The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 29) released the findings of its food safety report for last month (December 2020). The results of about 16,000 food samples tested were found to be satisfactory except for seven unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
     
     A CFS spokesman said about 2,100 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, some 3,700 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 hygienic indicators, while the chemical tests included pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others.
    
     The samples comprised about 3,100 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; 800 samples of cereals, grains and their products; 800 samples of meat and poultry and their products; 1,900 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; 1,700 samples of aquatic and related products; and 7,700 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
    
     The seven unsatisfactory samples comprised a rice roll sample and a preserved date sample found to contain excessive preservative, a sweet potato sample detected with cadmium exceeding the legal limit, a watercress sample detected with pesticide residue exceeding the legal limit, a frozen suckling pig sample detected with excessive enrofloxacin, a honey sample found to contain excessive sucrose content, and a dried mango sample detected with lead exceeding the legal limit.
    
     The CFS has taken follow-up actions 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 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.
 
Summary of food surveillance programme for 2020
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     Concluding the food surveillance programme for 2020, the spokesman said that apart from routine food surveillance, the CFS conducted a number of targeted as well as seasonal and popular food surveillance projects.
 
     "In addition to about 102,000 samples of imported Japanese food taken for testing of radiation levels in response to the Fukushima nuclear power plant incident in Japan, about 66,600 samples were tested by the CFS last year. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent, which was comparable to the results in recent years. This indicates that food safety has been maintained at a high standard in Hong Kong," he said.
 
     "The exceedances or breaches for most of the unsatisfactory samples were not serious and would not pose adverse health effects to the general public. For individual food items with unsatisfactory test results, the CFS has taken prompt and effective risk management action to safeguard public health," he said.
 
     He added that in planning the food surveillance programme, the CFS will always take into consideration a number of factors such as the food consumption level and the risk of the food concerned in deciding on the number of samples to be tested and the frequency of sampling as well as the testing parameters. In addition, the CFS will also adjust its food surveillance programmes and strengthen relevant testing with regard to local and overseas food incidents as well as past surveillance data, in particular breaches of regulatory requirements that occurred more frequently, so as to safeguard food safety in Hong Kong.

     The Government today (January 29) launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk), which provides official and up-to-date information about COVID-19 vaccines on a one-stop basis. When the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is formally launched, the website will also provide detailed information on the Programme and be linked to the online booking system where people can reserve their vaccination slot at a chosen location.
      
     A Government spokesman said, "Early inoculation with safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines by members of the public is a very important measure in the prevention and control of the epidemic, and is crucial to the resumption of a more normal way of life and economic activities in Hong Kong. Vaccination not only protects people who get vaccinated but also others around them. It would also help relieve the burden on the healthcare system."
      
     Through text, infographics and multimedia content, the designated website gives accurate and first-hand information about the COVID-19 vaccines procured by the Government and the vaccination programme, as well as clarifies false information. This would help enable the public to have a correct understanding of issues relating to vaccination. Currently, the major contents of the website include:
 

• What's New: Includes information such as vaccines which have gone through the stringent scrutiny process and have been authorised for emergency use in Hong Kong in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Use of Vaccines) Regulation (Cap. 599K), as well as the professional recommendations and opinions of the independent advisory panel;

• FAQs: Lists out questions and answers on the benefits of receiving COVID-19 vaccination, the COVID-19 vaccines which are available for vaccination, recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines and their suitability for different groups or circumstances, and more. The section also gives correct explanations to dispel people's misunderstandings on vaccines;

• Education & Media Resources: Comprises a series of short video clips, animations and infographics on issues such as the safety, efficacy and ingredients of vaccines;

• eHealth & Check Vaccination Record: Introduces the eHealth programme and how people can check their vaccination records through the "iAM Smart" app in future; and

• Healthcare Professional Corner: Displays reference materials and guidelines for healthcare professionals.    

     The spokesman said the website would provide more detailed information on the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and link to the online booking system after the formal launch of the Programme. Short video clips will be produced to explain the booking procedures and the process in receiving vaccination at Community Vaccination Centres.
      
     "COVID-19 vaccines are new. We believe that, through better understanding of the matter, members of the public will appreciate more the benefits and importance of receiving vaccination and have their worries allayed," the spokesman added.

     The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) today (January 29) invites tenders from non-public entities to provide services for the operation of the Tuen Mun District Health Centre (DHC).
 
     The successful tenderer of the Tuen Mun DHC (i.e. the future operator of the DHC), upon being awarded the service contract, will have a gearing up period of up to 10 months for the targeted commissioning of the DHC and associated service network in 2022. The operation period under this contract will be three years.
 
     The Tuen Mun DHC will provide services with a focus on three tiers of prevention, namely primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Its services will be adjusted taking into account the population distribution and health risk factors in the community of the respective districts. Government-subsidised primary healthcare services including health promotion, health assessment, chronic disease management and community rehabilitation will be provided by the operators of the DHCs through medical-social collaboration and public-private partnerships to enhance the public's capability in self-management of health and provide support for the chronically ill in the community.
 
     Following the opening of the first DHC in Kwai Tsing District in September 2019, the Government is committed to establishing DHCs in other districts to provide person-centred and multi-disciplinary care to members of the public. The second and third DHCs located in Sham Shui Po and Wong Tai Sin will commence operation in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
 
     As a key component of the public healthcare system, the DHC is a district primary healthcare hub comprising a core centre, supplemented by sub-district satellite centres and a network of private medical and healthcare practitioners providing multiple access and service points. Apart from service delivery, the DHC also co-ordinates with community partners to provide social welfare and healthcare services in the district, and make referrals as necessary.
 
     The basic services to be operated by the DHC are set out in the tender documents. The charges which the operator may impose on DHC clients cannot exceed the prescribed ceilings set out in the respective tender document.
 
     The tender notice is available on the FHB website (www.fhb.gov.hk/en/tender/). A briefing session will be arranged for interested bidders on February 18, 2021 (Thursday). Details are set out in the tender document.
 
     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Secretariat Tender Box located in the lobby of the Public Entrance on the Ground Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong, before noon on April 9, 2021 (Friday).  Late tenders will not be accepted.

     The Legal Aid Department (LAD) today (January 29) announced that the department will adjust its office hours starting from February 1 (Monday) and will also resume the provision of some basic public services in addition to the continued provision of urgent and essential public services (civil and criminal legal aid application and litigation services) until further notice.
      
     The office hours of the following LAD offices will be from 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays):
 

• Information and Application Services Unit (located on 25/F, Queensway Government Offices (QGO))
• Information and Application Services Unit (located on G/F, Mongkok Government Offices)
• Crime Section (located on 25/F, QGO)
• Civil Litigation Section 1 (located on 26/F, QGO)
• Civil Litigation Section 2 (located on 30/F, Revenue Tower, Wan Chai)
• Costing Unit and Enforcement Unit (both located on 27/F, QGO)

     The office hours of the Shroff Office (located on 27/F, QGO) will be from 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays).

     For enquiries, please contact the following offices during the above office hours:
 

• Information and Application Services Unit: 2537 7717 (for civil legal aid services)
• Crime Section: 2867 3139
• Civil Litigation Section 1: 2867 3123
• Civil Litigation Section 2: 2594 7884
• Costing Unit and Enforcement Unit: 2867 3152

     Members of the public may visit the department's website (www.lad.gov.hk) for more information or contact the department for enquiries through its 24-hour hotline (2537 7677), email (ladinfo@lad.gov.hk) or fax (2537 5948).

     The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) announced today (January 29) that its various enquiry counters and the Electoral Information Centre will resume normal operation starting from next Monday (February 1).
 
     To achieve social distancing, crowd control measures may be implemented at the above places when necessary. Members of the public may experience longer waiting times.
 
     Eligible organisations/persons/members of the public may make appointments to inspect the final registers by calling 2891 4082/2891 2070 from 9am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Upon completion of the initial reservation by phone, the applicant is required to fill in and return a reservation form to the REO by a specified deadline to confirm the reservation.
 
     For enquiries, please call the REO hotline at 2891 1001.