Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 28) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     The fire danger situation today (November 28) is red and fire risk is extreme. The countryside is extremely vulnerable to fire. If you are planning to spend the day in the countryside, please take pre-cooked food for a picnic and take all measures to prevent hill fires. The penalty for lighting fires illegally in the countryside is $25,000 and a year's imprisonment.
 

     The Ministry of Finance has issued US dollar sovereign bonds totalling US$6 billion in Hong Kong, of which US$1.5 billion, US$2 billion, US$2 billion and US$0.5 billion in 3-year, 5-year, 10-year and 20-year tenors respectively.  This marks the largest ever US dollar sovereign bond issuance of the Central Government.

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said today (November 27), "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government welcomes the Ministry of Finance's issuance of US dollar sovereign bonds in Hong Kong for the third consecutive year.  This demonstrates clearly the Central Government's support in reinforcing Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre, and is conducive to the development of the bond market in Hong Kong."

The following is issued on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies:

     The Advisory Committee on Water Supplies delegation departed for Guangdong Province to visit the Dongjiang (DJ) Water Supply System and to understand the latest situation of matters in relation to DJ water supplied to Hong Kong. The visit concluded today (November 27).

     During the two-day visit, members of the Advisory Committee visited the DJ Water Supply System, including a DJ section along the Greenway in Huizhou, the intake point of DJ water supplied to Hong Kong at Taiyuan Pumping Station in Dongguan, the Bio-nitrification Plant at the Shenzhen Reservoir, as well as the 110 Command Centre of the Dongshen Branch of the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau responsible for the safety and security of the Dongshen Water Supply System. Members were briefed by the officers concerned on their work and inspected the quality of the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong.

     The Advisory Committee also visited the Dongjiang Water Resource Protection Works at Shima River Mouth, which included the construction of water gates at the junction of Shima River and DJ to replace the existing rubber dam to further safeguard the quality of the DJ water. The works were progressing well and the main works were expected to be completed in mid next year. The Advisory Committee also visited the Integrated Improvement Works for the Water Environment of the Shawan River and learnt that the project had been substantially completed. Members were satisfied with the work of the Guangdong Provincial authorities in safeguarding the quality of the DJ water.

     In summing up the trip, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Dr Chan Hon-fai, considered that the two-day visit programme covering several major operating facilities of the DJ Water Supply System was enriching. It allowed members to understand the situation of the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong, and to observe the quality of the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong at a close distance. Members found the quality of the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong satisfactory.

     The Advisory Committee advises the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region through the Director of Water Supplies on matters relating to water supplies, including water resources, network management, regulation and control of inside service, water conservation and other operational matters. It comprises academics, District Council members, green advocates, professionals, plumbing practitioners and officials from related government bureaux and departments.

          

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 27) that a prepackaged preserved mustard sample was found to contain a preservative, sulphur dioxide, at a level exceeding the legal limit, and the name of sulphite was 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: Chao Zhou Preserved Mustard
Brand: You Hua
Manufacturer: (Not available in English)
Place of origin: China
Net weight: 225 grams per pack
Best-before date: March 28, 2020

     "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a shop in North Point for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 451 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 100 ppm. The name of sulphite was also 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 importer concerned, Kai Bo Food Supermarket, has initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 3987 8041 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.