The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
During the service demand surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, paid a two-day visit to Paris, France, on May 22 and 23 (Paris time) to attend the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Informal Ministerial Gathering.
Speaking at the WTO Informal Ministerial Gathering yesterday (May 23, Paris time), he encouraged WTO members to actively participate in the discussions on e-commerce, domestic regulation in services and investment facilitation, which are all indispensable to global trade in the modern-day economy.
The meeting provided a platform for WTO members to discuss issues relating to the fisheries subsidies rules negotiations, WTO reform and achievable outcomes for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) next year.
"Another aspect which greatly concerns all of us is how to improve the functioning of our rules-based multilateral trading system. We welcome reform proposals by members to facilitate discussion for improving transparency and monitoring functions of WTO committees, and addressing concerns about the dispute settlement system, including the impasse in the appointments to the Appellate Body. Hong Kong is committed to taking an active part in the discussions with a view to exploring options and identifying priorities for reform at MC12," Mr Yau said.
Commenting on the fisheries subsidies rules negotiations, Mr Yau said WTO members must redouble efforts to bridge the gaps and demonstrate flexibility to make compromises in order to conclude an agreement by the end of this year.
"A creditable outcome on fisheries subsidies rules would be essential to demonstrate that the negotiating arm of the WTO is still alive and kicking. Hong Kong remains committed to working closely with all members on this important cause," he said.
Prior to the WTO Informal Ministerial Gathering, Mr Yau attended the OECD MCM and spoke at a working lunch themed "Reaping and Diversifying the Benefits of Trade in the Digital Era".
"Digitalisation creates business opportunities and brings consumer benefits. We must equip ourselves in order to facilitate its development and capitalise on the growth opportunities," he said.
"Many of the potential barriers to digital trade can be bridged by developing harmonised and robust multilateral disciplines on e-commerce. At the WTO, Hong Kong has joined more than 70 like-minded members to initiate exploratory work on possible future negotiations to foster the development of e-commerce and provide greater certainty for our businesses and consumers online. We will continue our active engagement in the process," he added.
Mr Yau also attended an informal meeting of ministers of WTO members on domestic regulation in services yesterday to discuss how to improve the regulatory environment for trade in services globally. After the meeting, Hong Kong, together with 58 other WTO members, jointly issued a statement to commit to negotiating for an outcome by MC12.
Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong this afternoon (May 24).
​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 23) urged the public not to consume two batches of prepackaged sauce imported from Australia due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a pathogen. The trade should stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.
Product details are as follows:
Product name: Miso & Edamame Dip
Brand : Roza's Gourmet
lace of origin: Australia
Importer: Chef's Garden Limited
Packing: 160 grams per pack
Best-before dates: June 5, and June 21, 2019
"The CFS received a notification from the Australian authorities through the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) that the abovementioned batches of the affected product might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and is being recalled. According to the information provided by INFOSAN, the above local importer has imported the affected batches of the product into Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CFS said.
The CFS immediately contacted the importer concerned for follow up. Preliminary investigation showed that the importer had imported eight cartons of the abovementioned batches of the product and some of them were sold. The CFS has instructed the importer to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batches of the product and initiate a recall. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer's hotline at 2501 5811 during office hours.
"Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperature. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms like fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in newborns," the spokesman said.
The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess them.
The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.
​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 23) announced that a trace amount of malachite green was found in a grass carp sample. Follow-up is in progress.
A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS collected the abovementioned grass carp sample from a fresh provision shop in Wong Tai Sin for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained a trace amount of malachite green at a level of 2.4 parts per billion.
"The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale of the affected product," the spokesman added.
Malachite green is a type of industrial dye and has been used for treating infections in fish. Malachite green is possibly both genotoxic and carcinogenic. According to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), there is no safe level of residues of malachite green or its metabolites in food that represents an acceptable risk to consumers, and competent authorities should prevent residues of malachite green in food. Major agricultural economies such as the Mainland, the European Union, Canada and the United States prohibit the use of the chemical in food fish. According to the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap 132AF), no food sold in Hong Kong is allowed to contain malachite green. Offenders will be prosecuted and will be liable to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action, including tracing the source of the affected product. Investigation is ongoing.
Correctional officers of the Escort and Support Group stopped a remand person in custody attacking an officer today (May 23).
At 11.55am, a 27-year-old male remand person in custody suddenly attacked a correctional officer with his hand in the waiting area of a courtroom before attending a court hearing in the District Court. Officers at scene immediately stopped him.
The correctional officer sustained injury to his face and was referred to a public hospital for further treatment while the assailant did not sustain any injury.
The Correctional Services Department has referred the incident to the Police for investigation.
The assailant was remanded for the offence of conspiracy to assist the passage within Hong Kong of unauthorised entrants.