â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 29) instructed the trade to suspend the import of raw oysters supplied by Jinhwa Susan Co Ltd from Korea. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS, upon recent notification by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health of food poisoning cases, conducted investigations at both the restaurant and supplier levels, and found that the cases involved consumption of raw oysters supplied by Jinhwa Susan Co Ltd from Korea. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately instructed the trade to suspend the import into and sale within Hong Kong of raw oysters supplied by Jinhwa Susan Co Ltd from Korea."

     The CFS has also instructed the supplier and restaurants concerned to stop supplying and selling the affected raw oysters immediately, and is tracing the distribution of the affected product. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it.

     The spokesman pointed out that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw or partially cooked oysters are high-risk foods. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters.

     The CFS has informed the Korean authorities and will also notify the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing.

     The Security Bureau today (February 29) strongly disapproved of and rejected the biased and erroneous remarks made by the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom (UK), Mr David Cameron, about the Basic Law Article 23 legislation (Article 23 legislation).

     The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, said, "While making his biased and erroneous remarks, the UK Foreign Secretary, Mr Cameron, deliberately did not mention the extensive public consultation and nearly 30 consultation sessions conducted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government on the Article 23 legislation. In fact, a majority of the participants and members of the public filing written submissions in response to the public consultation indicated their support for the legislation; and once the Safeguarding National Security Bill is finalised, it will be introduced to the Legislative Council for scrutiny.

     "The UK has laws and procedures covering different areas for safeguarding national security. The legislative proposals of Article 23 has made reference to laws of foreign countries, including those of the UK. The UK has more than 10 stringent laws to safeguard its national security. What Mr Cameron said reflected his double standards.

     "Under the United Nations Charter, one of the elements of sovereign equality is that each state has the right freely to choose and develop its political, social, economic and cultural systems. No country or region should fantasise that its system is superior to that of another. Moreover, regardless of the systems, every state will enact laws on safeguarding national security. This is an inherent right of every sovereign state, and is also an international practice. Each country or region has the right to enact laws in the most suitable way, having regard to its own circumstances and needs. It should also respect the systems of other countries and regions and their responsibilities and needs to legislate for safeguarding national security, rather than conceitedly attempted to interfere in the legislative procedures of other countries or regions.

     "After Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the Chinese Government ruled the HKSAR with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of the HKSAR as legal basis, rather than the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of supervision over Hong Kong. The UK should immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs which are internal affairs of China."

     "The HKSAR Government will complete the legislative exercise as early as possible to plug the relevant national security loopholes, and in the process, it will listen to the constructive suggestions from various sectors to ensure that the legislation is in line with the Basic Law, and the relevant provisions on safeguarding rights and freedoms in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong. In formulating the relevant offences and drafting the Bill, we will target acts endangering national security with precision and define the elements and penalties of the relevant offences with clarity. Normal business operations and normal exchanges with overseas institutions, organisations and individuals will be fully protected by the law," Mr Tang stressed.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 29) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting seven persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent foodborne diseases.

     The first cluster involved three females aged 30, who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting about eight to 26 hours after having dinner at a restaurant in Tai Hang on February 24.

     The other cluster involved one male and three females, aged between 25 and 27, who developed similar symptoms about five to 39 hours after having dinner at the same restaurant on February 25.

     Three of the affected persons sought medical advice and one of them required hospitalisation. That person was discharged after treatment. All affected persons are in stable condition.

     Initial investigations of the CHP revealed that the affected persons had consumed common food and the food concerned was raw oysters. The incident might have been caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus and/or norovirus.

     â€‹Personnel from the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have conducted investigations at both the restaurants and supplier levels immediately. An investigation by the CFS revealed that the raw oysters involved in the above food poisoning clusters came from the same exporter as those consumed by the affected persons in the suspected food poisoning clusters involving a restaurant in Causeway Bay, announced yesterday (February 28). The CFS has instructed the trade to suspend importing and selling of the raw oysters concerned. Investigations by the CFS and the CHP are ongoing.

     To prevent foodborne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
• Pre-cooked or leftover foods should be stored and reheated properly before consumption;
• Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hotpot or barbecue meal;
• Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
• Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked foods;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water;
• Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine or wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.

     The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, departed today (February 29) for a two-day visit to Zhaoqing to meet with leaders of the People's Government of Zhaoqing Municipality and visit key local enterprises as well as a youth innovation and entrepreneurial base.
 
     Ms Chan travelled to Zhaoqing by high speed rail at noon and visited an electric vehicle enterprise, a new-energy technology enterprise and a mechanical equipment enterprise in turn. She was briefed by representatives of the three enterprises about their businesses and development plans. She encouraged Zhaoqing enterprises to make good use of Hong Kong's unique advantages under "one country, two systems", especially our international business network and world-class professional services, as well as Hong Kong's roles as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" between the Mainland and global markets, to expand and go global through the internationalised platform of Hong Kong.
 
     Ms Chan then called on Executive Deputy Mayor of the People's Government of Zhaoqing Municipality Mr Li Xingwen to learn about the latest developments of Zhaoqing and exchange views with him on deepening the co-operation between Hong Kong and Zhaoqing, and jointly take forward the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
 
     Ms Chan said that as one of the core cities of the GBA, Hong Kong will continue to act as a core engine for regional development and co-operate closely with other cities in the GBA under the principles of complementarity to firmly grasp the immense opportunities of GBA development and contribute to the high-quality development and high-level opening up of the country and of the GBA.
 
     Ms Chan added that Hong Kong and Zhaoqing have all along been partners with complementary advantages. The commissioning of major cross-boundary infrastructure such as the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link has brought Hong Kong and Zhaoqing, as well as other cities of the GBA, much closer together. Zhaoqing is rich in natural resources and is committed to promoting new industrialisation and the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism. In the process of jointly taking forward the development of the GBA, there is much scope for Hong Kong and Zhaoqing to strengthen co-operation in different areas. The two places should maintain close liaison and continue to seek breakthroughs with innovative minds to strive for more policy measures to promote interconnectivity and integrated development among cities in the GBA.
 
     Tomorrow (March 1), Ms Chan will continue her visit to Zhaoqing, including visiting an enterprise that specialises in the research and development of display modules, touring Zhaoqing New District to learn about its planning and development, and visiting a youth innovation and entrepreneurship base to exchange views with young people.

      

     A renovation company and its male director were convicted of applying a false trade description to renovation services, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), and were fined $3,000 and sentenced to imprisonment for eight months respectively at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (February 29). The imprisonment sentence laid down by the court on the director is the highest penalty imposed on unfair trade practices cases relating to renovation services since the TDO was amended in July 2013.

     Hong Kong Customs in January 2022 received information alleging that a renovation company and its director had engaged in unfair trade practices in the supply of renovation services.

     An investigation revealed that the renovation company and its director made a false claim to a customer that the renovation services would be commenced on a specified date. However, no services had been provided to the customer at the end. The total amount of the contract involved was about $190,000.

     Customs welcomes the sentence which has achieved a considerable deterrent effect and given a clear warning to unscrupulous practitioners in the industry. The department has all along been concerned about the unfair trade practices in the industry and will continue to take stringent enforcement actions and will not tolerate any illegal acts.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Consumers are also reminded to procure services from reputable shops. After purchasing services, they should keep the relevant records, such as transaction receipts and contracts, which can become basic information in case a complaint is lodged in the future. 

     Under the TDO, any person who in the course of any trade or business applies a false trade description to any service commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years. 

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).