The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 5) announced that a sample of ready-to-eat raw oysters was found with excessive Escherichia coli (E. coli). The CFS is following up on the case.

     "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a restaurant in Mong Kok for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the most probable number of E. coli of the sample was at a level of 5 400 per 100 grams. According to the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, if the most probable number of E. coli of live or raw bivalve molluscs intended for direct consumption exceeds the level of 700 per 100 grams, the sample is considered unsatisfactory," a spokesman for the CFS said.

     The CFS has informed the restaurant concerned of the above irregularity and instructed it to suspend the sale of the affected food product. The CFS has also inspected the food premises, provided education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff, and requested them to carry out a thorough cleaning and disinfection.

     The spokesman pointed out that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw or partially cooked oysters are high-risk foods. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters.

     â€‹The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 is 105.6 (up 0.4 against yesterday's index).

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

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

 
*"Pro rata ratio" refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant's tendered amount at the "highest yield accepted" level. 
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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning September 11, 2023:
 

     The Land Registry today (September 5) released its statistics for August 2023.

Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in August was 4 660 (+5.3 per cent compared with July 2023 but -11.0 per cent compared with August 2022)

* The 12-month moving average for August was 5 039 (0.9 per cent below the 12-month moving average for July 2023 and 14.9 per cent below that for August 2022)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements of building units in August was $34.9 billion (+5.8 per cent compared with July 2023 but -61.9 per cent compared with August 2022)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 3 247 were for residential units (+5.9 per cent compared with July 2023 but -21.5 per cent compared with August 2022)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $28.6 billion (+7.7 per cent compared with July 2023 but -11.8 per cent compared with August 2022)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme, the Tenants Purchase Scheme, etc, unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.

Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in August was 449 051 (+2.7 per cent compared with July 2023 and +1.2 per cent compared with August 2022)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.

     A Water Supplies Department (WSD) registered consumer was convicted today (September 5) of overcharging her subdivided unit (SDU) tenant for water, in contravention of regulation 47 of the Waterworks Regulations (WWR). The defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of offences at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts and was fined $1,000, $1,500 and $1,000 for each contravention for a total fine of $3,500. 

     The WSD received a complaint in February 2023 concerning the overcharging of an SDU tenant for water at a village house in Sheung Yau Tin Tsuen, Yuen Long, New Territories. Upon completion of the investigation and evidence collection, prosecution was initiated against the person who contravened the relevant regulation. 

     The WSD has been making proactive inspections and instituting prosecutions against illegal acts of overcharging SDU tenants for water. This is the 10th similar conviction case since the first conviction in June 2022, with the associated fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

     According to the amended regulation 47 of the WWR, the registered consumer of the water account (usually the landlord) is only allowed to recover from the occupants of the premises (usually the tenants) the water charge paid to the WSD. If the amount recovered exceeds the water charge paid to the WSD, the registered consumer shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to a maximum fine of $10,000.

     A WSD spokesman said that the Government is committed to combating illegal acts through an inter-departmental and multipronged approach. In addition to stepping up inter-departmental joint inspections and improving the application procedures for the installation of separate water meters, publicity and education efforts have also been strengthened, with a view to enhancing the deterrent effect in preventing SDU tenants from being overcharged for water by the landlord.

     The spokesman mentioned that the WSD has launched a scheme and streamlined procedures to help landlords install separate water meters for SDUs. To encourage landlords' participation in the scheme, payment of the water fee deposit and the charge for providing a meter for each separate water meter installed under the scheme will be waived. Every such water meter account will have a separate water bill for paying the water charge, and the first 12 cubic metres of water consumed for each four-month period will be free of charge.

     While applications for installing separate water meters in SDUs are to be submitted by the landlords, the SDU tenants can also make a request directly to the WSD. The department will then approach the landlords concerned for follow-up actions and provide appropriate technical support. Details of the scheme can be obtained from the WSD's website (www.wsd.gov.hk/en/customer-services/application-for-water-supply/pilot-scheme-for-installation-of-separate-water-me/index.html).

     The WSD encourages the public to report any illegal act of overcharging SDU tenants for water to the WSD for follow-up and investigation. A WhatsApp hotline 5665 5517 has been set up to handle matters related to water overcharging in SDUs and installation of separate water meters for SDUs. Alternatively, the public can also call the WSD's Customer Enquiry Hotline 2824 5000 to report water overcharge cases. After calling the hotline and choosing a language, they can press "7" for reporting to staff directly.