In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on September 24 to noon today (September 25), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 209 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 86 857 samples of food imported from Japan (including 55 527 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 19 806 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

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 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited relating to phishing emails, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the emails concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     ​Invest Hong Kong announced today (September 25) that Mainland artificial intelligence (AI)-powered human resources (HR) solution provider, MokaHR, has opened its regional headquarters in Hong Kong, using the city as its base to expand globally.
     
     Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Dr Jimmy Chiang said "Hong Kong as an international business hub attracts multinational and small and medium-sized enterprises to set up their presence in the city. Software companies like MokaHR can seize the opportunities to provide their services to a wide range of companies."
     
     The Co-founder and CEO of MokaHR, Mr Li Guoxing, said, "Hong Kong's strategic location makes it an important hub connecting Mainland China and the global market. It is an ideal springboard for Mainland companies to expand overseas. In addition, the city has a mature financial market, a sound legal system and a stable business environment with the Government's policy support. It is an important step for our global expansion." 
     
     He added, "Hong Kong is an international city with diversified talent. Companies here attach great importance to human resources management, offering opportunities for us to provide our human resources management solutions for their global expansion."
     
     Established in 2015, MokaHR offers comprehensive "AI-native" human resources management solutions for enterprises. The company has offered its services to more than 2 000 established brands, covering manufacturing, the Internet, education, finance and other industries, and has offices in many cities across the country.

     To get a copy of the photo, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720320588494.
      
     For more information about MokaHR, please visit www.mokahr.io.

  

     Young persons in custody (PICs) at Lai King Correctional Institution (LKCI) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (September 25) in recognition of their efforts and achievements in studies and vocational examinations.

     In the past year, a total of 42 PICs of the institution sat for various academic and vocational examinations including the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), the Aptis – British Council English Assessment Test and the General Aptitude Putonghua Shuiping Kaoshi, and obtained vocational certificates covering Food Safety and Hygiene, Food and Beverage Services, Coffee Making and Latte Art Training, Bakery and Pastry Making, Cantonese Cooking as well as Beauty Care organised by the Christian Action and the Vocational Training Council. During the year, the PICs attained 66 merits out of 182 certificates obtained. In the ceremony today, 20 PICs were presented with 116 certificates, of which 41 were marked with merits. 

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of Tung Sin Tan (TST), Mr Ha Tak-kin, said that TST has been highly supportive of the rehabilitation work of the CSD, and has set up the Tung Sin Education Fund to provide education and vocational training subsidies to PICs with financial difficulties to enable further studies. He encouraged the young PICs to equip themselves well and adopt a proactive learning attitude to prepare for reintegration into society.

     During the ceremony, the young PICs delivered a music performance with Chinese drums and western musical instruments, and a traditional Chinese dance performance to demonstrate their learning outcomes and show gratitude to their families and correctional officers for their unwavering support. Through the performance, the PICs expressed their aspirations for pursuing a new beginning, allowing participants of the ceremony to witness their determination to change.
      
     In the sharing session, a young PIC expressed thanks to her family members for their encouragement, which has enabled her to return to study and optimise her time to study hard, thus attaining satisfactory results in the HKDSE. Her mother shared the joy of witnessing positive changes of her daughter and she appreciated the dedication of correctional officers which have made her realise the importance of rehabilitation work.

     Also attending the ceremony were representatives of non-governmental and community organisations, community leaders and family members of the certificate recipients.

     LKCI accommodates young female PICs aged from 14 to under 21. The Department provides half-day education programmes and half-day vocational training for PICs to help them rehabilitate and prepare for their reintegration into society.

        

     The Development Bureau (DEVB) today (September 25) invited revitalisation proposals from non-profit-making organisations (NPOs) for No. 23 Coombe Road at the Peak, the second historic building under Batch VII of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme (Revitalisation Scheme). The application deadline is noon on January 2, 2025.
      
     No. 23 Coombe Road is a Grade 1 historic building constructed in 1887. It was originally designed as a private luxury house for residential purpose and is now one of the oldest surviving European houses on the Peak.
      
     Guided tours to No. 23 Coombe Road will be arranged for NPOs on October 15 and a workshop will be held on October 17 for attendees to learn about the application procedures and assessment criteria. Interested NPOs can register from now until October 9 at www.heritage.gov.hk/en/revitalisation-scheme/batch-vii-of-revitalisation-scheme/guided-tour-and-workshop/index.html.
      
     The application guide, application form and resource kit containing the historical background of the building and the conservation guidelines, as well as other related information, are available for download at www.heritage.gov.hk/en/revitalisation-scheme/batch-vii-of-revitalisation-scheme/index.html.
      
     The other two historic buildings under Batch VII of the Revitalisation Scheme are Watervale House, the Former Gordon Hard Camp, in Tuen Mun, and the Old Lunatic Asylum (Chinese Block) in Sai Ying Pun. Applications for Watervale House, the Former Gordon Hard Camp, closed on April 10, and 10 applications have been received. The result is expected to be announced in the first half of 2025 upon completion of the assessment. Application arrangements for the Old Lunatic Asylum (Chinese Block) will be announced in due course.
      
     Enquiries can be made to the Revitalisation Scheme Secretariat by email at rhb_enquiry@devb.gov.hk or by phone on 2906 1560.