The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 24) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Chiba Prefecture in Japan, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the prefecture with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
 
     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 50 tonnes of chilled poultry meat, about 4 300 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 200 million poultry eggs from Japan in the first nine months of this year.
 
     "The CFS has contacted the Japanese authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
 

     In response to claims made by some residents that they had not been checked for the results of deep throat saliva tests in the joint-departmental enforcement action conducted at Ming Yan Lau of Jat Min Chuen in Sha Tin, a spokesman for the Home Affairs Department today (December 24) made the following clarification:
 
     The inter-departmental enforcement action conducted at Ming Yan Lau of Jat Min Chuen by the Sha Tin District Office (STDO) is supported by the Department of Health. Records of residents of Ming Yan Lau of Jat Min Chuen who have undertaken the deep throat saliva tests and with negative test results have been made available for cross-checking.
 
     The STDO checks on-site the identity of residents and their records of deep throat saliva tests. We have successfully checked some of the residents' records.
 
     The STDO thanks the residents of Ming Yan Lau for their co-operation, which enabled the smooth enforcement of the compulsory testing order.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has launched the free online programme "Circus for Cheerful Christmas" by Hong Kong Circus to light up the festive season for people of all ages.
 
     The story takes place in a village in Finland. It is said that the Star of Bethlehem on the Christmas tree points the way for people who have gone astray. One day, a naughty reindeer accidentally breaks it, leaving the whole village in darkness. The antlers of the reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh have also lost their magic power! So, they look into a crystal ball for clues to resolve the situation, and it tells them they need to go to the highest part of the snow-capped mountains to absorb the northern lights in order to bring light back to the village.
 
     This engaging five-episode series features circus entertainment such as fire stunts, acrobatics, dance, hula hoop acts and aerial action. The series will take people into the fascinating world in reindeer country, and the episodes will be launched from today (December 24) onwards till January next year. Details are as follows:
 
Episode 1   The Star of Bethlehem
 
Episode 2   The Magic Crystal Ball
 
Episode 3   Escape From the Black Hole
 
Episode 4   The Dazzling Northern Lights
 
Episode 5   Red Ribbon and Starry Lights

     Founded in 2012, Hong Kong Circus is a performing arts group that strives to create unique performances by harmonising contemporary circus arts with multimedia elements. The group proactively promotes contemporary circus arts by infusing local characteristics and humanistic stories that audiences can resonate with. Furthermore, Hong Kong Circus also organises educational workshops and training schemes. Its major works include Ngong Ping 360's "Hong Kong Movie-in-Dance" in 2014, the 2018 Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme's "KIBO's Journey of Rebirth" and the 2019 Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme's "Grad in My Dream".
 
     To view the online programme "Circus for Cheerful Christmas", please visit the LCSD's Edutainment Channel at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/edutainment-channel.html. For programme enquiries or more information, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/multi_arts/programs_1074.html.

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 Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited on fraudulent website and phishing email, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, December 24, 2020 is 101.1 (down 0.2 against yesterday's index).