Tag Archives: China

     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 is conducting 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.
 
     From noon on June 19 to noon today (June 20), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 233 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 145 285 samples of food imported from Japan (including 95 422 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 33 142 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, arrived in Bordeaux on June 19 (France time) to continue his visit to France.
 
     Mr Yau first held a business roundtable with representatives of La French Tech Bordeaux, a start-up network, and Bordeaux-based technology start-ups to update them on Hong Kong’s latest start-up ecosystem and business-friendly environment for start-ups and entrepreneurs to thrive.
 
     Mr Yau highlighted that Hong Kong’s start-up community has seen remarkable growth and diversification in recent years. In 2024, the number of start-ups in the city reached a record high of approximately 4 700, up about 10 per cent from the previous year. The founder base is notably diverse, with around 28 per cent of start-up founders coming from outside Hong Kong. The encouraging result is a testament to Hong Kong’s attractiveness to innovators, assisted by several key advantages such as a low and simple tax system, world-class financial services and the accessibility to both Mainland and international business opportunities. 
 
     He said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is firmly committed to positioning Hong Kong as a leading innovation and technology hub where start-ups play a pivotal role. He encouraged Bordeaux’s start-up community to expand their operations into Hong Kong, leveraging the city’s strategic position as a gateway to the vast markets on the Mainland and in Asia.
 
     Mr Yau also paid a courtesy call on the Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr Pierre Hurmic, to brief him on Hong Kong’s latest initiatives to drive economic development, such as the reduction of liquor duty, and exchange views on forging closer bilateral relations in various areas such as start-ups, and wine and liquor industries.
 
     In the evening, Mr Yau attended the Bordeaux Wine Festival, the leading wine event in France, to learn about the latest developments of Bordeaux wine and liquor.
 
     Mr Yau will continue his visit to Bordeaux. 

      

     Outreach Music Interest Courses (OMICs) organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are now open for applications. Members of the public are welcome to apply for an array of courses, ranging from Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes to music workshops. The courses will be held from September to February next year.
 
     Introductory courses available include classical vocal singing, classical guitar, ukulele, little harp, keyboard and musicianship. Instrumental enrichment courses include erhu, zheng, yangqin, dizi, violin, cello, flute, clarinet and saxophone. There are also ensemble training for Chinese and Western music, music theory (Grades 1 and 2) and aural training. The course fees range from $320 to $1,350.
 
     Other Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes will cover erhu, liuqin, pipa, zhongruan, zheng, yangqin, dizi, xiao, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad). The course fee is $1,440 each.
 
     In a new course of OMICs, “Introduction to ‘Pure Data’ Music Programming”, participants will learn to use “Pure Data”, a free graphical programming software, for sound design and music creation. The course welcomes adults that have passed Grade 5 or above in music theory. Participants should bring their own laptop computer and other necessary equipment to class. The fee of this course is $760.
 
     In addition, the “Keyboard Playing (Numbered Musical Notation)” course, which covers numbered musical notation reading, melody-playing techniques and simple chord applications, welcomes adults who have completed the “Introduction to Keyboard Playing (Foundation I)” course organised by the Music Office, or those who have acquired basic skills in playing the keyboard with both hands. The course fee is $650.
 
     All OMICs are conducted in Cantonese. The courses will be held at different venues across the territory, namely Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, North District Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, Tai Po Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library and the Music Office’s music centres in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan. Participants of the online course “ABCs of Musicianship” are required to prepare their own electronic device equipped with a wireless or broadband data connection, a webcam and the software Zoom in advance.
 
     Online applications are now available on the Music Office website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice). Course prospectuses and application forms are also available at various performance venues of the LCSD and all music centres of the Music Office. The deadline for applications is July 18. Oversubscribed courses will be processed by ballot. For courses not fully taken up after the first round of application, places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis from August 13 onwards.
 
     For enquiries, please call 3842 7773, 2598 0801 or 2598 8335 or email to outreachmusic@lcsd.gov.hk. read more

     The Government announced today (June 20) the appointment of Miss Hotchandani Mamta Chandiram and Miss Waverly Yeung Yuk-mui to the Women’s Commission (WoC) through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth (MSSY) for a term from July 15, 2025, to January 14, 2027.

     Since its establishment in 2001, the WoC has spared no effort in promoting the well-being and interests of women in Hong Kong and advising the Government on policies and initiatives on women’s affairs.

     The Government regularly recruits young persons aged between 18 and 35 who are eager to serve the community to join the Government’s advisory committees through the MSSY with a view to providing more opportunities for young people to participate in policy discussions. read more

     The Government announced today (June 20) the appointment of three new non-official members and the reappointment of 10 serving non-official members to the Green Technology and Finance Development Committee for a period of two years from June 23, 2025, to June 22, 2027.
 
     The membership list in the new term is as follows:
 
Chairman
——-
Financial Secretary
 
Non-official members (in alphabetical order of surnames)
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Ms Clara Chan Yuen-shan
Dr Vincent Cheng Sai-yau
Dr Dai Fan (newly appointed)
Ms Loretta Fong Wan-huen
Professor Gong Peng (newly appointed)
Professor Alex Jen Kwan-yue
Ms Poman Lo
Mr Lu Jiahui (newly appointed)
Dr Ma Jun
Mr Philip Ng Kim-lam
Dr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung
Miss Vriko Yu Pik-fan
Dr Martin Zhu Yihao
 
Official members
——————-
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
Secretary for Environment and Ecology
Secretary for Housing
Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry
Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services)
Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics 1
Head of Project Strategy and Governance Office, Development Bureau
Chairman, Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development
Chief Executive Officer, Securities and Futures Commission
Chief Executive Officer, Insurance Authority
Deputy Chief Executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited
Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited
Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
 
     A Government spokesman said, “Since its establishment in June 2023, the Committee has provided valuable insights across various areas, including fostering the creation of a green technology ecosystem, developing green finance, green transportation and green buildings, as well as promoting and highlighting Hong Kong’s strengths in these areas. We firmly believe that, with the extensive market experience and professional expertise of the Committee members, their invaluable advice will further advance the development of green technology and finance in Hong Kong.
 
     “We express our gratitude to the outgoing members, Mr Wang Hongbo, Dr George Lam, and Mr Jonathan Drew for their contributions to the work of the Committee during their tenure.”
 
     The Committee was established on June 23, 2023, to assist in the formation of an action agenda for promoting the development of Hong Kong into an international green technology and financial centre. Members of the Committee include representatives from relevant policy bureaux, departments and financial regulators, as well as non-official members from the finance, technology, academic, professional services sectors, etc. read more