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 28 to noon today (March 31), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 310 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 126 043 samples of food imported from Japan (including 82 826 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 29 080 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) invited more than 300 teachers and students from 10 secondary schools to attend a "Creation and Rehabilitation" drama and music performance by persons in custody (PICs) under the Rehabilitation Pioneer Project at Stanley Prison today (March 31). The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, officiated at the opening ceremony of the performance.
 
     During the performance, PICs staged for the students a drama featuring the story of a teenager who was lured by his peers to take the "space oil drug". The teenager eventually became addicted to it and engaged in drug trafficking in school. His friend was also lured by him to take drugs, and later had a traffic accident under the influence of drugs, which made the teenager regretful. The CSD hopes that through the drama, students can understand the harm caused by drugs and the heavy price of drug trafficking so that they can become law-abiding and drug-free citizens.
      
     Speaking at the event, Mr Tang said that the Government published in the Gazette on February 14 the listing of etomidate, the main component of the "space oil drug", as a dangerous drug. Possession, vaping or drug trafficking can make one liable for very serious criminal punishment. The Government will continue to adopt a zero-tolerance attitude towards dangerous drugs and use multipronged strategies to combat drugs. The Government has also co-organised various activities with schools to prevent the spread of the "space oil drug" among young people. He hoped that, through the drama and interactive sessions, students can understand the dangers of emerging drugs and stay away from drugs at all times.
      
     This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN). ACAN was invited to set up booths inside the venue to disseminate to students anti-drug messages, information on criminal liabilities for drug offences, how to seek help, and so on.
      
     During the sharing session, a PIC who was addicted to drugs and imprisoned for trafficking in dangerous drugs shared his experience with the students, hoping that they can learn from it and recognise the harmful effects of drugs and reminding them to be law abiding and stay away from drugs.
      
     Jointly organised by the CSD and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong Lay Prison Evangelical Organisation, the "Creation and Rehabilitation" Programme has been implemented at Stanley Prison since 2011. The Programme integrates arts therapy into rehabilitation services and assists PICs in self-exploration and self-understanding through a series of creative workshops. In addition, the Programme provides opportunities for young people to visit correctional institutions and meet PICs in person so as to understand the heavy price of committing crimes and the importance of abiding by the law. At the same time, through the creation and performance by PICs, students can deepen their understanding of diversified rehabilitation programmes of the CSD, thereby recognising the importance of rehabilitation and the significance of social harmony.

            

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, March 31, 2025 is 106.5 (down 0.1 against last Saturday's index).

     â€‹The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, March 29, 2025 was 106.6 (down 0.1 against last Friday's index).

     The Home Affairs Department (HAD) today (March 31) announced that the Clansmen Culture Promotion Scheme for 2025-26 will be open for application from tomorrow (April 1) to provide funding subsidies for clansmen associations to organise activities promoting hometown culture.

     The Chief Executive announced in his 2023 Policy Address the launch of the Scheme for a period of three years, with total funding of $30 million earmarked for application by clansmen associations. The Scheme for 2024-25 was launched in April last year and has been successfully completed. The HAD has earmarked dedicated funding of $10 million for the continuation of the Scheme for 2025-26, with a focus on uniting clansmen in Hong Kong, so that clansmen associations can apply for subsidies to organise various activities for facilitating patriotic education and promoting the spirit of loving the country, Hong Kong and hometowns.

     Any locally registered clansmen associations with a good reputation and track record, which have long been committed to promoting hometown culture and fostering exchanges between Hong Kong and hometowns in order to promote the spirit of loving the motherland, Hong Kong and hometowns, and with experience in organising relevant activities, are eligible to apply for subsidies under the Scheme to organise relevant activities to promote and preserve hometown culture, unite clansmen in Hong Kong and facilitate exchanges between the two places. There is no restriction on the form of the activities. As long as the activities are non-profit-making in nature and align with the objectives of the Scheme, applicant associations can make applications under the Scheme. Generally, the funding ceiling for each activity is $200,000; applications exceeding the funding ceiling will be considered on a discretionary basis, taking into account the scale, creativity and content of the activities.

     The HAD will hold a briefing session to introduce details of the Scheme to eligible applicant associations. Application for 2025-26 will be open until April 30. For enquiries, please contact the HAD by email (clansmen@had.gov.hk).

     The Government announced today (March 31) the appointment of five new members, the reappointment of eight incumbent members and the reappointment of Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing as the Chairman of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (CPCE). The appointment of these 14 members will take effect from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2027.
      
     The five newly appointed members are Miss Chong Chui-shan, Professor Alex Fan Hoi-kit, Ms Lee Wing-yi, Miss Winnie So Wing-yu and Mr Solomon Yung Sze-hon. The eight reappointed members are Ms Carol Cheung Nga-lai, Mr Stephen Chua Yiu-yeung, Mr Dave Ho, Miss Christine Leung Wan-chong, Mr Vincent Ma Chi-wai (Steven Ma Chun-wai), Mr Jan Noel Shih, Mr James Tong Wai-pong and Ms Wong Kit-lin.
      
     The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, welcomed the appointments and said that she was pleased to see new members coming from different sectors and professions who would give valuable advice to the work of the CPCE. She also expressed her appreciation to the outgoing members, Miss Catherina Choy Mei-wa, Mr Kinsey Ho Ka-tsun, Miss Shirley Wong Chi-lou, Dr Yan Wai-kiu and Ms Jennifer Yeung Yin-chi, for their efforts and contributions to the CPCE during their term of service.
      
     The membership list of the CPCE, with effect from April 1, 2025, is as follows:
 
Chairman
————-
Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing
 
Members
————
Mr Mac Chan Ho-ting
Miss Chan Nga-man
Mr Jonathan Chan Pok-chi
Ms Chan Wing-man
Mr Allen Che Wai-hang
Ms Carol Cheung Nga-lai
Miss Chong Chui-shan
Mr Stephen Chua Yiu-yeung
Professor Alex Fan Hoi-kit
Mr Dave Ho
Ms Kimberly Kwok Hew-chee
Mr Andy Kwok Wing-leung
Ms Lau Hoi-chi
Mr Lee Kang-pan
Ms Lee Wing-yi
Miss Christine Leung Wan-chong
Miss Leung Yan-yan
Mr Robert Andrew Lui Chi-wang
Mr Vincent Ma Chi-wai (Steven Ma Chun-wai)
Mr Frederick Poon Siu-chi
Ms Esther Sham Ei-hung
Mr Jan Noel Shih
Miss Winnie So Wing-yu
Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai
Mr James Tong Wai-pong
Ms Wong Kit-lin
Mr Yiu Chun-kai
Mr Solomon Yung Sze-hon
 
     The CPCE was established in 1986 as a non-statutory advisory body to promote civic education outside schools. It advises the Government on the objective and scope of civic education, promotes civic education outside schools through a range of publicity and educational programmes, and sponsors eligible organisations to carry out civic education projects.