Author Archives: hksar gov

     Thirty-four convictions were recorded in September 2026 for breaches of legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department.        Six of the convictions were under the Air Pollution Control Ordina… read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 7 000 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for four unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent. 

     A spokesman for the CFS said that about 1 900 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 5 100 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 2 200 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 500 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 800 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 1 000 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 800 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1 700 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks). 

     The four unsatisfactory samples were a loofah sample and a chicken egg sample imported from Vietnam detected with pesticide residue exceeding the legal limit; a ready-to-eat raw oyster sample found with excessive Escherichia coli; and a Hainanese chicken rice sample found to contain Salmonella. 

     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

     An incoming female passenger was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (October 30) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     Customs officers intercepted the incoming 27-year-old Mainland female passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (October 29) and seized a total of about 71 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $320,000 and a duty potential of about $240,000 from her personal baggage. The passenger was 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, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys duty-not-paid cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven 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).

  

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (October 30) that 30 public swimming pools under its management will provide heated water starting from November 8. The LCSD will continue to monitor changes in tem… read more

     The 10th Working Meeting of Hong Kong-Shanghai Financial Co-operation was held in Shanghai today (October 30). Representatives from government departments, financial regulators and exchanges of the two places discussed ways to strengthen financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Shanghai.
      
     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Christopher Hui, and the Director-General of the Shanghai Office for Advancing International Financial Center Development, Mr Li Junjie, introduced the market overview and the latest developments of the financial services sectors of the two places respectively at the meeting. Representatives of both sides discussed issues of mutual concern, including strengthening co-operation and connectivity between the two financial markets; enhancing business co-operation in cross-boundary Renminbi business, commodities, gold and futures markets, as well as insurance; and deepening talent exchanges.
      
     Mr Hui said, “Since its establishment, the Hong Kong-Shanghai financial co-operation mechanism has been an important platform for the two places to deepen exchanges and seek mutual development. It is a milestone of profound significance as we convened the 10th working meeting this year. Against the backdrop of the country’s accelerated establishment of a new development paradigm, Hong Kong is proactively implementing the key strategies set out in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address. Both Hong Kong and Shanghai are core financial engines of the country. Today’s meeting has mapped out a clear roadmap for the financial development of the two places. I am confident that Hong Kong and Shanghai will continue to complement each other’s strengths with a view to enhancing co-operation and connectivity between our financial markets, and rendering all-round support to Mainland enterprises in ‘going global’.”
      
     Mr Li said at the meeting that Shanghai and Hong Kong are two “locomotives” in the country’s building of a financial powerhouse. Under the new landscape, the two places should leverage their respective strengths while creating greater synergy. In recent years, the mutual market access mechanism between the financial markets of Shanghai and Hong Kong has been further enhanced, the complementary effects of the offshore financial strategies of the two places have become more prominent, and the connotation of co-building a financial product and service system has been further expanded. Taking this meeting as an opportunity, Shanghai and Hong Kong will translate the consensus reached at the meeting into concrete co-operation projects, elevating the synergistic financial development of the two places to a new level.
      
     Mr Hui also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Financial Dispute Resolution Centre of Hong Kong and the Financial Ombudsman Service Shanghai. The MOU aims to promote an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for financial disputes, thereby elevating the level of protection for financial consumers and facilitating the robust development of regional and cross-boundary financial markets.
      
     Upon his arrival in Shanghai yesterday (October 29), Mr Hui met with the new Chairman of the Shanghai Gold Exchange, Mr Guo Dayong. He also had a short meeting with the Director of the Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, Mr Zhou Xiaoquan.
      
     Furthermore, he attended and delivered a speech at the “Hong Kong-Shanghai Connection, Assisting Enterprises to Navigate the World – 2026 Hong Kong-Shanghai Co-operation Exchange Forum and Symposium on Serving Chinese Enterprises in Going Global” hosted by the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, where he engaged in detailed exchanges with representatives of about 20 Shanghai enterprises.
      
     The Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Mrs Angelina Cheung, also joined the visit. Mr Hui returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.