Author Archives: hksar gov

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:      The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning.      To prevent heat stroke, avoid pro… read more

     Po Leung Kuk has been issued a Public Subscription Permit to hold a territory-wide flag sale from 7am to 12.30pm today (August 28), a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said. 

     For enquiries, please call the SWD’s hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678. Information on flag days is available at the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew) and the GovHK portal (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing contact information of the flag-selling organisations and information on the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_recentlyap). For enquiries about the detailed flag-selling arrangements, please contact the individual flag-selling organisations.

     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities covered by the Public Subscription Permit issued by the SWD have also been uploaded to the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/fundraising).

     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added. read more

     The Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) gave a concert at the Kumamoto Prefectural Theater in Kumamoto, Japan, today (August 27) as part of its concert tour across Asia.
 
     Comprising about 100 young musicians from various parts of Asia, including 14 from Japan, the AYO had earlier performed in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nanjing, Tianjin, Beijing, Taipei, Chiayi City and Seoul during this season’s tour. After the concert in Kumamoto today, the AYO will perform in Fukuoka on August 28 followed by concerts in Tokyo on August 30 and 31, which will conclude this season’s tour.
 
     Speaking at a reception before the concert, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Ms Shirley Yung, said that the concert in Kumamoto was of particular significance because the AYO started in Kumamoto with its first rehearsal camp and concert in 1990. 
 
     “Tonight is a precious opportunity for friends in Kumamoto to renew their friendship and connections with the AYO, as well as for many others to become acquainted with this orchestra,” Ms Yung said.

     Based in Hong Kong, the AYO attracts many bright young musicians from all over Asia to Hong Kong every year, and takes them to different parts of the world for performances and cultural exchanges.
 
     The AYO has played a significant role in promoting arts and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Japan. Since its first public concert in Kumamoto in 1990, Japan has been one of the destinations for the AYO tour almost every year. The AYO was awarded Japan’s Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists in 2010 in recognition of its outstanding contributions to the development of young artistic talent. It was also awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize for Culture and Community in 2015 for promoting friendship and understanding among young people across Asia through the common language of music.

     The performances by the AYO in Korea and Japan are supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo), which is currently the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in Japan and Korea.

    

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, at a media session on matters relating to trade conflict between China and the United States (US) after meeting with representatives of major chambers of commerce and associations of small and medium enterprises today (August 27):
 
Reporter: Two questions, one for Mr Yau, the other one for either of you (Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Dr Daniel Yip; and the President of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, Dr Dennis Ng). What is the exact percentage of the impact of these tariffs on the goods that went through Hong Kong to the US or both ways, in terms of last year’s trade figures and in the first half of this year? And the second question is: have you seen any lay-offs or shut down of companies arising from this trade war situation?
 
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: In terms of US-China trade, in aggregate terms, seven per cent of US imports from China comes through Hong Kong, and the other way round, US products coming to China through Hong Kong accounts for about two per cent. So as a whole, nine per cent of Hong Kong’s imports and exports is related to US-China trade. In statistical terms, that accounts for less than 10 per cent of our overall trade.
 
     But of course, we are not talking about just commodity trade. With the heightened tariffs and the very extensive coverage of almost all the products, basically, I think it is a total war in terms of commodity trade. With a very heavy and inhibitive tariff imposed on trading between these two countries, plus the fact that the US and China are the world’s biggest trading partners, the impact of a trade war onto other economic areas cannot be underestimated.
 
     In the earlier estimate last year, we were talking about the initial phase of 25 per cent (US tariff) imposed on some of the (Chinese) products, at that time, some economists were estimating that the impact on Hong Kong’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) would range from 0.1 to 0.2 per cent. But as a matter of fact, Hong Kong’s economy suffered a stronger hit on that basis.
 
     Talking about the new wave of heightened tariffs and a wider coverage, the direct impact might be smaller than the initial phase because of the marginal increase and the additional coverage. The indirect impact and the collateral damage, will certainly be no less than last time, because we are talking about a total coverage of all the commodities and very inhibitive tariffs imposed on each other. I think that would be our worry.
 
Reporter: So less than 10 per cent, do you mean the new tariffs or just the previous tariffs?
 
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: Including both.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     The Department of Health (DH) today (August 27) endorsed a licensed manufacturer of proprietary Chinese medicines (pCms), Wing Ming Company (O/B Allways Health-care Corporation Limited), to voluntarily recall [Yuxiang] Pai Feng Pill (registration number: HKP-11670, batch number: 81515) and [Tung Yuen Tong] Pai Feng Pill (registration number: HKP-12768, batch number: 91606) from consumers as their samples have been found to contain excessive mercury.

     The action was taken after samples of the above pCms obtained through the DH’s market surveillance. Samples of [Yuxiang] Pai Feng Pill and [Tung Yuen Tong] Pai Feng Pill were found by the Government Laboratory to contain about 9.2 times and 1.3 times the permitted limit of mercury under the registration criteria of pCms respectively.

     Initial investigation by the DH revealed that the above pCms were manufactured by Wing Ming Company for sale in the local market. According to their labels, the pCms are indicated for activating blood, tonifying qi and dysmenorrhoea.

     “Acute mercury poisoning can cause inflammation of the mouth while prolonged exposure to mercury can damage the neurological system and kidneys. The DH has not received any report of related adverse events so far,” a DH spokesman said.

     Wing Ming Company has set up a hotline (2688 5491) for related enquiries. The DH will closely monitor the recall. The DH’s investigation is ongoing.

     According to sections 52 and 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), those who sell any drug not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the purchaser and sell a drug intended for use by man but unfit for that purpose are liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $10,000 and three months’ imprisonment, and a fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment respectively. Upon completion of the investigation, the DH will work with the Department of Justice on prosecution matters. The DH will also refer this case to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong for possible disciplinary action.

     Members of the public who have purchased the above two batches of pCms should stop using them immediately. Those who have used the above pCms and feel unwell should seek advice from healthcare professionals. People who have the above pCms should submit them to the DH’s Chinese Medicine Division on 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, during office hours for disposal.