Some people participating in illegal and violent activities yesterday (July 1) displayed or possessed items bearing the words 「光復香港　時代é�©å‘½ã€� (English translation "Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times"). A Government spokesman made the following solemn statement today (July 2): The slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times" nowadays connotes "Hong Kong independence", or separating the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) from the People's Republic of China, altering the legal status of the HKSAR, or subverting the State power.

     The spokesman stated that the HKSAR Government strongly condemns any acts which challenge the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China. The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region prohibits secession, subversion of state power and other acts and activities which endanger national security. The HKSAR Government calls upon members of the public not to defy the law.

     Regarding a batch of masks with suspected false trade descriptions procured by the Government Logistics Department (GLD), the spokesperson for GLD indicated today (July 2) that the batch of masks concerned was procured by GLD through direct engagement from a local supplier in March this year. The supplier claimed that the masks involved in the case were from Shanghai, the product specifications were in compliance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F2100 Level 1 standard, and the offered price was in line with the prevailing market price. As such, GLD awarded the procurement contracts to the supplier. In response to GLD's request, the supplier provided documents to GLD to demonstrate that the masks supplied were in compliance with relevant standard.

     As at early June, the supplier has provided a total of 6.7 million of the concerned masks to GLD and received payment of $15.2 million. When inspecting masks involved in this case, GLD has followed established procedures to conduct sample inspection. GLD did not find any irregularities in the sample inspection. GLD has also requested the supplier concerned to submit testing reports to ascertain the quality of the masks concerned. GLD has previously passed samples of the masks involved in the case to an accredited laboratory for tests on bacterial contents, results of which showed that according to the relevant hygienic standard for disposable sanitary products, the total bacteria counts of the mask samples involved in the case did not exceed the standard limit. Having learnt that the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) was conducting investigation on this batch of masks with suspected false trade descriptions, GLD immediately stopped making remaining payments payable to the supplier concerned and receiving masks that have yet to be delivered. GLD has also rescinded the relevant procurement contracts with the supplier concerned and will seek to recover from that supplier all losses and compensation.

     Meanwhile, as GLD suspected that the supplier concerned had submitted false documents, the case was referred to the Hong Kong Police Force for investigation. As regards the information on the supplier concerned, as the case has been passed to enforcement departments for follow-up, it was inappropriate for GLD to disclose details at this stage.
 
     Around 3.12 million masks involved in the case were distributed by GLD to 11 Government departments, mainly the Social Welfare Department (SWD), disciplinary departments and the Food and Environmental Health Department. According to information provided by SWD, the surgical masks concerned were distributed by SWD to residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities. Upon noting that the masks involved in the case may be problematic, GLD has immediately notified the relevant departments to stop using the masks concerned and has arranged for recovery. After preliminary stock-taking, GLD estimated that around 1.58 million masks involved in the case would be recovered. All masks recovered and the current stock of about 3.59 million masks concerned in GLD will be passed to C&ED.

     GLD will continue to make its best endeavours to assist enforcement departments in their investigation.

     The spokesperson for GLD also indicated that under general circumstances, GLD will procure masks through tendering/quotation procedures. Documents required to be submitted by tenderers as specified in tendering/quotation documents include but are not limited to:

(1) undertaking/letter of intent of manufacturer;
(2) product sample(s); and/or
(3) relevant report(s) by independent accredited laboratories.

     GLD will evaluate information provided by tenderers. If the documents submitted by suppliers are in doubt, GLD will request certification from the manufacturers which issued the undertaking/letter of intent and/or from the independent accredited laboratories which issued the test reports. Where necessary, GLD will also pass the samples received to the Government Laboratory or other independent accredited laboratories for testing. Only after products are assessed to be in compliance with the specifications required will GLD consider awarding the contract.

     As the COVID-19 pandemic developed swiftly at the beginning of this year, the global demand for masks increased sharply whereas supply shortage was acute. GLD had to procure masks worldwide by adopting different means and channels in order to acquire the required items as soon as possible and to meet the imminent needs of the Government. Hence, procurements made at that time were mainly conducted through direct engagement. If the information provided by a supplier showed that its product met the required specifications or standards and the price was in line with the prevailing market price, GLD would procure such product directly. As there was a huge world demand for masks at that time while the supply was tight, if GLD requested suppliers to provide independent testing reports, samples or other assurance documents of the goods offered, the suppliers would likely sell their goods to other buyers. Therefore, before the direct procurement contracts were concluded then, GLD could mostly make assessment only on the basis of the product information provided by suppliers. The masks involved in the case were procured under one of these direct procurement contracts.

     GLD will strengthen sample inspection in terms of number/aspects related to each delivered batch of masks procured through direct engagement. For future procurement of masks, if time and situation of market supply permit, GLD will, as always, request suppliers to provide samples of masks, undertaking of manufacturers and product testing reports to facilitate evaluation.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 2) called on the public to stop consuming a batch of prepackaged boletes as the product is suspected to contain a mixture of species including inedible or poisonous species.
      
     Product details are as follows:
 
Product: (not available in English)
Place of origin: China
Net weight: 113.4 grams per pack
Retailer: (not available in English)
Best-before date: December 31, 2021
 
     A CFS spokesman said, "Following up on a food poisoning case suspected to have been caused by consuming boletes, which was referred earlier by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, samples were collected from one of the retail outlets concerned in Sham Shui Po for testing during its investigation. According to an assessment by a mycologist on the samples and the boletes remnant of the case, the boletes concerned contained inedible or poisonous species of mushrooms.
 
     The spokesman further said, "The CFS has also followed up with the importer, distributor and retailer of the affected product. Preliminary investigation showed that the affected batch of product was for sale at the retail outlets of the aforesaid retailer. The Centre has requested the retailer concerned to stop sale and initiate a recall of the affected batch of the product. Members of the public may call its hotline at 3188 3141 during office hours for enquiries about the recall."
      
     The CFS urged members of the public who have purchased and still possess the affected batch of the product to stop consuming it, and to seek medical advice immediately if symptoms develop after consuming the product.
      
     Mushroom poisoning is generally acute and manifested by a variety of symptoms, depending on the species and amount consumed. The incubation period is usually short. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain are the commonest symptoms. Sometimes distinguishing features such as extreme thirst, profuse sweating, hallucination, coma and other neurological symptoms may occur.
      
     Consumers are advised to heed the following points when buying and eating fresh mushrooms:
 

• Do not buy mushroom products which are doubted to have carried a mix of unknown species;
• Do not buy mushrooms which look unhygienic (with growing substrates left with the product) or show signs of spoilage (with coloured spots/abnormal smell/slime, etc);
• Wash and cook mushrooms thoroughly before consumption; and
• Seek medical treatment immediately if mushroom poisoning is suspected.

 
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take necessary action to safeguard food safety and public health.

     Hong Kong Customs is currently investigating a case in which surgical masks with suspected false trade descriptions were supplied to the Government Logistics Department (GLD). Four persons, including directors and staff members, of the two suppliers involved in the case were arrested for being in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs received information from a surgical mask agent last month alleging that surgical masks with a suspected false claim on the manufacturer were being supplied to the GLD.

     Customs officers immediately launched an investigation and discovered that the surgical masks involved in the case were imported from the Mainland by a local trading company and were then supplied to the GLD by another local trading company. The surgical masks were packed in boxes of 50 pieces and the information of a mainland manufacturer was printed on the packaging boxes. Customs contacted the manufacturer according to the information. Upon examination by the manufacturer's representative, multiple differences were found between the masks involved and those produced by the manufacturer in terms of the product features and the packaging box design. It was confirmed that the masks involved were not produced by that manufacturer.

     It was also found that the trademark, which was printed on the packaging boxes of the masks involved, was not registered in Hong Kong. However, the spelling of the printed trademark is the same as the registered trademark of the manufacturer. It is suspected that consumers would be misled to believe that the masks involved are products of the registered trademark.  

     Customs later seized a batch of documents from two trading companies involved, which are located in Hung Hom and Kwun Tong. Two men and two women, consisting of two company directors and two staff members, were arrested. The four arrested persons, aged between 36 and 44, have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Samples of the masks involved in the case have also been sent to a laboratory for tests on the bacterial count. The test results confirmed that the samples are in compliance with the relevant standard, without violating the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (CGSO). For the sake of safety, Customs appeals to members of the public to stop using that type of surgical mask, even though the bacterial count falls within the standard, since its source is unknown.

     An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

     According to the information provided by the GLD, a total of 3.59 million of the masks concerned have been kept in stock and about 3.12 million were allocated to 11 government departments. The GLD has earlier informed those departments to stop using the masks and arranged to return the masks concerned. A preliminary counting indicated about 1.58 million masks will be returned. Then the GLD will transfer all 5.17 million masks to Customs for further handling.

     Customs launched a large-scale territory-wide special operation codenamed "Guardian" since January 27 this year to conduct spot-checks and enforcement operations against common protective items. More than 5 300 officers have been mobilised to conduct over 35 000 inspections at retail spots. Investigations have been conducted against 13 cases of suspected violations of the TDO and 11 cases of suspected violations of the CGSO. Sixty-one persons have been arrested so far and goods suspected of violating the law including nearly 124 000 surgical masks, 306 bottles of disinfectant alcohol and 23 bottles of normal saline have been seized.

     The operation has been running for over five months to date. The following three observations were made regarding the compliance situation of common protective items being sold in the market:
 

• Masks failed to comply with the bacterial count safety tests have total bacterial counts exceeding the maximum permitted level from 15 per cent to 11.5 times. They have mostly originated from Southeast Asian countries. Moreover, loose-packed surgical masks have a relatively higher risk;
• Disinfectant alcohol violating relevant laws mainly contained methanol with a range from 1.6 per cent to 52 per cent. As well, test results revealed that the content or type of alcohol was different from what had been declared; and
• Basically no violation of relevant ordinances was detected for disinfectant hand sanitisers. 

     Moreover, Customs has further expanded the scope of the "Guardian" operation since early April through an outreach programme to contact local mask manufacturers and the management of online surgical mask retailers offering bulk presales to carry out compliance promotions. The programme has made good progress since its launch nearly three months ago. To date, Customs has met with over 50 manufacturers and online retailers through the programme and examined the proof of their products' specifications. They have also been given special reminders on strict compliance with relevant laws.

     The "Guardian" operation will continue and Customs will carry on its high-profile law enforcement to tie in with the compliance promotion outreach programme in order to combat and prevent violation of relevant ordinances.

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

    

     Police today (July 2) appealed to the public for information on a girl who went missing in Tin Sum.

     Sun Ka-ying, aged 13, went missing after she left her residence in Mei Chung Court on June 26 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on June 29.

     She is about 1.55 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a pointed face with yellow complexion and long black hair. She was last seen wearing a light blue school uniform, white socks and black shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing girl or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 6124 8205 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.