Author Archives: hksar gov

     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 March 26 to noon today (March 27), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 150 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 125 210 samples of food imported from Japan (including 82 283 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 28 880 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     â€‹Three men were each sentenced to three to four months’ imprisonment and fined between $500 and $1,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (March 27) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     Customs officers intercepted three incoming male passengers, aged 36, 39 and 48, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (March 26). About 37 000, 39 000 and 40 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $484,000 and a duty potential of about $390,000 in total, were seized from their personal baggage. They were subsequently arrested.

     Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys 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/en).

      

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (March 27) attended the 2025 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF) in Macao and officiated alongside officials of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government and other guests at the opening ceremony.
 
     The 2025 MIECF was held with the theme of “Innovation and Green Development – Solutions to Build Beautiful Cities”. The exhibition booth of the Environment and Ecology Bureau is presenting a number of innovative initiatives adopted by the Hong Kong SAR Government departments and local industries. There are information boards on carbon reduction strategies such as carbon neutrality, energy saving and environmentally friendly buildings, green transportation, community waste reduction and smart technology. Videos on related topics demonstrate the application of innovative technologies in environmental protection continuously promoted by the Hong Kong SAR Government.  
      
     Mr Tse also paid a courtesy call on the Secretary for Transport and Public Works of the Macao SAR Government, Mr Tam Vai-man, to exchange views on various environmental subjects and collaboration opportunities.  
      
     Mr Tse said that to further seize the opportunities brought by the country’s dual carbon strategies, the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department are strengthening co-operation and exploring growth opportunities with neighbouring regions while supporting local innovation and technology development. These efforts include strengthening exchanges and collaboration with cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in building low-carbon communities, developing decarbonisation technologies, promoting low-carbon products and nurturing talent. The goal is  to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 and reduce carbon emissions by half before 2035 as compared to the 2005 level.
      
     After touring the exhibition and exchanging views with Hong Kong exhibitors, Mr Tse returned to Hong Kong in the early afternoon.

        

     The Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD), the Fire and Rescue Corps of Guangdong Province, and the Macao Fire Services Bureau held a 48-hour Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) joint emergency response and rescue exercise, “Liancheng-2025”, in Hong Kong from March 25 to today (March 27). The exercise aimed to gauge the effectiveness of the emergency mobilisation and co-ordination mechanism under the GBA Emergency Response and Rescue Operational Plan.

     The exercise simulated Hong Kong experiencing extreme weather conditions, including a super typhoon and torrential rain, leading to severe incidents such as building collapses, large-scale landslides, extensive flooding and paralysed transport systems in various districts. Due to the strain on local rescue resources, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government requested assistance from the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, according to the mechanism under the Operational Plan.

     The Fire and Rescue Corps of Guangdong Province promptly deployed 60 members, 13 fire appliances and over 900 items of rescue equipment, while the Macao Fire Services Bureau deployed 15 members, five fire appliances, and over 300 items of rescue equipment to render assistance to Hong Kong. The two teams respectively entered Hong Kong through the Shenzhen Bay Port and the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge via the cross-boundary Green Channel to participate in the exercise.

     The exercise, mainly taking place at the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy, was conducted under the joint emergency command mechanism led by the FSD to co-ordinate personnel and resources allocation. The three rescue teams jointly participated in operations such as a rescue in a flooded basement, a search and rescue operation in a collapsed structure, as well as handling mass casualty and hazardous chemical leakage situations. They also took part in a rescue operation in Lei Yue Mun, where a severe flooding scenario in the low-lying coastal area of Sam Ka Tsuen was simulated. The rescue teams worked together to build a floating bridge and assist the trapped villagers in an emergency evacuation.

     The Deputy Director of Fire Services (Operations), Mr Angus Wong, who acted as the commander of the Hong Kong cross-border rescue team, stated that by simulating real disasters, the three rescue teams enhanced synergy in rescue strategy and equipment deployment, laying a solid foundation for establishing a GBA rescue network.

     “Liancheng-2025”, hosted by the FSD, had participation from the fire and rescue departments of the three places, as well as the Hospital Authority and the Civil Aid Service. The exercise was funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. It effectively put cross-departmental and cross-disciplinary disaster response capabilities to test, with substantial progress demonstrated in strengthening consolidated rescue efforts of the GBA in response to major disasters.

                          

     â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (March 27) that, with the provision of transit assistance by other postal administrations, postal services to the following destinations will resume from March 28. Details are given below:  &nb… read more