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 April 2 to noon today (April 3), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 181 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 126 902 samples of food imported from Japan (including 83 420 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 29 230 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 2) seized about 34 kilograms of suspected cocaine from storage in Hung Hom, with an estimated market value of about $29 million. A 23-year-old man was arrested.

     During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Hung Hom yesterday afternoon, Customs officers intercepted a suspicious man in a hotel and seized about 2kg of suspected cocaine inside a plastic bag carried by him. The man was subsequently arrested. Customs officers later escorted him to the hotel room for a search and further seized about 32kg of suspected cocaine.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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).

  

     The Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is recruiting new members for its 18 bands and orchestras as well as two choirs. Training for 2025-26 will be held from this September to May 2026. The deadline for applications is May 6.
 
     The 20 ensembles are respectively the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Island Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Kowloon Youth Chinese Orchestra, the New Territories Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Music Office Junior Chinese Orchestra, the Music Office Children’s Chinese Orchestra, the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Music Office Junior Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Youth Strings, the Island Youth Strings, the Kowloon Youth Strings, the New Territories Youth Strings, the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band, the Music Office Youth Brass Band, the Kowloon Youth Symphonic Band, the New Territories Youth Symphonic Band, the Music Office Junior Symphonic Band, the Hong Kong Children’s Symphonic Band, the Music Office Youth Choir and the Music Office Children’s Choir.
 
     Young musicians aged 25 or below who have attained the required music qualifications can now apply to enrol in different levels of ensemble and choir training. Apart from weekly rehearsals, members can also broaden their horizons by participating in various cultural activities and concerts, or attending exchange sessions with young musicians from the Mainland and overseas.
 
     Training is free, but members are required to bring their own instruments (except for bulky instruments) and pay for their uniforms and music scores.
 
     Interested persons can visit the Music Office website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/training/bandchoirandorchestratraining.html) for more details and application submission. Course pamphlets and application forms are also available at all Music Office’s music centres. Qualified applicants will receive an audition notification by May 31. Applicants will be notified of their application results by August 15.
 
     For enquiries, please call the Music Office’s music centres at 2802 0657 (Wan Chai), 2796 2893 (Kwun Tong), 2399 2200 (Mong Kok), 2158 6462 (Sha Tin) and 2417 6429 (Tsuen Wan). read more

     Two red tides were sighted during the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (April 3).
 
     On March 28, staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) spotted the first red tide at Silverstrand Beach, Sai Kung. Another red tide was spotted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Sai Kung, on April 2 by staff of the LCSD. The red tide at Silverstrand Beach has dissipated, while the red tide at Clear Water Bay Second Beach persists. No associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.
 
     A spokesman for the working group said, “The red tide at Silverstrand Beach was formed by Noctiluca scintillans, while the red tide at Clear Water Bay Second Beach was formed by Scrippsiella acuminata. Both algal species are common in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic.”
 
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at the fish culture zones of Ma Nam Wat, Kau Sai, Kai Lung Wan, Tai Tau Chau, Leung Shuen Wan, Tiu Cham Wan, Tung Lung Chau and Po Toi O to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
 
     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD’s proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public. read more

     â€‹In view of the recent strong earthquake that occurred in Sagaing Region of Myanmar, which resulted in serious casualties and infrastructure damage, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been working in close communication with the Consulate General of Myanmar in Hong Kong, and has co-ordinated and collected a batch of emergency relief supplies in response to the urgent needs of the disaster-stricken areas. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended a donation ceremony at Hong Kong International Airport today (April 3) to hand over the relief supplies to the Consul-General of Myanmar in Hong Kong, and immediately arranged for their delivery to the disaster-stricken areas to meet the immediate needs of the people affected.

     Over 20 tonnes of relief supplies, including key items such as food, drinking water, medical kits and temporary accommodation materials were collected swiftly and in accordance with the specific needs of the disaster-stricken areas through the co-operation and co-ordination of different government departments. A portion of the relief supplies were donated by the local community.

     Mr Chan remarked that the HKSAR Government fully supports disaster relief for the earthquake in Myanmar, and the supplies carry the HKSAR’s support and blessings to the disaster-stricken areas. He expressed his sincere hope that the relief efforts will tide local people over this period of difficulties so that they can resume a normal life as soon as possible. Mr Chan added that the HKSAR Government will continue to monitor the latest situation in Myanmar closely and provide further support as needed.

     Also attending the ceremony were the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; and the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming.

     The HKSAR Government has activated the Disaster Relief Fund mechanism previously and has liaised closely with various relief organisations. It has given in-principle approval for grants totalling about $30 million to seven organisations. All seven organisations have extensive experience in implementing disaster relief projects. A list of the organisations with the grants approved is in the Annex.   

     The HKSAR Government will continue its close contact with the organisations concerned to ensure early confirmation of the detailed relief programmes to provide necessary and appropriate assistance to people affected, help the disaster-stricken areas overcome difficulties and resume a normal life as soon as possible.