Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

CFS announces results of seasonal food surveillance on rice dumplings (with photo)————————
* Buy rice dumplings from reliable outlets;
* When purchasing non-prepackaged rice dumplings, choose those that are securely wrapped in wrapping leaves; and
* When purchasing prepackaged rice dumplings, check the expiry date and whether the packaging is intact.—————————–
* Buy wrapping leaves from reliable suppliers and avoid leaves that are unnaturally bright green or with chemical odours;
* Wash hands and utensils thoroughly before and after handling food; and
* Handle raw and cooked food separately to avoid cross-contamination.—————————————
* Consume rice dumplings as soon as possible and avoid prolonged storage;
* Both the glutinous rice and the stuffing should be well covered until the rice dumplings are unwrapped. Do not come into direct contact with the strings upon cooking to prevent contamination at all times.
* Store rice dumplings at 4 degrees Celsius or below, or store them properly according to the instructions on the package if they are not consumed or cooked immediately;
* Keep cooked rice dumplings that are not consumed immediately in a covered container and put them in the upper compartment of the refrigerator. Keep raw food in the lower compartment to prevent cross-contamination;
* Reheat rice dumplings thoroughly until the core temperature reaches 75 degrees C or above before consumption;
* Do not reheat rice dumplings more than once; and
* Consume reheated rice dumplings as soon as possible.—————————-
* Wash hands with running water and liquid soap, and rub for at least 20 seconds before consumption; and
* Reduce seasonings such as soy sauce or granulated sugar during consumption.Issued at HKT 15:00

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Marine Department to launch two new incentive schemes in relation to green maritime fuel-related vessels to promote green transformation of shipping industry 
     The International Maritime Organization has set a target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions in international shipping by around 2050. To leverage the trend of decarbonisation in the international shipping industry, the Government has committed in the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering promulgated in November 2024 the provision of various financial incentives to help lower the cost of transitioning to green maritime fuels by the maritime industry and expedite the development of Hong Kong as a green port. In this year’s Budget, the Government has allocated approximately $34 million to implement relevant initiatives, including providing port dues concessions for vessels powered by green maritime fuels as well as those carrying green maritime fuels, and offering incentives for green fuel-powered vessels registered in Hong Kong.
 
     The Port Dues Incentive Scheme for Green Maritime Fuel-related Vessels provides concessions for green maritime fuel-related vessels, including ocean-going vessels (OGVs) powered by or bunkering specified green maritime fuels in Hong Kong, and OGVs carrying green maritime fuels for supply in Hong Kong. Specified green maritime fuels covered under the Scheme refer to liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, and bio-diesel (blended with at least 20 per cent bio-fuel). Eligible OGVs conducting specified operation(s) throughout their stay in Hong Kong may apply for a reimbursement of their port dues (including port facilities and light dues, anchorage dues, buoy dues and fees for port clearance permits) paid in accordance with the Shipping and Port Control Regulations (Cap. 313A). The amount of the incentive is equivalent to 25 per cent or 50 per cent of the port dues paid.
 
     Eligible shipowners or their agents must submit the application form together with the required supporting documents to the MD within three months of their vessels’ completion of the above operation(s) in and departure from Hong Kong. The approved incentive amount will generally be disbursed within 30 working days. The amounts of incentives applicable to different types of OGVs are set out in the Annex.
 
     A spokesman for the MD said, “Following the launch of the Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme last year, the new initiative further provides incentives to encourage the industry to adopt green maritime fuels, which are often more expensive than traditional fuels, and to build up demand for green maritime fuel bunkering services in Hong Kong early. This will in turn attract other players in the green maritime fuel bunkering supply chain, such as bunker suppliers, bunker operators and traders, to establish and expand their operations in Hong Kong. We expect this scheme to attract more than 1 000 visits to Hong Kong by green maritime fuel-related vessels.”
 
     Meanwhile, the Green Vessels Registration Incentive Scheme provides incentives to green fuel-powered vessels currently or newly registered in the Hong Kong Shipping Registry (HKSR), thereby attracting and retaining the registration of green vessels in Hong Kong.
 
     Under the scheme, all Hong Kong-registered ships that use green maritime fuels as their primary propulsion fuel, which include LNG, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen but exclude conventional fuels and biofuels, will be eligible to apply. During the three-year period of the scheme, each eligible vessel will be provided with a subsidy of HK$60,000 once every year, and may enjoy one or at most three years’ incentives depending on the timing and duration that the vessel is registered with the HKSR. Each vessel is eligible to receive a maximum subsidy of HK$180,000. Approval and disbursement of the incentives will take approximately three months from the receipt of an application with all required supporting documents. The vessel’s Hong Kong registration status must be maintained on the date the incentive is disbursed.
 
     The spokesman said, “This scheme will encourage vessels using green maritime fuels to register in Hong Kong and promote the green transformation of the Hong Kong fleet, which will further enhance the overall competitiveness of the HKSR. We estimate that this scheme will attract approximately 100 vessels powered by green maritime fuels to register with the HKSR. Alongside the vessels powered by green maritime fuels currently registered in Hong Kong, we expect that around 170 such vessels registered in Hong Kong will benefit from the scheme within three years of implementation.”
 
     The spokesman added, “‘Low-carbon’ and ‘decarbonisation’ will be the inevitable focal points of the shipping industry’s future development. At present, Hong Kong leads the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in bunker volume, ranking second nationally and seventh globally. We are committed to leveraging our existing strengths to fully develop our green maritime fuel bunkering capabilities, with an aim to establish Hong Kong as a premier hub for high-quality green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre.”
 
     For details of the Port Dues Incentive Scheme for Green Maritime Fuel-related Vessels and the Green Vessels Registration Incentive Scheme, please visit the MD’s webpages (www.mardep.gov.hk/filemanager/en/share/forms/pdf/md558.pdfIssued at HKT 14:30

Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation brings New Engineering Contract and Smart Site Safety System to Qianhai     ​
     The 4S enables remote monitoring of high-risk activities on construction sites in real time (such as lifting operations, working in confined spaces, and mobile machinery operations). It can detect hazards early and issue immediate alerts to prevent serious accidents. Project teams can also analyse safety performance data collected by the 4S to identify the crux of potential safety hazards and formulate appropriate enhancement measures. To encourage the effective use of the 4S, the DEVB, in collaboration with the Construction Industry Council, launched the 4S Labelling Scheme to award a label to construction sites that have been inspected on-site and assessed as having properly applied the 4S. To date, over 800 public and private projects have received labels. Following the adoption of the 4S, the overall accident rate in the construction industry has been reduced by approximately 20 per cent, having a positive impact on construction site safety and providing more comprehensive protection for workers’ safety.
Issued at HKT 16:45

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Draft Cha Kwo Ling, Yau Tong, Lei Yue Mun Outline Zoning Plan approved      
     “The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Cha Kwo Ling, Yau Tong, Lei Yue Mun area,” a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (June 12).
      
     The planning scheme area, covering an area of about 264 hectares, is located in East Kowloon within the Kwun Tong District. It is bounded by the hilly ranges of Black Hill, Chiu Keng Wan Shan and Devil’s Peak (Pau Toi Shan) to the east; Lei Yue Mun Strait to the south; Victoria Harbour, Wai Yip Street and Cha Kwo Ling Road to the west and Lei Yue Mun Road and Lam Tin area to the north-west.
      
     The approved OZP has incorporated amendments shown on the draft Cha Kwo Ling, Yau Tong, Lei Yue Mun OZP No. S/K15/28, which mainly involve (i) rezoning a site at the junction of Cha Kwo Ling Road and Shing Yip Street from “Commercial” (“C”) to “Residential (Group A)10” (“R(A)10”) for a private residential development; (ii) rezoning a site at Yau Tong Bay from “Comprehensive Development Area” (“CDA”) to “C(1)” for redevelopment of an existing industrial building to commercial/office building; and (iii) rezoning a site at the junction of Shung Shun Street and Yan Yue Wai from “CDA(5)” to “R(A)11” to reflect the completed residential development.
      
     The Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP have been amended to reflect the above amendments. Opportunity is also taken to update the general information of various land use zonings and the planning circumstances, where appropriate.

     The approved Cha Kwo Ling, Yau Tong, Lei Yue Mun OZP No. S/K15/29 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Kowloon District Planning Office, and (iv) the Kwun Tong District Office.
      
     Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centre in North Point. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed on the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:00

Draft Tung Chung Valley Outline Zoning Plan approved      
     The approved OZP has incorporated the amendments shown on the draft Tung Chung Valley OZP No. S/I-TCV/3, which involve (i) rezoning a site at the junction of Yu Tung Road and Chung Mun Road from “Residential (Group C) 2” to “Residential (Group B)” for a private residential development; (ii) rezoning six strips of land near Hau Wong Temple, Ngau Au and Shek Mun Kap from area shown as ‘Road’ to “Commercial (2)”, “Open Space” (“O”), “Government, Institution or Community” (“G/IC”), “Village Type Development”, “Green Belt”, “Other Specified Uses” annotated “Polder” and “Conservation Area”; (iii) rezoning a piece of land near Hau Wong Temple from “G/IC” to “O”; and (iv) revision of the Building Height Restriction of a piece of land to the south of Hau Wong Temple zoned “G/IC” from four storeys to one storey.Issued at HKT 16:00

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