The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 13) that an aquatic product from a regulated Japanese prefecture was suspected to be in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order when the CFS inspected food imported from Japan. The product concerned has been marked and sealed by the CFS and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "During an inspection of the consignment of food imported from Japan, the CFS found 30 cartons of dried fish product manufactured in Niigata Prefecture after the Order was issued. The importer concerned is thus suspected of breaching the relevant Order."

     According to the Order, all aquatic products originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, are prohibited from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong if they are harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after August 24, 2023, including all live, chilled, frozen, dried or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on such incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing.

     In response to the World Health Organization (WHO)'s report on nine new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Saudi Arabia, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 13) appealed to the public to be vigilant and to take appropriate protective measures when visiting affected regions.

     According to the WHO, the nine new cases involved five males and four females aged above 18. Two of them have passed away. Epidemiological data showed that one of the cases had indirect contact with camel.
      
     Seven of the nine abovementioned cases were found to be epidemiologically linked. After one patient was hospitalised and confirmed to have MERS, six health and care workers who had cared for the patients were also confirmed through contact tracing, with four of them being asymptomatic and two showing mild symptoms. They were suspected to be infected in the healthcare facility and had recovered.
      
     The WHO maintains its overall risk assessment of MERS in Saudi Arabia and expects that more cases of MERS will be reported in the Middle East or other countries where the virus is circulating in dromedaries. According to the latest information, 2 627 cases of MERS (including 946 deaths) have been notified by the WHO since 2012, and Saudi Arabia has notified 2 218 cases (including the above patients). The CHP will maintain close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities to monitor the activity and trends of MERS.
      
     "Scientific evidence shows that dromedary camels are reservoirs for MERS-CoV. Dromedary camels infected with MERS-CoV may not show any signs of infection. Infected animals may shed MERS-CoV through their nasal and eye discharge and faeces, and potentially in their milk and urine. The virus can also be found in the raw offal and meat of infected animals. Among the reported cases in the Middle East, most of the patients had been in contact with dromedary camels, consumed camel milk, or had contact with patients who had been diagnosed with MERS. The CHP recommends travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to refrain from arranging for visitors to ride dromedary camels or to participate in any activities involving direct contact with dromedary camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS-CoV. Moreover, travellers to the region should avoid visiting farms, barns or markets where there are dromedary camels, as well as contact with patients and animals, especially dromedary camels," the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
      
      "As the Hajj pilgrimage will begin soon, pilgrims visiting Mecca in Saudi Arabia should be vigilant against MERS. Those with pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic renal disease and immunodeficiency, are more likely to develop severe infections if they are exposed to MERS-CoV. Pilgrims should hence consult healthcare providers before travel to review the risk and assess whether a pilgrimage is advisable. Pilgrims visiting Mecca may refer to the DH's advice. If pilgrims feel unwell during the two weeks after returning to Hong Kong, they should wear a surgical mask and seek medical attention immediately and inform a doctor of their recent travel history," he added.
         
     The public may visit the MERS page of the CHP and its Travel Health Service to learn more about MERS statistics in affected areas. The public should also refer to the CHP's Facebook page and YouTube channel and the WHO's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS. 

　　The Chinese Cultural Festival (CCF) 2025, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will open in June with "Dongpo: Life in Poems", a contemporary dance performance by the China Oriental Performing Arts Group. Directed by international acclaimed choreographer and visual artist Shen Wei, the production is inspired by the poetry and life of Su Dongpo, a literary master in the Song dynasty. The performance, to be staged in Hong Kong, as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges that boldly explores the integration of Chinese and Western arts, will showcase the remarkable talent and patriotic spirit of Su, while confidently presenting the beauty of traditional Chinese culture to the world. 

　　Su, a polymath in literature, calligraphy and painting in Chinese history, remains a celebrated figure 1 000 years later. His classic verses are still widely recited and resonate deeply today. "Dongpo: Life in Poems" goes beyond the usual linear narrative of dance drama. Instead, it revolves around 12 of Su's poems that epitomise the poet's life philosophy from over 3 000 works, while reinterpreting Su's multifaceted legacy through contemporary dance. Divided into six acts, the selected poems, each of which touches on a different aspect of the poet's life philosophy, are integrated to convey the poetic culture and texture with famous lines displayed onstage in calligraphic form. The poetic verses are about magnificent landscapes and graceful rivers, patriotic sentiments and timeless human nature and value. They range from the heroic emotion in "To the east, the Yangtze River constantly flows, bringing with its waves numerous ancient heroes" to the profound thoughts for his deceased wife in "Life and death have separated us for 10 years"; the world of compassion in "May all of us far apart be blessed with longevity", and optimism in "I don't mind leading a life in a raincoat". By merging "cognitive essence" and "aesthetic realm", this approach is designed to transcend linguistic barriers, allowing audiences to explore Su's spiritual world through a contemporary lens. 

　　Upholding traditions while embracing innovation is the creative concept behind "Dongpo: Life in Poems", the production uses contemporary dance as a form of expression, while deeply integrating various fine traditional Chinese culture elements, such as poetry writing, traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, seal engraving, guqin, Chinese opera and martial arts in a pioneering manner. Through a multisensory experience of music, dance, poetry and painting, it distils the quintessence of Chinese classical philosophy and aesthetics, delicately deconstructing Su's poetry and intellectual allure to immerse audiences in the poetic and pictorial elegance of the aesthetics of the Song dynasty. Meanwhile, the work features contemporary music together with live guqin tunes, as well as icons spanning different eras – from horse-drawn carriages and palanquins to bicycles and skateboards – creating a bold, innovative spectacle that transports audiences on a dialogue through time, as if stepping from antiquity into the present. 

　　The creative team of the production represents a gathering of top artists; in addition to Shen as the chief director, choreographer, visual director as well as stage set, costume and styling designer, he also serves as the playwright with Guo Changhong, a National Class One playwright. The team also includes Chen Qigang and Xiao Lihe, who were the music director and lighting designer respectively for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The President of the China Calligraphy Academy, Yang Tao, designs calligraphy and seal carvings for the show. Associate Professor of the Dance Department of Beijing Normal University Su Peng, along with over 20 outstanding young performers from the China Oriental Song and Dance Troupe and the Meishan Song and Dance Theatre, as well as guqin virtuoso Professor of the Central Conservatory of Music Zhao Xiaoxia will come to Hong Kong to perform. The production has been staged in many Mainland cities since its premiere in Shanghai in July 2023, and was performed in New York and Washington, DC, early last year to critical acclaim.

　　The China Oriental Performing Arts Group, under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is one of the most prestigious national art troupes, originating from the China Song and Dance Troupe, the Oriental Song and Dance Troupe as well as the China Light Music Troupe. It has nurtured numerous world-renowned artists, and has created and performed many fine art works that have been well received by local and overseas audiences. 

　　"'Dongpo: Life in Poems' by China Oriental Performing Arts Group" will be held at 7.30pm on June 13 and 14 (Friday and Saturday) at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC). Tickets priced at $200, $260, $360, $460 and $560 are available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Group booking discounts and package booking discounts are available for purchasing selected CCF stage programmes, the "Chinese Opera Film Shows" of the Chinese Opera Festival (COF) 2025 and the "Legacy and Vision: Conversations with Chinese Cultural Masters" lecture. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/dongpo-life-in-poems/. The programme is sponsored by the Agricultural Bank of China Limited Hong Kong Branch. 

　　In addition, a thematic exhibition will be held from May 28 to June 14 at the Foyer Exhibition Area of the HKCC. The exhibition will introduce Shen Wei's paintings created for the programme and the creative process behind the scene. Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome to join on the spot. 

　　The programme will also feature a session under the "Chinese Culture for All: A Special Performance Series", with an open rehearsal to be held at 2.15pm on June 13 at the Grand Theatre of the HKCC. Admission is free for local primary and secondary school students to encourage them to participate in cultural activities and experience the wonders of Chinese culture and arts. Interested schools can call 2268 7323 for details. 

　　The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public's national identity and cultural confidence. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from both the Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2025 will be held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the COF, "Tan Dun WE-Festival", film screenings, exhibitions, as well as community and school activities and more, the festival provides members of the public and visitors with more opportunities to enjoy distinctive programmes that showcase fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby facilitating patriotic education and contributing to the inheritance, transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture in Hong Kong. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2025, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.

                  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today (May 13) announced a new service schedule of the two Coin Carts under the Coin Collection Programme, for the period of June 2, 2025, up to August 17, 2025. The schedule and other details of the Programme are shown on the HKMA webpage (coincollection.hkma.gov.hk).

     Since the launch of the Programme in October 2014 up to March 31, 2025, the two Coin Carts had carried out 1 340 000 transactions, collecting 1 031 million coins with a total face value of HK$1,652 million during the period. The collected coins are re-circulated to meet demand.

     The Coin Carts provide service at locations that are convenient to the public without affecting the normal flow of traffic and pedestrians. Locations that have suitable power supply facilities, such as the Leisure and Cultural Services Department mobile library service locations, are preferred so as to reduce the need for using the Coin Carts' own stand-by generators. This makes the Programme more environmentally friendly. In selecting the service locations, the HKMA has taken into consideration comments and suggestions given by district councils and members of public; and has consulted the Transport Department and the Hong Kong Police Force as necessary.

     The two Coin Carts collect coins from members of public in the 18 districts of Hong Kong on a rotating basis. Under normal circumstances each Coin Cart will stay at a location for a week, subject to availability of the parking space and the maintenance schedule of the Cart. Service hours are from 10am to 7pm. Each vehicle is equipped with two coin counting machines and operational staff will be present to provide assistance. An electrical wheelchair lift is available for use. Users can choose to exchange coins for banknotes or adding value to their stored value facilities, such as Octopus Cards or e-wallets (including AlipayHK, Octopus Wallet, Tap&Go and WeChat Pay). There is also a Community Chest donation box inside each vehicle. The coin collection service is free of charge.

     The HKMA will review the Programme from time to time; and will regularly update the service schedule to give advance notice to the public.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that a tender for 10-year RMB institutional Government Bonds (issue number 10GB3505001) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme was held today (May 13).
      
     A total of RMB1.0 billion 10-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of RMB6.814 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 6.81. The average price accepted is 101.91, implying an annualised yield of 2.088 per cent.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Results
 
     Tender results of 10-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
 

* Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.

Note: The yields stated above are annualised yields. For reference, the semi-annualised yields corresponding to the average price accepted, lowest price accepted, and average tender price are 2.077 per cent, 2.100 per cent, and 2.236 per cent respectively.