The following is issued on behalf of the Environmental Campaign Committee:
 
     We rely heavily on biological resources in our daily lives as our food, clothing, furniture, medicine and many other things are derived from them. To enable the public to make wise and responsible choices in the use of biological resources and to change the current over-consumption pattern to fulfil societal needs for the present and the future, the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) has joined with the Environmental Protection Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to organise roving exhibitions on "Sustainable Consumption of Biological Resources". The roving exhibitions, funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund, will be held from today (November 15) to late January 2019.
 
     In the exhibitions, Hong Kong-style trendy picture cards designed by local artist So Real Real and mounted on exhibition panels made with upcycled materials will be displayed to introduce to the general public to different aspects of a sustainable lifestyle, such as the consumption of fish certified by the Accredited Fish Farm Scheme like grey mullet, and the use of paper products accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council. It is hoped that members of the public will appreciate the importance of biological resources in our daily lives and also in the global environment, and hence the need to purchase sustainable products and practise green procurement.
 
     The dates and venues of the exhibitions are as follows:
 

 
     In addition to the roving exhibitions, TV and radio announcement in the public interest will be broadcast on various television and radio channels. For details, please visit the ECC's Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/ecc1990 and the AFCD's thematic webpage at www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/Con_hkbsap/bsap_strategy_and_actions/bio_res/cover.html.

  

     Hong Kong Customs today (November 15) alerted members of the public on the potential risks of handle fracture and the handle screw overheating in two models of frying pan.

     Customs earlier conducted a test-buy operation on frying pans from the local market for safety testing. During the tests, the handle of a model of frying pan fractured from the connecting point with its body, while the handle screw overheated in another model, violating the relevant safety standards.

     Customs is following up the case.

     Customs is committed to the protection of consumer interests and regularly conducts spot checks and safety tests on consumer goods to ensure that they are reasonably safe for use by consumers.

     Under the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import into Hong Kong consumer goods unless the goods comply with the general safety requirements for consumer goods. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on subsequent conviction.

     Members of the public with information relating to unsafe consumer goods may submit a report via the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

    

     The Government announced today (November 15) the appointment of Dr Catherine Chong Shiu-yin as a new member and the re-appointments of Ms Gilly Wong Fung-han (ex-officio member), Ms Rebecca Chan Ching-chu, Mr Johnny Fee Chung-ming, Mr Richard Khaw Wei-kiang, SC, Mr Edmond Lam King-fung, Mr Kevin Lam Sze-cay and Mr Selwyn Yu Sing-cheung, SC, as members of the Management Committee of the Consumer Legal Action Fund.

     The appointment of Ms Wong will be effective from November 16, 2018, while the appointment of the other members will be effective from December 6, 2018, for a term of two years.

     "We are grateful to the seven incumbent members for their continuous service on the Management Committee. With Dr Chong joining as a new member, we are confident that the Management Committee will continue to manage the Fund effectively and appropriately to protect consumer interests," a Government spokesman said.

     "We also express our gratitude to Dr Lui Wing-cheong for his valuable contributions as he retires from the Management Committee," the spokesman said.

     The Consumer Legal Action Fund was established in 1994 to facilitate consumer access to legal remedies by providing legal assistance to consumers in cases involving significant consumer interests.

     The Consumer Council is the trustee of the Fund. The Management Committee assists the Consumer Council in managing the Fund and vetting applications under the Fund.

     The composition of the Management Committee with effect from December 6, 2018, is as follows:

Ms Betty Chan Ka-wai
Ms Rebecca Chan Ching-chu
Dr Catherine Chong Shiu-yin
Mr Alex Fan Hoi-kit
Mr Johnny Fee Chung-ming
Mr Richard Khaw Wei-kiang, SC
Mr Kevin Lam Sze-cay
Mr Edmond Lam King-fung
Miss Queenie Fiona Lau
Dr Lo Pui-yin
Ms Gilly Wong Fung-han (ex-officio member)
Mr Selwyn Yu Sing-cheung, SC

     A man who went missing in Kwai Chung was located.

     Cheng Kau, aged 64, went missing after he was last seen in a hostel on Shek Yam Road on November 13 afternoon. The staff of the hostel made a report to Police on the same day.

     The man was located on Lei Yue Mun Path in the small hours today (November 15). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, welcomed the passage of the Private Healthcare Facilities Bill by the Legislative Council today (November 15). 

     Professor Chan said: "The new Ordinance will further protect patient safety and consumer rights through the introduction of a new regulatory regime for private healthcare facilities (PHFs). It will also facilitate the sustainable development of the healthcare system. 

     "Four types of PHFs will be subject to regulation, namely hospitals, day procedure centres, clinics and health services establishments. We will commence the regulatory regime in phases based on the types of PHFs and their risk levels. Sufficient time would be allowed for existing operators to get prepared for the new regulatory regime."

     The registration for private hospitals under the new Ordinance would commence in 2019. The registration for day procedure centres and clinics are tentatively scheduled for 2020 and 2021 respectively. 

     The Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance will be gazetted on November 30, 2018. As part of the transitional arrangement, an operator of a day procedure centre or a clinic in operation on November 30, 2018 will be issued with a provisional licence upon application for a full licence, provided that certain conditions are met. The provisional licence allows the day procedure centre or clinic concerned to continue to operate before it is qualified for the full licence.

     "To safeguard public health, all operators who commence a private healthcare facility after November 30, 2018 should comply with the new regulatory regime, and apply for a full licence in accordance with the arrangement set by the Department of Health. The Department of Health will organise briefings for stakeholders on the details of the regulatory regime in the coming months," she said.

     The Government will allocate additional resources and manpower to the Department of Health for setting up a full-fledged Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities. The Office will undertake the relevant statutory registration and enforcement work.

     Members of the public may visit the website of the Department of Health's Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities (www.dh.gov.hk/english/main/main_orphf/main_orphf.html) to obtain the latest information.