Tag Archives: China

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 21) released the latest grading of water quality for 10 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming.
 
     Nine beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), and one as Fair (Grade 2).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

Big Wave Bay Beach	Lido Beach
Casam Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Stanley Main Beach
Golden Beach

 
Grade 2 beach is:

Silverstrand Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
 
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
 
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD’s dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast). read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, March 21, 2025 is 106.5 (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 20 to noon today (March 21), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 117 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 123 898 samples of food imported from Japan (including 81 334 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 28 578 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:        The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) endorsed today (March 21) the tightening of "Well-off Tenants Policies&… read more

     â€‹The Government today (March 21) announced the appointment of five new Directors and the reappointment of three serving members to the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (Cyberport), for a two-year term from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2027.
 
     The five new Directors are Mr Kenny Chien Kwok-keung, Ms Ivy Chua Suk-lin, Mr Stephen Law Cheuk-kin, Mr James Li Tsz-shu and Mr Roy Ng Chun-tat. Three serving Directors, namely Mr Jack Kong Jian-ping, Mr Lau Kwok-fan and Dr Derrick Pang Yat-bond, have been reappointed to the Board.
 
     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, welcomed the above appointments. He said, “Benefitting from the diverse backgrounds, experience and vision of the Board members, Cyberport will continue with its public mission and scale new heights, fostering Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and digital technology hub.”
      
     Professor Sun also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Directors, Mr Victor Ng Chi-keung, Mr Charleston Sin Chiu-shun and Mr Eric Yeung Chuen-sing, for their contributions to Cyberport over the past six years.
 
     The full membership of the Cyberport Board with effect from April 1, 2025, is as follows:

Mr Simon Chan Sai-ming (Chairman)
Mr Nicholas Chan Hiu-fung
Professor Christopher Chao Yu-hang
Ms Ivy Cheung Wing-han
Mr Kenny Chien Kwok-keung
Ms Ivy Chua Suk-lin
Mr Jack Kong Jianping
Mr Lau Kwok-fan
Mr Stephen Law Cheuk-kin
Mr Michael Leung Kin-man
Mr James Li Tsz-shu
Ms Erica Ma Yun
Mr Roy Ng Chun-tat
Dr Derrick Pang Yat-bond
Mr Patrick Tsang On-yip
Ms Maggie Tsoi Tsz-shan
Mr Ken Wong Kin-hang
Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry read more