Tag Archives: China

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is once again holding Green Recycling Day (GRD) activities upon the conclusion of the 10-day Hong Kong Flower Show. The GRD activities were held today (March 24) and will continue tomorrow (March 25) at Victoria Park to reinforce green measures and reduce waste, demonstrating the department’s commitment to environmental protection at its large-scale events.
 
     More than 400 volunteers, in support of the Hong Kong Flower Show, assisted in separating and collecting reusable and recyclable materials at the showground for waste reduction today. These volunteers came from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, corporates, local organisations and the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau’s youth network Youth Link. There were also LCSD staff volunteers, as well as those recruited under the department’s Green Volunteer Scheme.
 
     In addition, around 3 500 pots of flowers in good condition and suitable for replanting were distributed to the public at the park’s Sugar Street entrance today.
 
     Some flowers suitable for replanting were also distributed to schools, environmental groups and non-governmental organisations via the “Give the Flowers a New Home!” Jockey Club Flower Replanting Scheme to encourage greening in the community. This year, over 10 000 potted plants were distributed to more than 80 organisations.
 
     Meanwhile, some landscape displays will be relocated to designated parks in the 18 districts, enabling members of the public to appreciate the gorgeous landscape designs, as well as boosting the colour of the parks.
 
     As in previous years, the LCSD has implemented various green measures at different stages of the flower show, encouraging all stakeholders including exhibitors, contractors, volunteers and members of the public to apply the 3R principles, namely “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”.
 
     During the preparation phase, stakeholders were provided with guidelines on waste reduction. Exhibitors were encouraged to use recyclable or reusable materials in their display designs. While cleaning up the exhibits, they were reminded to collect reusable materials and separate the leftover materials properly before delivering them to recycling spots set up at the showground.
 
     During the show period, visitors were encouraged to bring their own water bottles and reusable shopping bags. QR codes were displayed at the showground for visitors to download the location map and information on the theme flower, landscape displays and more. A free tableware rental service was also provided to reduce the use of disposable plastic tableware, as part of the effort to reduce waste. Recyclables collection points were also set up to facilitate the collection of carton boxes, plastic flower pots and other plastics, soil, metals, wooden planks and more. Collection points for wilted flowers were also available for collecting so that they can be delivered to the Animal Waste Composting Plant in Ngau Tam Mei to be recycled into useful organic compost.
 
     The LCSD hopes to gather community power through implementing various green measures to achieve the goal of a “Green Flower Show for All”.

          

Monthly wage        According to the statistics released today (March 24) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the median monthly wage of employees in Hong Kong in May – June 2024 was $20,500. This w… 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 21 to noon today (March 24), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 343 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 124 315 samples of food imported from Japan (including 81 677 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 28 728 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, March 24, 2025 is 106.6 (up 0.1 against last Saturday’s index).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, March 22, 2025 was 106.5 (same as last Friday’s index). read more

     The Buildings Department approved 14 building plans in January, with five on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.
 
     Of the approved plans, eight were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, two were for commercial developments, one was for factory and industrial development, and three were for community services developments.
 
     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on five building projects which, when completed, will provide 25 433 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 26 units, and 206 432 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for three building projects.
 
     The department also issued 16 occupation permits, with four on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and seven in the New Territories.
 
     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 85 225 sq m involving 1 886 units, and 23 398 sq m was for non-domestic use.
 
     The declared cost of new buildings completed in January totalled about $8.1 billion.
 
     In addition, six demolition consents were issued.
 
     The department received 2 551 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in January and issued 422 removal orders on UBWs.
 
     The full version of the Monthly Digest for January can be viewed on the Buildings Department’s homepage (www.bd.gov.hk). read more