Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 5) that a sample of tinned lettuce was found to contain sulphur dioxide, but the functional class and name of such additive were not declared on the food label. Members of the public should not consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: Salted lettuce
Brand: Pigeon brand
Sole agent: Golden Long Food Trading Limited
Place of origin: Thailand
Net weight: 140 grams/5 ounces per tin
Best-before date: July 19, 2022

     “The CFS collected the abovementioned sample from a supermarket in Tsing Yi for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained  sulphur dioxide, however, the functional class and name of such additive were not declared on the food label of the sample,” a CFS spokesman said.

     “The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. The sole agent concerned has initiated a recall according to CFS’ instructions. Members of the public may call the sole agent’s hotline at 2566 3007 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The CFS is also tracing the source of the affected product,” the spokesman added.

    Sulphur dioxide is a commonly used preservative in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products. This preservative is of low toxicity. As it is water soluble, most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headache and nausea after consumption.

     The spokesman reminded the food trade that the use of preservatives in food must comply with the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap 132BD). Furthermore, the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap 132W) require that for all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong containing sulphite in a concentration of 10 parts per million or more, the functional class of the sulphite and its name shall be specified in the list of ingredients. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

     The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing. read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 4) conducted a special operation against the sale of counterfeit goods in upstairs showrooms. About 1 700 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including handbags, belts, watches and shoes, with an estimated market value of about $2 million were seized.

     Customs earlier discovered an upstairs showroom in Causeway Bay selling suspected counterfeit goods. After in-depth investigation with the assistance of trademark owners, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and raided the showroom, seizing the batch of suspected counterfeit goods.

     The showroom had been operating in a low-profile mode and mainly served foreign visitors. Famous brands were involved and the goods available for sale had a high degree of resemblance.

     During the operation, a 71-year-old male person-in-charge was arrested.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     With the Christmas holidays approaching, Customs will further step up inspections and enforcement to combat the sale of counterfeit goods.

     Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.

     Customs also reminds traders to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

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

    

     In response to media enquiries on the water quality of the Shing Mun Reservoir, a spokesman for the Water Supplies Department said that staff were immediately deployed today (December 5) to inspect the Shing Mun Reservoir … read more

     Police today (December 5) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Chai Wan.        Suen Man-hung, aged 36, went missing after she left her residence in Siu Sai … read more

     The Transport Department (TD) today (December 5) reminded the public that a number of special traffic and transport arrangements, including changes of bus services, will be implemented in the vicinity of Hong Kong Island North to facilitate the holding of the Hong Kong Island 10K City Race 2019 this Sunday (December 8).
 
     The race will take a route via Convention Avenue, Hung Hing Road, Marsh Road, the Marsh Road flyover, Lockhart Road, Percival Street, Hennessy Road, Yee Wo Street, Sugar Street, Gloucester Road, the Victoria Road flyover and the section of the Island Eastern Corridor between North Point and Causeway Bay, and finish at Convention Avenue.
 
     To facilitate the holding of the race, extensive road closures including closure of the section of the Island Eastern Corridor between North Point and Causeway Bay, the section of Hennessy Road eastbound near Causeway Bay, Yee Wo Street eastbound and the roads in the vicinity of Wan Chai North will be implemented in stages in Hong Kong Island North.
 
     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the affected areas and the major roads in the vicinity, such as Gloucester Road, Victoria Park Road, Fleming Road, the Canal Road flyover, Hennessy Road, Percival Street, Pennington Street, Leighton Road, King’s Road, Java Road, the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and the Aberdeen Tunnel, will become significantly more congested than on normal Sundays.
 
     Motorists are advised to avoid driving to the affected or congested areas, especially in the vicinity from North Point to Wan Chai, unless necessary. In case of road closure and traffic diversion, motorists should follow the instructions of the Police on-site and the guidance of road signs, and stay alert to the latest traffic news through the media.
 
     Owing to extensive road closures in the vicinity from North Point to Wan Chai, a total of 84 bus routes and 10 green minibus routes will be diverted, and the bus terminus at the Wan Chai North Temporary Public Transport Interchange will be suspended. Public transport operators will display notices on-site to inform passengers of the temporary arrangements.
 
     The TD appeals members of the public to plan their journeys in advance and use alternative travelling routes to avoid unexpected delay, as well as take public transport services (particularly railway services) when going to the aforementioned areas. Public transport commuters are advised to pay attention to the arrangements of route diversion and changes of stop locations.
 
     The special traffic and transport arrangements will mainly include:

Road closures and traffic arrangements
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1. The following major roads will be temporarily closed in stages from about 2am:
 
– Convention Avenue;
– Tonnochy Road;
– Hung Hin Road;
– Marsh Road and the Marsh Road flyover;
– The section of Lockhart Road eastbound between Marsh Road and Percival Street;
– The section of Percival Street between Lockhart Road and Hennessy Road;
– The section of Hennessy Road eastbound between Percival Street and Yee Wo Street;
– The section of Yee Wo Street eastbound between Hennessy Road and Sugar Street;
– Sugar Street;
– The section of Gloucester Road between the Gloucester Road service road and Causeway Road;
– The section of the Island Eastern Corridor between North Point and Causeway Bay (both directions); and
– The section of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass between Central and the Island Eastern Corridor (both directions).
 
2. The on-street parking spaces within the closed road areas and in the vicinity (such as Jaffe Road) will be suspended, and vehicles in car parks within the road closure areas may not be permitted to enter or leave the car parks during the road closure period.
 
Public transport services
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1. A total of 84 bus routes and 10 green minibus routes will be diverted;
 
2. The bus terminus at the Wan Chai North Temporary Public Transport Interchange will be suspended in stages from about 2am; and

3. Bus stops, taxi stands, public light bus/green minibus stands and cross-boundary coach stops within the closed roads and its vicinity (such as Leighton Road and Pennington Street) and the tram stop on Percival Street will be suspended.
 
     Other ad-hoc traffic and public transport measures, including adjusting the extent of road closures, traffic diversions and alteration and suspension of public transport services may be implemented by the Police at short notice depending on the actual traffic and crowd conditions. Public light bus drivers and taxi drivers who go to Wan Chai North for refilling are advised to take note of the road closure arrangements implemented in the areas. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary.
 
     For details of the race, members of the public can browse the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association’s website (hkaaa.com/tc/comp_details.php?id=157). For enquiries on the special traffic and transport arrangements, members of the public can call 1823 or browse the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) for more details. read more