Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals when the Cold Weather Warning is in force: &nbs… read more
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, March 6, 2025 is 106.4 (down 0.4 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 will conduct 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 and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
From noon on March 5 to noon today (March 6), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 150 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 120 516 samples of food imported from Japan (including 79 100 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 27 826 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (March 5) detected a case involving possession of etomidate (the main ingredient of the “space oil drug”), under the Dangerous Drug Ordinance, from an incoming passenger at the Lo Wu Control Point. One vape stick containing the suspected “space oil drug” was seized.
A 20-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Shenzhen yesterday. During Customs clearance, one vape stick containing the suspected “space oil drug” was found on him. The man was subsequently arrested. The arrested person, who claimed to be unemployed, has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs will continue to step up enforcement and combat against the trafficking of the “space oil drug”.
Under the Dangerous Drug Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour report hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the 2025 Fiesta of Music Office Bands, Choirs and Orchestras concert series in April and May will present a wide selection of favourite classics from various eras, performed by about 1 000 young musicians from 17 bands, choirs and orchestras under the Music Office.
The Hong Kong Youth Strings, the Island Youth Strings, the New Territories Youth Strings and the Kowloon Youth Strings will perform at the first concert, “String Music Boutique”, to be held at 3pm on April 6 (Sunday) at the Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium. They will perform fascinating string classics, including the second and fifth movements of DvoÅ™ák’s “Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op. 22”, “Allegro Moderato” arranged by Monday from Saint-Saëns’ “Symphony No. 3”, the first movement of Haydn’s “Symphony No. 101, ‘The Clock'” arranged by Sieving, and Mendelssohn’s “String Symphony No. 2”, to mark the commencement of the Fiesta.
The second concert, “The Animated Melodies – Our Nostalgic Memories”, will be held at 7.30pm on April 12 (Saturday) at the Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium. The Music Office Youth Brass Band, the New Territories Youth Symphonic Band and the Kowloon Youth Symphonic Band will perform a number of familiar soundtracks from animations, including the vibrant theme song “Courage 100%” from Nintama RantarÅ�, the heartwarming theme from “The Lion King”, and “Akira Toriyama Sakuhin Medley”, encompassing beloved all-time favourites such as the theme music from “Dragon Ball Z”, “Dr. Slump”, and “Dragon Ball GT”. This concert is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2025.
The Chinese orchestras’ concert “Ode to Chinese Music” will be held at 7.30pm on April 26 (Saturday) at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium Arena. The Music Office Children’s Chinese Orchestra, the New Territories Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Island Youth Chinese Orchestra and the Kowloon Youth Chinese Orchestra will showcase the unique charm of Chinese culture with various music favourites, including Peng Xiuwen’s “The City that Never Sleeps” arranged by Tam Yat-sing, Lo Leung-fai’s uplifting “Yu Diao”, Kwok Hang-kei’s “Ah Li Li” inspired by folk music, and excerpts from Wang Danhong’s magnificent “Hymn to the Sun”. This concert is one of the programmes of the Chinese Culture Promotion Series.
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The Hong Kong Children’s Symphonic Band, the Music Office Junior Chinese Orchestra, and the Music Office Junior Symphonic Band will perform at the concert “Musical Soundscapes” to be held at 3pm on April 27 (Sunday) at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium Arena. The repertoire includes the imaginative Standridge’s “Darklands Legends”, the festive and joyful “Dance of the Yao Tribe” by Liu Tieshan and Mao Yuan, and Joe Hisaishi’s widely acclaimed “Howl’s Moving Castle-Symphonic Fantasy for Band”, taking audiences on a colourful music journey.
　　
The finale concert, “Contrasting Resonance-London and Beyond”, featuring the Music Office Children’s Choir, the Music Office Youth Choir, and the Music Office Junior Symphony Orchestra, will be held at 3pm on May 4 (Sunday) at the Tuen Mun Town Hall Auditorium. The young musicians will present enchanting music works, including the first and fourth movements of Haydn’s “Symphony No. 104, ‘London'”, Coates’ “London Suite”, Gilpin’s “All My Heart Shall Sing with Joy!”, and Gershwin’s “Love is Here to Stay”, allowing audiences to experience the unique charm of music through choral and orchestral works.
Tickets of the first concert are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk), and tickets for the other concerts will be available one month before the concert dates. Tickets are priced at $55, $70 and $80. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2796 7523 or 3842 7784 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/activities/traineesevents/musicnconcert/2025-Fiesta.html.
This year, the LCSD presents the third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival, themed “More Than Joy”. Humour has been a trend-setter of Hong Kong’s pop culture scene. The Festival features a diverse range of formats, including stage performances, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, library and outreach activities. Offering an insight into the multifaceted development of Hong Kong’s pop culture along the line of “happiness”, the Festival brings audiences not only joy and laughter, but also an opportunity to appreciate how pop culture can be transmitted and transformed, and how integration and breakthroughs are possible. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.
The Chinese orchestras’ concert “Ode to Chinese Music” is one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.ccpo.gov.hk/en/. read more