Author Archives: hksar gov

     A boy who went missing in Lantau North has been located.      Earl Seamus Barry Siam, aged 15, went missing after he left his residence on Kin Tung Road on June 29 night. His family made a repor… read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 29) that a sample of loose-packed Shanghai noodles was found to contain a preservative, benzoic acid, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the case.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “Subsequent to announcing earlier that a sample of Shanghai noodles taken from a shop in Tin Shui Wai was found to contain excessive benzoic acid, the CFS took a sample of Shanghai noodles from another shop in Kwai Chung for testing and the test result showed that the sample contained benzoic acid at a level of 1 800 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 1 000 ppm. A follow-up investigation found that the two batches of Shanghai noodles were from the same local manufacturer.”

     The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed the vendor to stop the sale of the affected product. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

     Benzoic acid is a preservative of low toxicity. Based on the level detected in the sample, adverse health effects will not be caused under usual consumption.

     The spokesman reminded the food trade that the use of preservatives in food must comply with the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap 132BD). Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. read more

     Hong Kong Customs conducted an operation against the sale of counterfeit items at a mobile hawker stall on July 27. About 6 900 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including clothing, caps and shoes, with an estimated market value of about $420,000 were seized.

     Customs earlier received information alleging the sale of suspected counterfeit items at a mobile hawker stall in Stanley. After an in-depth investigation with the assistance of trademark owners, Customs officers raided the hawker stall and 13 mobile storage facilities in nearby alleys and seized the batch of suspected counterfeit items. This is the first-ever case detected of a single mobile hawker selling counterfeit items using multiple mobile storage facilities.

     During the operation, a 44-year-old female stall owner was arrested. 

     An investigation is ongoing.

     During the summer holiday, Customs will continue to step up inspections and enforcements to combat the sale of counterfeit goods.

     Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.

     Customs also reminds traders to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells, or possesses for sale, any goods with a forged trademark 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 infringing activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

      

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 29) that due to big wa… read more

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

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) will join the Hong Kong Housing Society’s (HS) “Letting Scheme for Subsidised Sale Developments with Premium Unpaid” (Letting Scheme) on a trial basis, allowing eligible owners of HA’s subsidised sale flats (SSFs) to let their flats with premium unpaid to families in need.
 
     The Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) of the HA agreed at its meeting today (July 29) that the HA would join the HS’ Letting Scheme, which had been enhanced taking into account the feedback on its original pilot launched in 2018. Under the enhanced scheme, SSF owners who have owned their flats for 10 years or more with premium unpaid are eligible to apply. Three categories of applicants are eligible as tenants: (i) public rental housing (PRH) general applicants who have waited for three years or more; (ii) PRH non-elderly one-person applicants under the Quota and Points System who have waited for six years or more; and (iii) specified non-government organisations, which are only allowed to sublet the flats to eligible tenants. Apart from letting bedroom(s) as in the original pilot, the enhanced scheme allows owners to let the whole flat. In order to prevent owners from over-subdividing the flats, they will be allowed to enter into no more than two tenancies.
 
     HS first launched the Letting Scheme on a pilot basis in September 2018 as one of the measures proposed in the 2017 Policy Address to help alleviate the hardship faced by families waiting for PRH and the inadequately housed. The 2018 Policy Address further suggested that the HA consider, in light of the operational experience of HS’ pilot scheme, joining the scheme so as to allow HA’s SSF owners to let their flats with premium unpaid as well.
 
     “The Letting Scheme provides an option for relevant SSF owners wishing to make better use of their flats, and an option for families wishing to rent and live in such flats. It optimises the use of public housing resources and helps improve the living environment of PRH applicants before they are housed to PRH units,” a spokesman for the HA said.
 
     At present, about 14 500 owners of HS’ SSFs fulfill the 10-year ownership requirement. As for HA’s Home Ownership Scheme and Tenants Purchase Scheme, owners of around 340 000 flats have owned the flats for 10 years or more with premium unpaid.
 
     “In order to provide one-stop service both to eligible owners and tenants, all the administrative procedures including processing of applications and handling of enquiries will be handled by HS, except that the HA will be involved in the verification of the eligibility of owners and tenants. We aim to invite applications from owners in the fourth quarter of this year. The HA and HS will conduct a mid-term review of the effectiveness of the scheme in the light of operational experience after one year of operation,” the spokesman said. read more