Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (March 3) urged the public not to consume several kinds of prepackaged rice cookie imported from Taiwan because the products are suspected to be filled with non-food grade nitrogen in packaging. The trade should stop using or selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them.

     Details of the products are as follows:

Product names:
Levic Babies Rice Cookie (Carrot)
Levic Babies Rice Cookie (Pumpkin)
Levic Babies Rice Cookie (Spinach)
Levic Babies Rice Cookie (Banana)
Levic Babies Rice Cookie (Apple)
Levic Babies Rice Cookie (Purple Rice)
Brand: Levic
Place of origin: Taiwan
Manufacturer: Chanyue International Co., Ltd.
Sole importer: Full Asia Enterprises Limited

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS has earlier noted a notice issued by the aforesaid manufacturer and from media reports that the above-mentioned products are being recalled because the products are suspected to be filled with non-food grade nitrogen in packaging. The CFS has immediately contacted the Taiwan authority to understand the incident, and followed up with major local importers and retailers.”

     Preliminary investigation found that importer Full Asia Enterprises Limited is the sole importer of the affected products. The Centre has requested the importer and the retailers concerned to stop sale of the affected products. The importer has initiated a recall according to the CFS’ instructions. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the hotline at 2177 0081 during office hours.

     “If non-food grade nitrogen is used in manufacturing or packaging of food products, adverse health effects to consumers cannot be excluded,” the spokesman said.

     The spokesman urged the public not to consume the affected products if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them.

     The CFS will alert the trade on the latest progress of the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing. read more

     A 39-year-old man was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for 14 days by the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts today (March 3) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (the Regulation).

     The man was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he left the place of quarantine on March 26, 2020, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer and was stopped by an immigration officer at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Point. He was charged with contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts today to immediate imprisonment for 14 days.  
 
     Pursuant to the Regulation, all persons who have stayed in the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan in the 14 days preceding arrival in Hong Kong, regardless of their nationality or travel documents, will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Moreover, pursuant to the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E), starting from December 25, 2020, all persons arriving at Hong Kong (either via the airport or land boundary control points) who have stayed in places outside China on the day of arrival at Hong Kong or during the 21 days before that day have to undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days in designated quarantine hotels. Breaching a quarantine order is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
 
     A spokesman for the Department of Health said the sentence sends a clear message to the community that breaching a compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence that the Government will not tolerate, and solemnly reminded the public to comply with the Regulation. As of today, a total of 114 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching compulsory quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine of up to $15,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:        The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited on fraudule… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      As at 9am today (March 3), 15 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 10 578 patients with confirmed or … read more

     The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (March 3) that the Chief Executive (CE) in Council has approved an in-situ land exchange application by the lot owner of two private lots at Hoi Yu Street, Quarry Bay.
      
     “The concerned in-situ land exchange aims to replace the original plan of the lot owner for a 25-storey high industrial building (IB) development there. Subject to payment of full market premium, the lot owner may, in accordance with the approval given by the Town Planning Board (TPB), pursue a harbourfront leisure, tourism and commercial development at the re-grant lot,” a spokesperson for the DEVB said.
      
     With a total area of about 2 477 square metres, the original private lots (i.e. IL 8590 RP and IL 8723 RP) are restricted for industrial and/or godown purposes under leases. They had also been zoned for “Industrial” uses in statutory planning terms until 2003 when they were rezoned to “Open Space” and “Other Specified Uses (1)” annotated “Cultural and/or Commercial, Leisure and Tourism Related Uses” (“OU(1)”). In September 2001, the lot owner obtained building plan approval for constructing a 25-storey IB of about 85 metres above the Principal Datum with a plot ratio of about 15, which complied with the planned use at that time. In 2017, the lot owner commenced foundation works for the IB development but attracted strong public calls for replacing the high-rise IB development with uses and a development intensity more compatible with the harbourfront setting.
      
     The DEVB subsequently approached the lot owner to explore alternatives and positive progress has been made. In July 2018, the Government announced that upon the lot owner’s obtainment of the TPB’s planning approval, it would seek the CE in Council’s approval for a land exchange to enable a harbourfront development at the “OU(1)” site there. The lot owner subsequently obtained the TPB’s planning approval in February 2019. The key features of the concerned development proposal is at the Annex.
      
     According to the CE in Council’s approval, when implementing its development proposal, the lot owner will be required to construct at the same time a total of about 6 300 sq m of public open space outside the re-grant lot (including new open space of about 2 500 sq m, reprovisioning of a pet garden of about 1 000 sq m at a nearby site, and uplifting the existing waterfront promenade of about 2 800 sq m), as well as a 290-metre long, 6-metre wide barrier-free covered footbridge connecting the waterfront with the hinterland of Quarry Bay. The construction costs of the abovementioned facilities, after vetting by the Government, could be deducted from the land premium. On the other hand, those facilities would be open for public use round-the-clock. Existing facilities being managed and maintained by the Government will continue to be so managed after reprovisioning/refurbishment, while the new open space and footbridge will be managed and maintained by the lot owner. Detailed arrangements have to be approved by the Harbour Office of the DEVB and relevant departments.
      
     “The land exchange proposal would safeguard public interest from various aspects – (i) successfully replacing an IB development which is highly incompatible with the harbourfront setting; (ii) early development of the underutilised “OU(1)” site in accordance with the planning intent to bring diversity and vibrancy to the harbourfront; (iii) creation of a continuous harbourfront promenade connecting the future Boardwalk underneath the Island Eastern Corridor and the existing Quarry Bay Park by provision of additional public open space; and (iv) through the proposed footbridge, significantly reducing the walking distance from the hinterland to the harbourfront by as much as 500m (or eight minutes),” the spokesperson said.
      
     The Government will continue to follow-up with the lot owner on the final land exchange arrangement, including finalising the lease conditions in accordance with the framework endorsed by the CE in Council as mentioned above. The land exchange procedure would only be completed and development would only commence after the lot owner has accepted and settled the land premium assessed in accordance with the existing mechanism. Relevant stakeholders will be further engaged on the design of the public open space. Gazettal of the road works relating to the covered footbridge will also be arranged under the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance (Cap. 370) so that members of the public can submit their views during the two-month statutory period.
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