Attention radio/TV announcers:

Please broadcast the following at suitable intervals:

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department reminds members of the public to maintain an appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible at the department's venues tonight (December 31). In particular, they should strictly observe regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings, and should wear masks at all times in any public place while celebrating the New Year. Offenders are liable to prosecution.

     Members of the public should also keep places clean and put rubbish in rubbish bins. Anyone not disposing of rubbish properly is liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500.

     Please remember that the Hong Kong Cultural Centre piazza area, Salisbury Garden and the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade will implement crowd management measures. Venues will step up patrols and appeals to members of the public to follow the regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings of more than the number of people as stipulated by the law and the mask-wearing requirement in public places and to keep places clean. Enforcement actions will be taken against offenders. People who intend to go there should follow the instructions of the duty personnel and mind their safety.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 19,300 food samples tested were satisfactory except for seven samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
 
     A CFS spokesman said about 3,100 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, some 6,000 samples were taken for chemical tests and the remaining 10,200 (including about 10,000 taken from food imported from Japan) were collected to test radiation levels.
 
     The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators, while the chemical tests included pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others.
 
     The samples comprised about 3,700 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 1,000 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 1,300 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 3,100 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 2,100 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 8,100 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
 
     The seven unsatisfactory samples comprised two fruit samples detected with excessive pesticide residue, a chicken claw sample found to contain Salmonella, a soybean milk sample detected with excessive Bacillus cereus, a chocolate fudge icing sample detected with excessive preservative, a caramel syrup sample detected with non-permitted preservative, and a prepackaged milk product sample found with milk fat not in compliance with the legal requirement.
 
     The CFS has taken follow-up action on the unsatisfactory samples including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items and tracing the sources of the food items in question.
 
     The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food for sale is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.

     The "Viva! River" public art project organised by the Art Promotion Office (APO) was launched today (December 31). Through showcasing local artwork along the Tuen Mun River, the public art project aims to bring art and vibrancy to the community of Tuen Mun.
 
     Six local artist groups, including Adonian Chan, Kay Chan, Ken Lo, Ricci Wong, Cold Ears Factory (Eastman Cheng and Joey Leung) and La Belle Époque (Billie Ng and Mary Cheung), were invited for the project. By visiting different places and initiating dialogues with community groups in Tuen Mun, the participating artists were inspired by the history and culture of the district, as well as the stories of the residents. Six sets of artwork were created, including sculptures, urban furniture, knitted art and an interactive installation with music elements. This artwork series not only gives a new look to the riverside, but also stimulates the imagining of public spaces.
 
     In addition to the public art project, a series of creative community events will be launched in phases along the Tuen Mun River, together with online videos for the public. For details of the activities, please visit the Facebook page of "Art-OUR in situ" www.facebook.com/apo.artOUR.
 
     The APO also produced a 360-degree virtual reality video where the curatorial team guides the viewers through the site to introduce the six sets of artworks and design concepts. The video was uploaded to the Edutainment Channel of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. For details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/edutainment-channel-details.html?cat=837.
 
     "Viva! River" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the Art Promotion Office. Supporting organisations include the Tuen Mun District Council and the Tuen Mun District Office.
 
     The six sets of artworks will be displayed in long-term at four locations along the Tuen Mun River. For details of the project, please visit the website of the Art Promotion Office www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/APO/en_US/web/apo/viva_river.html and the Facebook page of "Art-OUR in situ", or call 2512 3000.
 
     In view of the COVID-19 epidemic, visitors are advised to keep social distancing. They are required to comply with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G), that the number of people in group gatherings should not be more than that as stipulated by the law. Visitors should wear masks at all times when being present in any public place in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I).     

            

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has today (December 31) released the consultation conclusion on the public consultation relating to rules on contractual stays on termination rights in financial contracts for authorised institutions (Stay Rules) proposed to be made as subsidiary legislation pursuant to section 92 of the Financial Institutions (Resolution) Ordinance (Cap. 628) (FIRO).
 
     The Stay Rules require authorised institutions incorporated in Hong Kong and certain of their group companies to include an appropriate provision in certain non-Hong Kong law governed financial contracts to the effect that the parties to the contracts agree to be bound by a temporary suspension of termination rights that may be imposed by the Monetary Authority as a resolution authority under section 90 of the FIRO. The Stay Rules are designed to address the cross-border risks to orderly resolution arising from the early termination of financial contracts governed by non-Hong Kong law, in line with the contractual approach to giving effect to cross-border resolution actions advocated by the Financial Stability Board.
 
     A total of 14 submissions were received from industry associations, professional associations, banks, an accounting firm and law firms. All respondents indicated broad support for the proposed approach to the Stay Rules and provided constructive comments on the proposals set out in the consultation paper. Some sought additional clarity on the details of the proposals in the consultation paper.
 
     Having carefully reviewed all comments, the HKMA sets out its responses in the consultation conclusion, and has adopted appropriate refinements in developing the draft Stay Rules. The draft text of the Stay Rules is issued at the same time for industry consultation.
 
     It is intended to introduce the Stay Rules into the Legislative Council for negative vetting within the current legislative year of 2020-2021, with a view to bringing the Stay Rules into operation shortly after the completion of the vetting process in 2021.
 
     The consultation conclusion is available on the HKMA's website (www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/regulatory-resources/consultations/closed/).

     A red tide has been sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (December 31).

     The red tide was spotted by a mariculturist on December 24 at Inner Port Shelter. The red tide has dissipated. No associated death of fish has been reported.

     A spokesman for the working group said, "The red tide was formed by Mesodinium rubrum, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic."

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at the Ma Nam Wat, Kau Sai, Kai Lung Wan, Tai Tau Chau and Leung Shuen Wan fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.

     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.