Tag Archives: China

     â€‹A McDonald’s restaurant located at Wealthy Shopping Arcade on Texaco Road in Tsuen Wan did not comply with the requirements of a statutory notice issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to properly treat its cooking fume emissions, causing environmental nuisance to nearby residents. The restaurant was today (November 27) convicted and fined $10,000 by Fanling Magistrates’ Courts for contravening the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO).
      
     The EPD enforcement officers received a complaint from a resident in January this year and found that the restaurant concerned was emitting excessive cooking fumes which affected nearby pedestrian and residents. The EPD then issued a statutory notice under the APCO requesting the restaurant to take remedial measures by the deadline. The EPD officers conducted on-site inspection after the specified date and found that the restaurant continued to emit visible cooking fumes, which violated the requirements of the statutory notice. The EPD then prosecuted the restaurant in accordance with the law. It was subsequently noted that the restaurant’s air pollution control equipment was not in operation at that time.
      
     An EPD spokesman reminded food business operators that the responsible persons should properly install and operate effective air pollution control equipment in the kitchens of food premises. They should also hire experienced technicians to clean, check and repair the equipment regularly to avoid causing air pollution. According to the APCO, restaurant operators should adopt effective remedial measures to abate excessive cooking fume emissions within a specified time limit upon receipt of a statutory notice. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions. read more

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, at Ministerial Roundtable – Cooperation with Key Stakeholders today (November 27) in Singapore.

Minister Gan (Minister for Health, Singapore, Mr Gan Kim Yong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to share with you the experience of Hong Kong in engaging stakeholders to address the issue on diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

     Hong Kong has a vibrant civil society. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of players in the healthcare sector. We fully support the spirit outlined in the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors. We have established co-operation with stakeholders to achieve the common goal in promoting and protecting the health of Hong Kong people. 

     In terms of health promotion, our Department of Health has partnered with various key stakeholders, like academics, professional associations, home-school associations and the catering industry to carry out campaigns for promoting healthy lifestyle such as low salt and sodium in meals. Starting from next year, we will provide financial support, around US$32,000, to our 18 District Councils, which are our district advisory bodies and partners. They will in turn engage community organisations to launch health promotion activities on prevention and control of NCDs in the district level.

     I am sure you are familiar with the Healthy Cities approach initiated by the WHO which aims to cope with the adverse effects of an urban environment over health. In Hong Kong, each of our 18 districts has set up a Healthy Cities Project. They have recently won the bid to organise the next Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities in Hong Kong in 2020. I look forward to seeing them working closely with the private sector such as companies and non-government organisations as encouraged by the WHO.

     Our vision to provide quality, affordable and sustainable health services to the public is shared by many in the civil society. At the primary care setting, we are committed to illustrating the effectiveness of medical-social collaboration. A pilot District Health Centre (DHC), operating through district-based, medical-social collaboration and public-private partnership, will be set up in Hong Kong. This DHC will be operated by a non-public entity with government funding. It will provide services in health promotion, health assessment, chronic disease management, and community rehabilitation. Diabetes and hypertension, and their related risk factors, are among the priority issues to be handled by the DHC. 

     Promoting partnership with patients to provide patient-centred care is one of the key strategic directions of the Hospital Authority, which manages all public hospitals in Hong Kong. They have established Patient Resources Centres to support patients and their families or carers, and facilitate the networking between patient and patient groups for mutual support, including a number of diabetes-related patient groups. The Resources Centres collaborate with clinical teams and patient groups for patient education and the organisation of empowerment programmes for diabetic patients, such as healthy cooking classes, peer-led exercise sessions, etc, to strengthen their knowledge and skills in self-management. These Centres also engage patient groups as volunteers to participate in projects such as ward visits or home visits to show concern and care for diabetic patients.

     As you can see, we have pursued co-operation with key stakeholders in different ways and at different levels and have been encouraged by the synergy created so far. We will endeavour to foster more collaboration and join hands with stakeholders in minimising the threat posed by diabetes and other NCDs.

      

     Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police yesterday (November 26) conducted an anti-smuggling joint operation and detected a suspected smuggling case using a speedboat in the North Lantau waters of Hong Kong. Suspected smuggled goods including about 1 400 used mobile phones, about 100 used tablets, about 160 kilograms of wood logs and about 900 live frogs with an estimated market value of about $1.1 million were seized.

     Officers from Customs and the Marine Police spotted several suspicious men moving cartons of goods from a private car to a speedboat near Tung Chung yesterday evening. Officers then took immediate action and the men fled in the speedboat.

     During the operation, the batch of suspected smuggled goods was seized and a private car involved was also detained for further investigation.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police will continue to take stringent enforcement action to combat sea smuggling activities.

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

  

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 26) seized about 1.3 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $3.5 million and a duty potential of about $2.4 million at Man Kam To Control Point. … read more

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 (No… read more