Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
The following is the full text of an address by Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, at the Ceremony for the Admission of the New Senior Counsel today (June 7):
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum of the Boao Forum for Asia 2025 Hong Kong Conference today (June 7):
Honourable Vice-Chairman Edmund Ho (Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum of Boao Forum for Asia), Deputy Director Liu Guangyuan (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)), Deputy Commissioner Li Yongsheng (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR), Professor Frederick Ma (Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department launched its annual Food Safety Day 2025 campaign today (June 7), emphasising the importance of preventing cross-contamination in safeguarding food safety. It serves to remind food businesses and the public that adopting proper hygiene and food handling practices, such as handling raw and cooked food separately, can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.
To echo World Food Safety Day, the CFS has chosen “preventing cross-contamination” as the theme for Food Safety Day 2025. Cross-contamination is one of the most common causes of food poisoning, occurring when harmful microorganisms are transferred directly or indirectly from raw food to cooked or ready-to-eat food via contaminated hands, utensils, cutting boards, or food contact surfaces.
“Food handlers and the public should remain vigilant in storing and handling raw and cooked foods separately, using designated utensils and storage containers, and maintaining good personal and environmental hygiene to prevent the spread of bacteria. If raw and cooked or ready-to-eat food must be handled in the same area, thorough disinfection between uses is essential,” said a CFS spokesman.
Food handlers and members of the public are also reminded that maintaining hand hygiene is essential for minimising the risk of cross-contamination and ensuring food safety. Hands should be washed thoroughly with liquid soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food and wearing gloves, as well as after using the toilet, touching the face, or handling waste. Wearing gloves does not replace proper handwashing.
To prevent foodborne diseases and curb the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, the CFS urges food businesses and the public to maintain proper personal and environmental hygiene and observe the “Five Keys to Food Safety” when preparing food, including choosing safe raw materials, keeping hands and utensils clean, separating raw and cooked food, cooking thoroughly, and keeping food at safe temperatures.
​For more information about Food Safety Day 2025 and related activities, please visit the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Suspected use of fraudulent life-saving attendants certificates at swimming pool of San Francisco Towers, Happy ValleyIssued at HKT 22:40
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (June 6) that a life-saving attendant at the swimming pool of San Francisco Towers, located at 29-35 Ventris Road, Happy Valley, is suspected of using a fraudulent life-saving attendant certificate. As the qualification of the life-saving attendant is in doubt and the swimming pool has allegedly failed to provide a sufficient number of qualified life-saving attendants as required by law, the department has ordered the immediate closure of the pool and is considering prosecuting its licensee. The incident has been reported to the Police, and the FEHD has also notified the Property Management Services Authority to take parallel follow-up action.
Officers from the FEHD today verified a batch of lifeguard records with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society, and discovered that the credentials of a life-saving attendant on duty at the aforementioned swimming pool on June 4 did not match the records of the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society. The FEHD immediately took action regarding the pool.
The FEHD has implemented a series of enhancement measures from May 19 to further prevent the employment of unqualified life-saving attendants at private swimming pools. During May, the FEHD officers conducted inspections at 713 licensed swimming pools and verified the qualifications of 1 041 life-saving attendants with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society. Apart from the suspected case of fraudulent certification discovered today, no other irregularities regarding suspected employment of unqualified life-saving attendants have been identified by the FEHD.
The FEHD will continue to implement the relevant measures straightly to enhance the safety standards of licensed swimming pools and safeguard the safety of swimming pool users. Members of the public are called on to take part in the monitoring and report suspected cases of irregularities to the department.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department said today that a life-saving attendant at the San Francisco Towers swimming pool on Ventris Road, Happy Valley is suspected of using a fraudulent life-saving attendant certificate.
The department elaborated that its officers, while verifying a batch of lifeguard records with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society today, found that the credentials of a life-saving attendant on duty at the swimming pool on June 4 did not match the society’s records.
As the life-saving attendant’s qualifications are in doubt, and the swimming pool has allegedly failed to provide a sufficient number of qualified life-saving attendants as required by law, the department ordered the immediate closure of the pool. It is also considering prosecuting the pool licensee.
In addition to reporting the case to Police, the department notified the Property Management Services Authority to take parallel follow-up action.
The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has implemented a series of enhancement measures from May 19 to further prevent the employment of unqualified life-saving attendants at private swimming pools. In May, it inspected 713 licensed swimming pools and verified the qualifications of 1,041 life-saving attendants with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society.
Apart from the case in Happy Valley, no other irregularities regarding suspected employment of unqualified life-saving attendants have been identified, the department added.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Government today said it tested 58 samples of Haribo candy products in Hong Kong and none of them contained tetrahydrocannabinol, a cannabis component.
The Government Laboratory tested the 58 samples that had already been removed from shelves in the city, after overseas reports suggested that Haribo candies may be contaminated and tested positive for cannabis.
Upon receiving relevant information, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department’s Centre for Food Safety contacted local food traders and consulted authorities in the Netherlands.
The affected batch of products was not imported into Hong Kong, the Government said.
For prudence sake, the centre had previously informed the trade to temporarily remove the brand’s candies from shelves. The relevant traders have been informed of the test results.
The Government will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate action as needed.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​In response to overseas reports suggesting that Haribo candies may be contaminated and tested positive for cannabis, a government spokesperson stated today (June 6) that the Government Laboratory has completed the test on 58 samples of Haribo candy products that had already been removed from shelves. The results showed that none of the samples contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a cannabis component. The relevant traders have been informed of the test results.
Upon receiving relevant information, the Centre for Food Safety (the Centre) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department contacted local food traders and consulted authorities in the Netherlands. The affected batch of products was not imported into Hong Kong, but for prudence sake, the Centre had previously informed the trade to temporarily remove the brand’s candies from shelves.
The government will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate actions as needed.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong Gala Dinner this evening (June 6):
Consul General (Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Mrs Christile Drulhe), Alain (President of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong, Mr Alain Li), friends from the French business community, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
A man who went missing in Cheung Sha Wan has been located.
Yu Wai-hung, aged 70, went missing after he was last seen in a hospital on Princess Margaret Hospital Road yesterday (June 5) afternoon. Staff of his caring home made a report to Police on the same day.
The man was located in a sports ground on Hing Shing Rd, Kwai Chung this afternoon (June 6). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 5) detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 22 kilograms of suspected ketamine and about 8kg of suspected cocaine, with a total estimated market value of about $16 million.
The first case involved an 18-year-old male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Frankfurt, Germany, via Doha, Qatar, yesterday. During Customs clearance, about 22kg of suspected ketamine was found in his check-in suitcase and a product containing about 6 grams of suspected nicotine was found on him. The passenger was subsequently arrested.
In the second case, an 18-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Madrid, Spain, via Doha, Qatar, yesterday. During Customs clearance, about 8kg of suspected cocaine was found in his check-in suitcase and a batch of suspected alternative smoking products was found on him. This passenger was subsequently arrested.
The arrested male in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of a Part 1 Poison, and the arrested male in the second case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of importing alternative smoking products. Both cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (June 7).
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, importing an alternative smoking product is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).