Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 1) released the test results of a targeted food surveillance project on the nutrition labelling of breakfast cereal. Among 40 samples tested, three samples were found with total fat or saturated fat content inconsistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels, while one sample was found to have a label format on durability indication that was not in compliance with legal requirements. The remaining 36 samples passed the test.

     “The CFS collected samples from different retail outlets for the targeted food surveillance project. Tests were conducted to check if the energy content and specified nutrient content (total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sugars, sodium, protein, carbohydrates, and more) are consistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels. The food labels were also checked if they comply with relevant requirements under the laws,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

     The CFS has announced the irregularities on the actual nutrient contents earlier. The vendors concerned have also stopped selling the relevant batches of the affected products. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

     The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require all applicable prepackaged foods to list the ingredients and the content of energy plus seven core nutrients, namely carbohydrates, protein, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and sugars, and regulate any associated nutrition claims. The “best before” or “use by” date of all prepackaged food shall be shown either in Arabic numerals or in both the English and Chinese languages.

     Nutrition labelling can assist consumers in making informed food choices, encourage food manufacturers to apply sound nutrition principles in the formulation of foods, and regulate misleading or deceptive labels and claims. According to Section 61 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), if any person falsely describes food or misleads as to the nature, substance or quality of the food on a label of the food sold by him or her, he or she shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

     The CFS will continue to conduct surveillance on other food samples to check if their energy content and specified nutrient content are consistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels, and the results will be released in due course. The spokesman reminded the food trade to comply with the law, and urged members of the public to pay attention to the information on nutrition labels when purchasing food to make informed food choices to achieve a balanced diet and stay healthy. read more

     The Communications Authority (CA) announced today (April 1) its decision to reassign 50 MHz of spectrum in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band by way of auction for the provision of public mobile services upon the expiry of its exis… read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 is 106.7 (up 0.2 against yesterday’s index). read more

     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 March 31 to noon today (April 1), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 162 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 126 282 samples of food imported from Japan (including 82 988 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 29 130 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) today (April 1) issued about 230 000 profits tax returns, 120 000 property tax returns and 330 000 employer’s returns for the year of assessment 2024-25, and will issue about 2.66 million tax returns for individuals on May 2. Taxpayers and employers are generally required to file their returns within one month from the date of issue of the returns. For cases with tax representatives appointed, the deadlines for filing returns are set out in the Block Extension Letter posted on the IRD’s website.

     The IRD is committed to promoting tax digitalisation and has been enhancing the functions of electronic tax filing to help taxpayers and raise the efficiency, reliability and accuracy of return filing.

     The IRD encourages taxpayers to file their tax returns through eTAX which allows individuals to use “iAM Smart” to log in and sign their tax returns (signing is only applicable to holders of “iAM Smart” accounts with the digital signing function). Taxpayers may visit the IRD’s website for frequently asked questions and answers on how to complete tax returns and guidance on electronic filing of employer’s returns.

     Profits tax payers are also urged to file tax returns electronically together with supporting documents (including financial statements and profits tax computations) in inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL) format. The IRD provides the IRD Taxonomy Package (the Taxonomy) and the IRD iXBRL Data Preparation Tools (the Tools) to help taxpayers in preparing the required iXBRL data files. The Taxonomy and the Tools have been further enhanced this year, including upgrading the English Windows Tagging Tool to accept the import of financial statements in Microsoft Excel format, and allowing the generation of the required iXBRL data files denominated in a more variety of currencies.

     Taxpayers may visit the dedicated webpage on the IRD’s website for downloading the latest version of the Taxonomy and the Tools free of charge and details of their enhanced features. For enquiries in relation to the iXBRL filing requirements and the use of the Tools, taxpayers may contact the IRD by email: ixbrl_reporting@ird.gov.hk or using the IRD’s e-Appointment system to book a specific timeslot for making enquiries on phone.

     The IRD reminds taxpayers and employers to pay sufficient postage to ensure timely delivery if they submit their returns by mail. Underpaid mail items will not be accepted by the IRD. Postage rates are available on Hongkong Post’s website. read more