The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: As at noon today (June 2), one COVID-19 confirmed patient (case number: 1042) was discharged from hospital in the past 24 hours. So far, a total of 1 038 patients with … read more
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 2) announced that a sample of a bottled fruit juice drink imported from Australia was found to be contaminated with a mycotoxin, patulin, at a level exceeding the action level adopted by the CFS. A follow-up is in progress.
“Subsequent to announcing earlier that a sample of a bottled apple juice drink was found to be contaminated with patulin, the CFS detected patulin at a level of 120 parts per billion (ppb) in another sample of a different kind of bottled fruit juice drink of the same brand taken from the market during follow-up investigations. The test result exceeded the action level of 50 ppb adopted by the CFS which is the same as the standard of the Codex Alimentarius Commission on patulin in apple juice,” a CFS spokesman said.
Product details are as follows:
Product name: Cold Pressed Apple & Raspberry
Brand: Presha Fruit
Country of origin: Australia
Importer/Distributor: PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited
Volume: 350ml per bottle
Best-before date: September 17, 2020
The CFS has informed the importer/distributor concerned of the irregularity. The importer/distributor has stopped sale and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product, and initiated a recall according to the CFS’ instructions. Members of the public may call the importer’s hotline at 2606 8658 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.
“Patulin mostly occurs in rotten apple and its products. Animal studies have shown that ingesting high doses of patulin can induce liver, spleen and kidney damage, as well as toxicity to the immune system. For humans, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting have been reported,” the spokesman said.
According to Section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), all food for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing. read more
​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 1) uncovered an illicit cigarette storage point in Tung Chung and seized about 2 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $5.4 million and a duty potential of about $3.8 million.
Customs officers yesterday mounted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Shek Lau Po, Tung Chung, and discovered the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes concealed inside two abandoned 20-foot containers in a remote area. A 43-year-old man who claimed to be unemployed was arrested.
An investigation is ongoing.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media session after attending the Legislative Council Panel on Security meeting today (June 2):
Reporter: How would you tell Beijing? I mean some people don’t like the national security law, how would you tell them? How exactly would you advise them on the prosecution part?
Secretary for Security: I think I will reflect the views of different people. There are people who support it and people who do not. Obviously I will reflect what is happening in Hong Kong and what I have heard. I am in charge of the enforcement side, so I will do my best to reflect how law enforcement agencies operate under the common law system, how the collection of evidence and presentation of evidence will take place in court and how some common law principles will be applied in the adjudication of the cases.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by OCBC Wing Hang Bank Limited on fraudulen… read more