The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 21) urged the public not to consume a kind of loaf imported from France because the sesame seeds used in the product concerned were found with a possible carcinogenic substance, ethylene oxide. The trade should stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.
 
     Details of the product are as follows:
 
Product name: BIOFOURNIL Organic Multigrain Mini Loaves
Place of origin: France
Net weight: 360 grams per pack
Importer: City Super Limited
Barcode: 3419390404928
Best-before dates: February 24, 2021, and March 10, 2021
 
     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission that the sesame used in the above-mentioned product was found with a possible carcinogenic substance, ethylene oxide, and is being recalled. According to the information provided by the RASFF, the affected product has been imported into Hong Kong. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted the local importer for follow-up."
      
     Preliminary investigations found that importer City Super Limited had imported some of the affected product into Hong Kong. The affected product was sold in its chain stores and all of the affected product had been sold out. The importer has initiated a recall according to the CFS' instructions. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the hotline at 2736 3866 during office hours.
      
     The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.
      
     The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.

     A 51-year-old man was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for seven days by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 21) 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 when he entered Hong Kong on June 5, 2020, stating that he must conduct quarantine at a hotel for 14 days. Instead of entering the place of quarantine after his entry into Hong Kong, he dined at a restaurant in the Kwai Chung area. He was charged with contravening sections 8(4) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today to immediate imprisonment for seven days.  

     Pursuant to the Regulation, starting from February 8, 2020, 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 104 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.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (January 21), 39 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 8 904 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.

     At present, there are 676 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 224 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 695 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 24 public hospitals and a community treatment facility, among which 37 patients are in critical condition, 30 are in serious condition and the remaining 628 patients are in stable condition.

     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

Details of the above-mentioned patients are as follows:
 

     Kai Tin Towers on Kai Tin Road in Kwun Tong discharged sewage into a communal storm drain due to a blockage in drainage pipes. Its Incorporated Owners (IO) was fined $15,000 at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (January 21) for contravening the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received complaints from members of the public that sewage was discharged from a commercial and residential building in Kwun Tong in June last year. The EPD staff conducted a dye-tracing test and took a wastewater sample for testing. It was then confirmed that the sewage was discharged from the terminal foul manhole of Kai Tin Towers into the communal storm drain on a nearby slope. The EPD subsequently initiated prosecution against the IO according to the WPCO.

     An EPD spokesman reminded building owners, IOs and property management companies to inspect their buildings' sewage facilities regularly, repair blocked and damaged pipes properly, and ensure that the buildings' drainage systems function normally, so as to prevent environmental pollution.

     Under the WPCO, it is an offence for anyone to discharge wastewater into communal storm drains. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment. A maximum fine of $400,000 and six months' imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 20) seized about 17.3 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $47.5 million and a duty potential of about $32.9 million at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound.

     Through intelligence analysis, Customs officers yesterday selected for inspection two seaborne containers, declared as carrying plastic materials and wires respectively, arriving from Thailand. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes inside the containers.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue its intelligence analysis and risk assessment for interception at source to combat illicit cigarette activities.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).