The Government announced today (February 28) the appointment of two non-official members recruited through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth (MSSY) and the reappointments of 16 incumbent non-official members … read more
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 28) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 3 300 food samples tested were found to be satisfactory except for five unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 1 300 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 2 000 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests.
The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions.
The samples comprised about 1 300 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 100 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 300 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 400 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 300 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 900 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
The five unsatisfactory samples comprised a Chinese wolfberry leaf sample and a snow pea sample detected with pesticide residues at levels exceeding the legal limit; a dried soybean curd sample detected with a non-permitted preservative; and a dan dan noodle sample and a satay beef noodle sample detected with excessive Clostridium perfringens.
The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question.
The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.
Separately, in response to the Japanese Government’s discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information. read more
The Transport Department (TD) today (February 28) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on March 20 (Thursday) to noon on March 24 (Monday) through the auction platform E-… read more
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 27) raided a suspected illicit cigarette storage centre in Kwai Chung and seized about 300 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1.4 million and a duty potential of about $1 million.
During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in Kwai Chung yesterday afternoon, Customs officers intercepted a suspicious local woman outside an industrial building unit on Castle Peak Road. About 37 000 suspected illicit cigarettes were seized from her trolley, and the woman, aged 71 and claiming to be unemployed, was immediately arrested. Later, Customs officers escorted the woman to the industrial building unit for a search and further seized about 270 000 suspected illicit cigarettes.
Customs will continue to trace the source of the illicit cigarettes, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
The arrested woman has been charged with “dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies” and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on March 21.
Customs will also 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.
Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under 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.
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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 following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (February 28) the list of banks for the RMB Trade Financing Liquidity Facility (RMB TFLF) in Phase 1 (see Annex), effective from today.
About RMB50 billion of the total size of RMB100 billion of this facility has been allocated to the participating banks. A specific quota is assigned to each bank based on the pipelines as expected by the bank, and referencing the bank’s existing scale of relevant business, among other factors. The banks can now apply for RMB funds from the HKMA from today through the RMB TFLF based on their provision of RMB trade finance to corporate customers within the assigned quota.
The HKMA will closely review the implementation of the RMB TFLF, including its operation, banks’ RMB trade finance activities and facility usage, as well as market development needs. Subject to the operation of the facility and market demand, we plan to proceed to the next phase of quota allocation around the middle of this year. Banks not yet ready in Phase 1 are encouraged to continue developing their RMB trade finance business so as to be ready to join in later phases. Terms and operation details of the RMB TFLF are found in this Circular. read more