Hong Kong – CFS follows up on aquatic and seaweed products imported from Japan suspected of breaching Food Safety Order

CFS follows up on aquatic and seaweed products imported from Japan suspected of breaching Food Safety Order

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     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 2) that aquatic and seaweed products manufactured and processed in regulated Japanese metropolis/prefectures were suspected to be in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order when the CFS inspected food imported from Japan. The products concerned have been marked and sealed by the CFS and have not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the cases.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “During inspections of the food labels of the concerned consignments of food imported from Japan, the CFS found two boxes of frozen crab legs suspected to have been processed in Ibaraki Prefecture, five packs of frozen fish roe product and three packs of chilled scallops suspected to have been manufactured and processed in Miyagi Prefecture respectively, as well as two packs of dried seaweed products suspected to have been manufactured and processed in Tokyo respectively, after the Order was issued. The importers concerned are thus suspected of breaching the relevant Order.”

     According to the Order, all aquatic products originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, are prohibited from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong if they are harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after August 24, 2023, including all live, chilled, frozen, dried or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incidents. Prosecution will be instituted against the importers concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing.
 

Hong Kong – CFS follows up on aquatic product imported from Japan suspected of breaching Food Safety Order

CFS follows up on aquatic product imported from Japan suspected of breaching Food Safety Order

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     ​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 23) that an aquatic product manufactured in a regulated Japanese metropolis was suspected to be in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order when the CFS inspected a consignment of food imported from Japan. The product concerned has been marked and sealed by the CFS and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “During an inspection of the food label of the concerned consignment of food imported from Japan, the CFS found six packs of dried bonito flakes suspected to have been manufactured in Tokyo after the Order was issued. The importer concerned is thus suspected of breaching the relevant Order.”

     According to the Order, all aquatic products originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, are prohibited from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong if they are harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after August 24, 2023, including all live, chilled, frozen, dried or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing.

Hong Kong – CFS follows up on vegetables imported from Japan suspected of breaching Food Safety Order

CFS follows up on vegetables imported from Japan suspected of breaching Food Safety Order

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     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (September 13) that vegetables from regulated prefectures were found when the CFS inspected a consignment of food imported from Japan and the importer concerned was suspected in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order (the Order). The products concerned have been marked and sealed by the CFS and have not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “During inspection of food label, the CFS found a pack of Japanese maple from Fukushima and a pack of eggplant from Gunma that was not accompanied with a radiation certificate and exporter certificate in the concerned consignment of food imported from Japan, breaching the relevant Order.

     According to the Order, all vegetables, fruits, milk, milk beverages and dried milk originating from Fukushima are banned from importing into Hong Kong while such foods originating from Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki and Gunma prefectures are allowed to be imported on the condition that they are accompanied with a radiation certificate and an exporter certificate issued by the Japanese authority certifying that the radiation levels do not exceed the guideline levels and are fit for human consumption.”

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing.

Hong Kong – Government follows up on fatal work accident in Yau Ma Tei

Government follows up on fatal work accident in Yau Ma Tei

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     The Government is very concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at Yaumatei Maternal and Child Health Centre on Monday afternoon (August 15). The Labour Department has launched an investigation to identify the cause of the accident and to ascertain the liability of the duty holders.

 

     While the cause of the accident is yet to be established, relevant government departments will take follow-up action to inspect similar electric gates at all government premises to safeguard public safety and to ease concern.

 

     A Government spokesman today (August 17) said, “The Architectural Services Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today commenced inspection on similar large-scale electric sliding gates at government premises, in particular devices with a manual mode, to ensure that they can be safely operated manually, so as to prevent recurrence of similar accidents. The inspection is expected to be completed within two weeks. Other works departments including the Water Supplies Department, the Drainage Services Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Highways Department will also complete inspection of electric gates at their premises within a week.”

 

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority, the Hong Kong Housing Society, the Hospital Authority, the Urban Renewal Authority, the MTR Corporation and the Airport Authority Hong Kong will also carry out inspection on similar large-scale electric gates at their premises to ensure these gates are safe to be operated manually.

 

     In addition, the Buildings Department will write to property management companies, urging them to carry out corresponding inspection of large-scale electric gates at the properties managed by them for the sake of public safety.

 

     According to “A Safety Guide on Gate Work” published by the Labour Department, a regular gate maintenance system for competent technical personnel to perform maintenance and repairs of electric gates should be set up. Meanwhile, with reference to “Code of Practice for Installation of Electrically Operated Sliding Gates, Sliding Glass Doors and Rolling Shutters” and “Safety Tips of Gates and Glass Doors Operation Work” published by the EMSD and the Occupational Safety and Health Council respectively, an owner of an electric gate shall ensure that the installation is regularly maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations to keep it in good working order. The spokesman stressed that the owner has the responsibility to ensure the safe installation and operation of the electric gate.

 

     The spokesman also reminded operators to be vigilant in operating electric gates under a manual mode. They should pay attention to the moving range and speed of the gate, avoid the gate moving beyond the operating limit, and keep a safe distance from the device.

Hong Kong – EAC supports and follows up on Government’s decision to postpone sixth-term Chief Executive Election

EAC supports and follows up on Government’s decision to postpone sixth-term Chief Executive Election

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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

 

     In response to the Government’s announcement of postponement of the sixth-term Chief Executive Election today (February 18), the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) expressed support over the Government’s decision.

 

     A spokesman for the EAC said, “The sixth-term Chief Executive Election was originally scheduled for March 27. The EAC learnt that in view of the severe epidemic situation of COVID-19, the Government has decided to postpone the election to May 8. The new nomination period runs from April 3 to 16. The EAC supports the Government’s decision and will follow up on the practical arrangements in relation to the postponement with the Registration and Electoral Office (REO).”



     “Public elections inevitably involve a lot of manpower and resources. Hong Kong is now facing the most severe situation since the epidemic. The Government must focus on fighting against the epidemic. Therefore, the EAC supports the Government’s decision to postpone the election,” the spokesman said.



     “Various aspects including election materials, venue arrangements, supplies delivery and training of electoral staff will need to be rearranged or prepared again for the sixth-term Chief Executive Election, which has been postponed to May 8. The REO will make every effort to make appropriate arrangements for the Chief Executive Election,” the spokesman added. 



     The EAC will continue to decide on public election matters in accordance with actual and objective considerations and related legislations. It will continue to devote full efforts, acting in accordance with an open, honest and fair principle to make reasonably practicable arrangements for public elections.