The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 19) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Municipality of Montenegro of the State of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, and Aurora County of the State of South Dakota and Douglas County of the State of Illinois in the United States (US) respectively, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 9 400 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Brazil; and about 12 290 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 1.19 million poultry eggs from the US in the first three months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Brazilian and American authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (May 19) that, in view of the persistently low usage of drop-in boxes at designated post offices and the convenience of streamlined online services, it will cease accepting paper applications for Full Driving Licence (FDL) renewal via these drop-in boxes at post offices from June 1 to consolidate resources and enhance service efficiency. The TD encourages the public to make good use of the more convenient and expeditious online renewal services.

     At present, an FDL holder should renew the FDL within four months before its expiry date or within three years after it has expired. Members of the public may submit an online renewal application via GovHK using their "iAM Smart+" account with the digital signing function or a valid personal digital certificate.

     In addition, to remind and enable the public to renew the FDL in time, the TD will send by post the "FDL Renewal Notice cum Application Form" (form TD 578) to FDL holders around three months prior to its expiry, and another reminder (form TD 601) to those whose FDLs have expired for nearly three years and are yet to be renewed. Both are printed with a Renewal Password. Members of the public may submit an online application using the Renewal Password and other personal information including their identification document number for authentication to complete renewal procedures conveniently. If the applicant's address has not changed within three months upon receipt of the Renewal Password, submission of address proof is not needed during the online application process, further streamlining the procedures.

     As of end-April 2025, nearly half of the FDL applicants had opted for online renewal, making it the most popular local e-licensing service after the International Driving Permit, showing the public's gradual shift from paper to online applications. The TD therefore implements the above service adjustment to make better use of public resources.

     The TD encourages the public to make good use of online applications to enjoy the convenience of e-services. As for paper applications, the current arrangements for submission through the counters and drop-in boxes at the TD's Licensing Offices as well as by post remain unchanged. The public may refer to the TD's website for details of FDL renewal.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, May 19, 2025 is 104.5 (down 0.1 against last Saturday's index).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, May 17, 2025 was 104.6 (up 0.2 against last Friday's index).

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 19) that Mui Wo Swimming Pool in Islands District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 4.30pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming. 

     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.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor the situation and continue to implement the enhanced testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on May 16 to noon today (May 19), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 312 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category, in the past three days (including last Saturday and Sunday). 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 150 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 136 853 samples of food imported from Japan (including 90 097 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 31 536 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.