visit the event webpage (www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2024/index.html) or call the enquiry hotline at 2601 8260.

read more

     The Government today (March 15) announced that the Chief Executive has reappointed Dr Hubert Chan Chung-yee and Ms Amy Fung Dun-mi, as well as newly appointed Ms Wendy Yuen Miu-ling, as members of the Communications Authority (CA). The tenure of their appointments is two years with effect from April 1, 2024.

     Commenting on the appointments, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said, “I would like to welcome Ms Wendy Yuen as a new member of the CA. With her rich experience gained from the business sector and professional knowledge, she will offer valuable insights into the CA’s work. I am also pleased that two CA members, Dr Hubert Chan and Ms Amy Fung, have been reappointed. Their extensive experience and professional acumen will be of continued benefit to the work of the CA.”

     Mr Yau also expressed gratitude to the outgoing member, Professor Karen Chan Ka-yin, for her significant contributions to and support for the CA in the past six years.

     A brief profile of the newly appointed non-official member is as follows:

Ms Wendy Yuen Miu-ling
————————–

     Ms Yuen is the Deputy Head of Personal & Business Banking Group and Head of Distribution of China CITIC Bank International Limited. She is currently a member of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries General Committee, the Social Welfare Advisory Committee, the Customs and Excise Service Children’s Education Trust Fund Committee, and the Vetting Committee of the Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund, and a panel member of the Insurance Appeals Tribunal.

     The membership of the CA from April 1, 2024, will be as follows:

Chairman
———–
Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi

Vice-chairman
—————-
Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development

Non-official members
————————
Dr Hubert Chan Chung-yee
Mr Nicholas Chan Hiu-fung
Ms Amy Fung Dun-mi
Mr Michael Hui Wah-kit
Professor Vincent Lau Kin-nang
Mr Patrick Law Fu-yuen
Professor Leung Siu-fai
Mr Simon Wong Kwong-yeung
Ms Wendy Yuen Miu-ling

Official member
——————–
Director-General of Communications read more

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements in various districts to facilitate grave sweepers, and to ensure smooth vehicular traffic movements and pedestrian safety during Ching Ming Festival. Hong Kong Island —–… read more

     The call for designs for emblem, mascot, slogan and anthem of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) commenced today (March 15), subsequent to that announced earlier for the 15th National Games.
      
     The 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, cohosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, are set to take place in 2025. The call was issued today by the Guangdong Region Executive Committee on the Games’ website (www.baygames.cn/node_15818276d5) (Chinese only). Interested persons and organisations are welcome to participate. They should follow the guidelines set out in the call announcement to submit their designs and related documents in hard copy by post to the designated address, and in electronic form through the Games’ website (www.baygames.cn/para) (Chinese only). The deadlines for submission are set out below:
 

Item	Deadline for submission
Slogan	April 30, 2024
Emblem	May 15, 2024
Mascot	May 31, 2024
Anthem	September 30, 2024

 
     A spokesman for the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau said, “The NGD is a national multi-sports games featuring sports events under the International Paralympic Committee, while the NSOG encourages people with intellectual disabilities to participate in sports competitions. We hope Hong Kong people will actively participate and give their full support for the call for designs.” read more