Author Archives: hksar gov

     A man who went missing in Western Division has been located.      Yu Yau, aged 88, went missing after he left his residence on Des Voeux Road West yesterday (September 2). His family made a repo… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      As at 9am today (September 3), 30 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 4 431 patients with confi… read more

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government launched the Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP) on September 1. The HKSAR Government today (September 3) welcomed the arrival of the third batch of the Mainland nucleic acid test support team, and once again expressed gratitude to the Central Government for establishing and deploying rapidly a support team to enhance the testing capability of Hong Kong in a short period of time, enabling the HKSAR Government to launch the large-scale UCTP to provide voluntary virus testing for all citizens.
 
     The third batch of 200-member support team came from Guangxi and Fujian. Together with the 10 members of the advance party and the leader of the support team (Guangdong), Mr Yu Dewen, who arrived in early-August, followed by the other 50 members, and more than 160 members led by the chief leader of the support team and Deputy Director of the Medical Administration Bureau of the National Health Commission (NHC), Mr Li Dachuan, nearly 420 members of the support team are currently in Hong Kong. The NHC will co-ordinate the deployment of more members to support Hong Kong subject to the actual need.
 
     “Although the confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been gradually reduced recently, the epidemic has yet to be stabilised and there are still silent transmission chains in the community. The HKSAR Government is very grateful to the support team for their valuable advice on the UCTP, which can help us to identify asymptomatic patients and further curb the epidemic,” a Government spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman also urges all citizens to participate in the UCTP and work together to cut the virus transmission chain.
 
     Attending today’s ceremony included the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr He Jing; Mr Li; and representatives of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.
 
     The UCTP has been open to the public to sign up and make appointments for testing since late August. Details are available at www.communitytest.gov.hk.

      

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs recently conducted territory-wide spot checks and test purchases at fruit retail shops and arrested four people for contravening the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) by selling fruits with suspected false claims of origin. A batch of fruits with a total retail value of about $2,500 was also seized.

     During the operation, which started in late August, Customs officers inspected 188 fruit retail shops in various districts. Four fruit retailers located in To Kwa Wan, Kwun Tong, Tai Po and Fanling were found to have supplied fruits with suspected false claims of origin.

     Among them, the fruit retailer in Tai Po sold watermelons that were marked as produced in Taiwan, but were tagged with labels of a fruit brand from the Mainland.

     The other three fruit retailers in To Kwa Wan, Kwun Tong and Fanling sold grapes that were marked as being Australian grapes, but the packaging bags bore the marking “Product of USA”.

     Customs officers took immediate enforcement action and seized a batch of fruits with suspected false claims of origin from the four fruit retailers mentioned above, including 11 watermelons and 37 kilograms of grapes. The retail price was about $2,500 in total. Four people, comprising a male shopkeeper and a female shopkeeper as well as two saleswomen, were arrested. The arrested persons, aged between 26 and 55, were released on bail pending further investigation.

     Investigations are ongoing. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Customs will continue to step up spot checks and test purchase operations to protect consumer interests.

     Customs reminds traders not to take advantage of the current situation and not to sell goods in a misleading manner or products with a false claim of origin. Immediate enforcement action will be taken against contravention of the TDO and prosecution will be made with sufficient evidence.

     Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Customs also reminds consumers to purchase products from reputable shops. Apart from paying attention to the information given by a salesperson, they should also inspect the product descriptions carefully and keep the transaction receipts.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

      

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 3) reported an update on its investigations into suspected food poisoning clusters related to a restaurant in Tuen Mun announced yesterday (Septembe… read more