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.
 
     From noon on June 13 to noon today (June 16), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 357 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 143 943 samples of food imported from Japan (including 94 594 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 32 940 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, June 16, 2025 is 102.9 (down 0.2 against last Saturday's index).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, June 14, 2025 was 103.1 (up 0.1 against last Friday's index).

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, will depart for Shanghai tomorrow morning (June 17), where she has been invited by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority to officiate at the opening ceremony and dinner of WestK Shanghai Week 2025.
      
     During her stay in Shanghai, Miss Law will also visit local tourism and cultural facilities and meet with relevant officials.
      
     Miss Law will return to Hong Kong at night on June 18 (Wednesday). During her absence, the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, will be the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 16) that the Tai Po Civic Centre (TPCC), which was closed for facility upgrading works, will reopen its outdoor areas, foyer and minor facilities from 9am on June 23 (Monday). The URBTIX outlet in the TPCC will also resume services from 10am on the same day.

     The TPCC has been closed for facility upgrading works since 2021. The phase one reopening includes several facilities: outdoor areas, an expanded foyer, barrier-free access and facilities, and two function rooms. A self-service ticketing kiosk will also be available in the TPCC foyer for convenient ticket purchases and collection. In addition, the outdoor areas will be open to the public around the clock, ensuring easy access to the adjacent Tai Po Arts Centre. The enhanced landscaping of the outdoor areas will also provide open spaces that foster a vibrant cultural and artistic ambience for the community.

     Works on the remaining facilities of the TPCC, including the Auditorium and the Black Box Theatre, are expected to be completed by 2025, and their reopening will be announced later. For more information about the TPCC, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/tpcc.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:
 
     The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded "M" Mark status to the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Hong Kong 2025 presented by China Life (Overseas), scheduled to take place from June 18 to 22 at Kai Tak Arena.
      
     The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (June 16), "The competition has moved to Kai Tak Arena, which is the first international volleyball event held at Kai Tak Sports Park. The VNL Hong Kong features elite teams from around the world. It not only promotes the development of volleyball in Hong Kong but also attracts overseas visitors to come to Hong Kong and stimulates the development of the hospitality, retail, and catering sectors, thereby further solidifying Hong Kong's status as a centre for major international sports events."
      
     The "M" Mark System aims to encourage and help local National Sports Associations and private or non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be considered for "M" Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events.
      
     For details of "M" Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk.