â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 17) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Grodzisk Wielkopolski District of Wielkopolskie Region in Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 6 600 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Polish authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Tender to be held on February 21, 2025:
 

     In connection with a murder and wounding case happened in Yuen Long on January 22, Police further arrested one 18-year-old man and 25-year-old man for murder, wounding and trafficking in dangerous drug; and one 26-year-old man for trafficking in dangerous drug and assisting offenders in Castle Peak on February 15.
     In the murder and wounding case, a 24-year-old man died and a 28-year-old man was injured.

     The 18-year-old man and 25-year-old man were laid holding charges with one count of murder, one count of wounding and one count of trafficking in dangerous drug respectively; while the 26-year-old man was laid holding charges with one count of trafficking in dangerous drug and one count of assisting offenders. The case will be mentioned at Fanling Magistrate’s Courts in tomorrow morning (February 18).

     Police arrested another eight men and two women, aged between 19 to 31, in suspected connection with the case earlier, for offenses such as murder, wounding and assisting offenders.

     For the four men who had been charged earlier, the case was mentioned at Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts and Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on January 25 and 27 respectively. The other four men and two women were released on bail and are required to report back to Police in late February and early March.

     Active investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of New Territories North is under way. Anyone who witnessed the case or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3356.

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs on January 28 conducted an operation against counterfeiting activities in Yuen Long and seized about 11 000 suspected counterfeit items, including scarves and clothing, with an estimated market value of about $5.8 million. 

     Acting upon intelligence, Customs officers on that day inspected three batches of temporarily stored goods in two logistics warehouses in Yuen Long, uncovering the batch of suspected counterfeit goods. 

     The case is still under investigation. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

     Customs will continue to step up inspections and conduct intelligence-led enforcement to vigorously combat counterfeit and infringing goods activities at different levels.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting or infringing 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).

  

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs on January 28 conducted an operation against counterfeiting activities in Yuen Long and seized about 11 000 suspected counterfeit items, including scarves and clothing, with an estimated market value of about $5.8 million. 

     Acting upon intelligence, Customs officers on that day inspected three batches of temporarily stored goods in two logistics warehouses in Yuen Long, uncovering the batch of suspected counterfeit goods. 

     The case is still under investigation. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

     Customs will continue to step up inspections and conduct intelligence-led enforcement to vigorously combat counterfeit and infringing goods activities at different levels.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting or infringing 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).