The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 15) that due to maintenance works, Jockey Club Yan Oi Tong Swimming Pool in Tuen Mun District will be temporarily closed from May 19 until further notice. read more
Hong Kong Customs conducted a joint anti-illicit cigarette publicity campaign with members of the Kwai Tsing District Council, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health and the Housing Department (HD) at Cheung Hong Estate and Cheung Ching Estate in Tsing Yi today (May 15).
Customs officers promoted anti-illicit cigarette messages to residents, traders and security personnel at the Estates, including the Government’s proposal to make amendments to the existing legislation to increase penalties for illicit cigarette-related offences, and also encouraged them to report suspected illicit cigarette trading activities to Customs.
If public rental housing units are found to be involved in illicit cigarette crimes, Customs will notify the HD for follow-up action after the conclusion of court proceedings. Customs reminds members of the public, especially young people, not to buy or sell illicit cigarettes or distribute illicit cigarette leaflets to avoid creating a criminal record that could affect their future.
Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at the source, as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling, to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities. Also, Customs will strengthen publicity and education to remind the public not to take part in unlawful acts related to illicit cigarettes.
In accordance with the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years. Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
In accordance with the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), no person shall distribute any smoking product advertisement (including any promotion leaflets). Any person who contravenes the regulation is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000. Members of the public may report any suspected activities of illicit cigarette leaflets distribution to TACO’s hotline 2961 8823.
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 is conducting 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 the situation and continue to implement the enhanced testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
From noon on May 14 to noon today (May 15), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 99 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, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 136 137 samples of food imported from Japan (including 89 594 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 31 336 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more
Police today (May 15) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Aberdeen. Yiu Wai-lam, aged 74, went missing after she left her residence on Chengtu Road yesterday (M… read more
The Film Programmes Office (FPO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the Summer Family Cine Fest (SFCF) from July 12 to August 16, offering over 40 fun-filled film screenings at the Hong Kong Film Archive, Hong Kong City Hall, the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum (HKSpM) and the North District Town Hall. The programme is one of the highlights of the International Arts Carnival (IAC).
The Feature Films section features 15 works. Blending animation and live action, “Diplodocus” (2024) tells the story of a cute little comic dinosaur, which, in order to save itself and its family, must help its creator regain his confidence to create. In the animated film “Into the Wonderwoods” (2024), while on the way to visit his grandmother, 10-year-old Angelo is accidentally left behind in the wild. With his imagination and courage, he embarks on a solo journey while braving monsters and demons in the forest.
In “Fox and Hare Save the Forest” (2024), a selfish beaver causes a flood in the forest, and other animals bravely come together to save their home. “Tummy Tom and the Lost Teddy Bear” (2024) follows a cat on an adventurous journey to find its favourite cuddle toy bear. In “Benjamin Bat” (2024), a little bat named Benjamin is bullied by his brothers for loving singing and becoming friends with a bat’s sworn enemy, a bird. For himself and his friend, he needs to muster his courage to stand up against the odds. A cute penguin in “Thelma’s Perfect Birthday” (2024) accidentally travels from the Land of Ice to the warm Great Forest and learns the meaning of growth through this whimsical journey.
“Buffalo Kids” (2024) from Spain tells the story of two young siblings and their disabled new friend teaming up to battle wits and strength against outlaws of the Wild West in a thrilling adventure of courage and inclusion. Starting from the parents of a young boy building a sailboat in their home garden, “A Boat in the Garden” (2024) tells a story of perseverance and dedication of a family of three in the pursuit of dreams.
The Swedish film “The Pinchers’ High Voltage Heist” (2023) delivers a comedic portrayal of a quirky family of thieves and their hilarious lives together. In the award-winning “Coco Farm” (2023), three youngsters strive to build a business guided by conscience. In “Lampo, The Travelling Dog” (2023), a social media-famous dog and a sick girl cross paths at a train station, leading to a heartwarming tale of mutual care between human and canine. “Greetings from Mars” (2024) tells the story of how Tom turns his passion for space exploration into strength when his mother has to travel a long way away.
The SFCF also features three sports-themed films. “King Richard” (2021) depicts the parenting story of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams’ father and coach, who meticulously guided them to success. Lead actor Will Smith won Best Actor awards at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards for his performance. “Lioness” (2023) follows a South American migrant girl in the Netherlands pursuing her dream of becoming a football player in a strange land. “The Hill” (2023) delivers a passionate and inspiring true story of a baseball prodigy overcoming adversity despite suffering from a degenerative spinal condition.
In addition, the FPO will co-organise with the HKSpM to present the dome show, “The Great Solar System Adventure!” (2024), at the Space Theatre of the HKSpM. Audiences will be guided through an exhilarating journey across the solar system. After the screenings, audiences will be invited to join a post-screening activity at the HKSpM Lecture Hall to make Mars paper models and learn about the major discoveries of various Mars exploration missions. This activity will be conducted in Cantonese.
Veteran dubbing artists Yip Ka-man and Kinson Lai will perform live Cantonese dubbing for “Thelma’s Perfect Birthday”, “Benjamin Bat” and “Into the Wonderwoods” with no subtitles. “The Great Solar System Adventure!” is in Cantonese, with English available through the headphone system, with no subtitles. Other films will feature Chinese and English subtitles.
Apart from the feature films, the FPO has hand-picked 20 animated short films from around the world to present three World Animation & Shorts programmes, titled “All About Love”, “Is That OK?” and “Craving For Food!”. Professional actor and drama tutor Man Jai (Raymond Chan) will host an introduction in Cantonese for the programmes.
The FPO will also present a two-day event titled Summer of Light: Cinematic Adventure at Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre on July 12 and 13. The event consists of free activities and ticketed workshops for the public to participate. Details will be available in early June on the FPO website www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp.
Tickets are priced at $88 and will be available from tomorrow (May 16) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2734 2900 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en/listing.html?id=75.
For details of other IAC programmes, please visit the website www.hkiac.gov.hk.
