Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education:
 
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (CPCE) and the Local Community Sub-group under the Working Group on Constitution, Basic Law and Hong Kong National Security Law of the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee are launching a new round of the Basic Law Quiz Competition to enhance public understanding of the relationship between the Constitution and the Basic Law, the Basic Law and its history, as well as safeguarding national security. The entry round of the Competition opens from today (October 31) for application. Members of the public are welcome to join the Competition.
 
The Competition comprises the Family Category, Senior Primary School Category, Secondary School Category and Open Category. Participants shall answer 20 quiz questions and submit their applications via the Competition website. The deadline for the entry round is December 31.
 
Participants who have answered all questions in the entry round and successfully submitted their applications will have the opportunity to receive a Civic Education Calendar 2026 by mail while stocks last. Upon closing of the entry round, those with the best performance in each category will be selected by ballot to attend the Quiz Final and Prize Presentation Ceremony tentatively scheduled for April 2026. Attendees may have a chance to compete in question sessions for prizes.
 
The CPCE is a non-statutory committee that promotes civic and national education outside schools and in the community through various and diverse means, with a view to helping the general public develop positive values, civic awareness, and a sense of patriotism.
 
For details, please visit the Competition website at www.cpce.gov.hk/basiclaw2025-26 or call 2880 2885.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

The Education Bureau, Hong Kong Education City, and the Committee on Home-School Co-operation will co-organise the “e-Generation Connected Joy Parent Seminar (2): Identifying Harmful Information X Cultivating Information Literacy”. The seminar will be held on 15 Nov 2025 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm in webinar mode. Registration is now open (application deadline: 14 Nov 2025 5:00 pm). A Project Officer from the Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration will discuss how parents can help prevent young people from accessing harmful online content and introduce relevant aspects of the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (Cap. 390). An Education Manager from Hong Kong Education City will analyse the differences between the teacher-centered and student-centered education models, and explore with parents how to turn online risks into educational opportunities, and equip them with core principles on selecting quality online resources for children. Parents are cordially invited to join the seminar. For details, please refer to the website (https://info.edcity.hk/en/event/11641).

For inquiries, please email alice.kwan@hkecl.net or call 2624 1074 to reach Ms. Kwan.

 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government announced today (October 31) the appointments to the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Appeals Tribunal and the Process Review Committee in connection with the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 584).
 
     The Chief Executive has, pursuant to the Ordinance, made the following appointments and reappointments to the Tribunal for a three-year term from November 4, 2025, to November 3, 2028:
 
Chairman
————
Mr Richard Khaw Wei-kiang, SC
 
Panel Members
————
Ms Florence Chan Yuen-shan *
Mr Louis Chow Ka-leung *
Mr Peter Li Po-ting *
Mr Patrick Siu Tsz-him
Professor George Yang Yong
 
*reappointment
 
     In addition, the Financial Secretary, under the authority delegated by the Chief Executive, has reappointed the Chairman and members of the Process Review Committee for a three-year term from December 1, 2025, to November 30, 2028.
 
Chairman
————
Mr Jack Chan Hoi
 
Members
————
Mr Frederick Chan Hing-fai
Mr Louis Chow Ka-leung
Professor Matthew Lee Kwok-on
Ms Fion Ng Siu-mui
 
     The Government also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr Michael John Hartmann, and the two outgoing panel members of the Tribunal, Professor Chen Nan and Mr Gary Soo Kwok-leung.
 
     A Government spokesman said, “The Tribunal and the Process Review Committee effectively ensure that the relevant decisions made by the regulatory authority pursuant to the Ordinance are reasonable, thereby enhancing accountability. We are thankful to the outgoing Chairman and panel members of the Tribunal and are confident that the new term of the Tribunal and the Process Review Committee will continue to operate effectively.”
 
     The Tribunal is established under the Ordinance to, upon receipt of appeals, review relevant decisions made by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) under the Ordinance.
 
     The Process Review Committee is established by the Chief Executive to review independently the processes and procedures adopted by the HKMA in making decisions relating to the designated systems in which the HKMA has a legal or beneficial interest.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government announced today (October 31) that the Chief Executive has, pursuant to the Stablecoins Ordinance (Cap. 656) (the Ordinance), appointed the Chairperson and panel members to the Stablecoin Review Tribunal.
 
     The following Chairperson and panel members of the Tribunal are appointed for a three-year term from November 1, 2025, to October 31, 2028.
 
Chairperson
————
Mr Douglas Lam Tak-yip, SC
 
Panel members
—————–
Professor Allen Huang Hao
Ms Vivien Khoo
Mr Robert Andrew Lui Chi-wang
Mr Andrew Mak Yip-shing
Mr Philip Ng Kim-lam
Mr Patrick Siu Tsz-him
　
     A Government spokesman said, “The Ordinance has further strengthened the regulatory framework for digital asset activities in Hong Kong, providing a solid foundation for the steady and sustainable development of the industry. The Tribunal helps provide safeguards to ensure that the relevant regulatory decisions are reasonable and fair.”
 
     The Tribunal is established under the Ordinance to, upon receipt of appeals, review specified decisions of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority made under the Ordinance.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

With effect from tomorrow (November 1), the Government will expand the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (STV Scheme), enabling more non-local talent to participate in specified short-term activities as visitors without the need to apply for employment visas/entry permits. Following a review, in addition to the existing 12 designated sectors, the STV Scheme will be expanded to cover five new sectors, with the addition of more authorised organisations and specified short-term activities.

With a view to facilitating business, promoting development of relevant sectors and raising Hong Kong’s international profile, the Government launched the Pilot Scheme on Immigration Facilitation for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (Pilot Scheme) in June 2022, which was regularised as the STV Scheme in June 2024. As of end-September 2025, the Pilot Scheme/STV Scheme had benefited over 38 000 non-local talent, enabling their entry into Hong Kong as visitors to participate in various short-term activities, including the International Chinese New Year Night Parade, the Asian Financial Forum, the Hong Kong Sevens, the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo and other major events. The STV Scheme enables more talent to visit Hong Kong for exchanges, giving full play to Hong Kong’s strength as a “super connector” under the “one country, two systems” framework.

Upon review, the Government decided to further expand the STV Scheme to cover five new sectors, namely “Environment”, “Occupational Safety and Health”, “Maritime”, “Think Tanks” and “Others”, with the addition of more authorised organisations and specified short-term activities in seven existing sectors. For more details, please refer to the Annex. Among them, the Government will introduce the “Others” sector, enabling relevant policy bureaux/departments to invite non-local talent to come to Hong Kong under the scheme to participate in events or activities they host, cohost and/or support as necessary. This will inject greater flexibility into the STV Scheme, thereby helping more non-local talent to visit Hong Kong for exchanges. Other arrangements will remain unchanged after the expansion.
 
The expanded STV Scheme will cover the following 17 sectors with a total of some-490 authorised organisations:
 

• Medical and Healthcare;
• Higher Education;
• Arts and Culture;
• Sports;
• Heritage;
• Creative Industries;
• Innovation and Technology;
• The Hong Kong Laureate Forum;
• Aviation;
• International/Mega events;
• Finance;
• Development and Construction;
• Environment;
• Occupational Safety and Health;
• Maritime;
• Think Tanks; and
• Others.

​Under the STV Scheme, organisations authorised by relevant government bureaux/departments can issue invitation letters to relevant non-local talent in their sectors. Invited persons may come to Hong Kong and participate in specified short-term activities as visitors without the need to apply for employment visas/entry permits from the Immigration Department (ImmD). Participation of the non-local talent in specified activities in Hong Kong must be conducive to economic development or achieving relevant policy objectives, without displacing the local workforce. They may participate in the specified short-term activities for up to 14 consecutive calendar days upon each arrival, and receive remuneration for the specified activities concerned. Through an established mechanism, all participating bureaux/departments would assist in ensuring that the implementation of the scheme consistently meets relevant policy objectives and will neither displace the local workforce nor constitute a risk of abuse (including illegal employment).
 
For more information on the STV Scheme, please visit the ImmD’s website (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/stv.html).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A Government spokesman announced today (October 31) that one more new drug submitted for registration under the new drug approval mechanism (“1+” mechanism) has been approved for registration in Hong Kong. This new drug is used to reduce proteinuria in patients with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy, bringing more treatment options for patients. The Government continues to strive to accelerate the introduction of innovative drugs and medical devices so that patients can gain early access to advanced diagnoses and treatments, while developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.
 
New drug approved
———————-
 
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has implemented the “1+” mechanism since November 1, 2023, to facilitate the registration of new drugs used for the treatment of life-threatening or severely debilitating diseases in Hong Kong. With effect from November 1 last year, the “1+” mechanism has been extended to all new drugs, including all new chemical or biological entities and new indications, and vaccines and advanced therapy products. New drugs that are supported by local clinical data and recognised by local experts can be applied for registration in Hong Kong by submitting approval from one reference drug regulatory authority (instead of two in the past).
 
The above product has been approved by the drug regulatory authority in the United States and submitted for registration applications under the “1+” mechanism. Having evaluated the clinical data and relevant information submitted by the applicant and advice given by local expert, the Registration Committee under the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong considered that the new drug satisfied the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality, and approved the registration of the new drug. The Department of Health (DH) has already notified the applicant of the result of the application. The HKSAR Government will also complete the relevant registration processes in accordance with established procedures.
 
Paving the way towards primary evaluation
————————————————-
 
Since the implementation of the “1+” mechanism, a total of 15 new drugs, including the above drug, have been approved under this mechanism. Seven of them have been listed in the Hospital Authority Drug Formulary. The DH has been promoting the “1+” mechanism through different channels and so far has received more than 630 enquiries from over 160 pharmaceutical companies, including those from overseas and the Mainland. Many companies have expressed interest in submitting applications for registration of their products, including advanced therapy products, under the extended “1+” mechanism. Since the launch of the pre-new drug application consultation service in March this year, the DH has already held a number of briefing seminars and workshops. The DH will also have pre-new drug application meetings to be rolled out in the fourth quarter of this year, to enhance the efficiency in processing relevant applications.
 
     “The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address” announced that the Government will accelerate the reform of the regulatory system of drugs and medical devices, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international health and medical innovation hub. The DH will expedite the “1+” mechanism for new drugs, piloting priority evaluation and approval of innovative drugs as recommended by the Hospital Authority for treatment of severe or rare diseases and to accelerate patients’ use of the advanced treatments. The DH will establish the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation by the end of next year, and implement “primary evaluation” for new drug registration in phases beginning next year. The DH will continue to proactively advance preparatory work for “primary evaluation” for new drug registration and progressively establish a robust approval system, providing strong momentum for the development and market expansion of the healthcare industry in the HKSAR, the Mainland, and beyond, thereby transforming Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Highways Department (HyD) invited parties in the industry who are interested in participating in the Hong Kong section of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (Hung Shui Kiu-Qianhai) (HSWRL) project to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for the project on September 5. The invitation closed today (October 31), and a total of 80 submissions have been received.

     A spokesperson for the HyD said, “The enthusiastic response from the industry is encouraging. The organisations and enterprises that submitted the EOIs come from a diverse range of backgrounds and are highly representative, including developers, contractors, operators, consultants, railway systems suppliers and rolling stock manufacturers from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas. Among them are also leading players in the industry, demonstrating the strong interest and support from key stakeholders across various sectors.”

     The spokesperson continued, “We are pleased to see that the EOIs are rich in content, with both breadth and depth. We will further consolidate and analyse the views received and proactively take into account the innovative ideas in relation to construction and operation, as well as the practical suggestions that may enhance the speed and efficiency at different stages of the project from planning and design to construction. The Government will continue to maintain close communication with the industry to further refine the project scheme, delivery mode and financial arrangements, and to formulate the terms and details for the upcoming tender process for the project.”

     The Government will continue to take forward the Hong Kong section of the HSWRL with full momentum. The target is to have the Hong Kong section of the HSWRL ready for tendering in 2027 and to strive for completion of the construction works in 2034, followed immediately by integrated testing and commissioning to realise the common goal of the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen to commission the HSWRL in 2035.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government announced today (October 31) that the Chief Executive (CE) has reappointed Professor Wong Sze-chun as a member of the Pensions Appeal Panel (PAP) and the Appeal Panel on Government’s Voluntary Contributions under the Civil Service Provident Fund Scheme (APGVC) for a term of three years with effect from November 9, 2025.

The PAP is a statutory body established under the Pension Benefits Ordinance (Cap. 99) responsible for advising the CE on petitions made by civil servants against decisions to refuse to grant, cancel, suspend or reduce pension benefits. The APGVC is an administrative panel set up to tender advice to the CE on representations made by civil servants against decisions to forfeit or recover their accrued benefits attributable to government voluntary contributions under the Civil Service Provident Fund Scheme.

Ms Teresa Ko Yuk-yin is the convenor-cum-member of the two appeal panels, while Ms Eva Kwong Pui-han is the other serving member.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the YBC Conference 2025: The Art of Regulation today (October 31):
 
Mr José Antonio Maurellet, SC (Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association), dear friends, distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues and young barristers, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     A very good afternoon. It is my honour to stand before you today at the Conference organised by the Standing Committee on Young Barristers of the Hong Kong Bar Association. This year’s theme explores the regulations in art law and cryptocurrency. Some very eminent and experienced experts, including not just lawyers, will speak in the panel discussions. I shall just offer some preliminary observations.
 
     At first glance, the two topics may seem entirely unrelated. In fact, they are both fast-evolving domains which will provide enormous opportunities for young lawyers. Hence, it is an extremely wise choice to put these two topics together in this Conference.
 
Art law challenges and regulations
 
     As the world’s second-largest art market, second only to New York in contemporary art auctions, Hong Kong is a vibrant hub for artists, collectors and legal professionals alike. Our city boasts significant events such as Art Basel, and we have world-class museums like M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Additionally, reputable auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s have enhanced their presence in Hong Kong, which further solidifies Hong Kong’s status in the global art market.
 
     Hong Kong’s unique legal framework is foundational to this burgeoning art scene. The Basic Law provides a robust legal environment that fosters artistic and cultural activities. Article 34 of the Basic Law guarantees that Hong Kong residents shall have the freedom to engage in artistic creation and other cultural activities. Further, Article 108 of the Basic Law preserves the low tax policy, and as a result, there is no capital gains tax on art pieces; which is particularly enticing for collectors and investors, and this makes Hong Kong a very attractive platform for art transactions. Moreover, Articles 114 and 115 of the Basic Law establish Hong Kong as a free port with free movement of goods which is invaluable for the art market, allowing for seamless movement of art pieces across borders.
 
     With a solid intellectual property (IP) regime and a sound legal system supervised by an independent judiciary, Hong Kong provides effective IP protection to artists which is vital in safeguarding artistic integrity and development. Hong Kong is also the first in Asia to clarify and confirm the arbitrability of IP disputes, that is, IP disputes can be resolved by arbitration.
 
     In addition to the above, Hong Kong’s close connection with the Mainland has provided us with further opportunities. The mutual legal assistance on the recognition and enforcement of both arbitral awards and judgments in civil and commercial matters enables certain IP disputes to be resolved efficiently by litigation or arbitration. Notably, the Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is more liberal than the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention which excludes judgements on IP disputes entirely.
 
     As outlined in the 2025 Policy Address, the HKSAR Government will step up our efforts to build Hong Kong into a global premium art trading hub, attracting more international auction houses, galleries, and professionals to establish a presence here. Key initiatives include creating an arts ecosystem at Airport City for studios and galleries, enhancing collaboration with Art Basel, and conducting industry studies on taxation, financing and talent.
 
     While the future looks promising, there are also significant challenges that we must address as legal professionals in art law.

     One of the most pressing issues is copyright protection, particularly concerning the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating art – we need to explore the feasibility of having further enhancement of the Copyright Ordinance regarding the protection for AI technology development.
 
     As the art market expands, so will the demand for legal services. Issues relating to arts pieces’ storage will require expertise in insurance law, bailment law, logistics law, and even tax and financial planning. Legal professionals will therefore be required to draft and enforce art loan and trading agreements in order to ensure that ownership and authenticity of the art pieces are clearly defined and protected.
 
Development of cryptocurrency in Hong Kong
 
     Hong Kong is a leading international financial centre in the world. Under Article 109 of the Basic Law, we shall provide an appropriate economic and legal environment for the maintenance of such status.
 
     As outlined in the 2025 Policy Address, the HKSAR Government is committed to supporting steady fintech development, including encouragement of tokenisation of assets, offering diverse digital asset products to professional investors, and introducing automated reporting and surveillance tools to mitigate risks associated with digital assets. We believe that true innovation in finance would only thrive in a clear, fair and reliable regulatory setting.
 
Important legal developments in recent years – enhancement of legal and regulatory framework
 
     I wish to highlight some important legal developments in recent years in this respect.
 
(a) Licensing of virtual asset service providers since 2023
 
     Firstly, by amending the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance, we have introduced a licensing regime for virtual asset service providers effective from June 2023 to align with international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force. Anyone running a virtual asset exchange in Hong Kong must obtain a licence from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). Licensees must meet a fit-and-proper test and comply with investor protection, money laundering and terrorism financing requirements. As of September this year, 11 virtual asset trading platforms have been licensed to offer cryptocurrency trading to retail investors. To address risks seen in the collapses of JPEX and AAX, these platforms must secure insurance for customers’ assets, properly segregate client assets, comply with financial resources requirements and prevent conflict of interest. The SFC has broad powers to supervise, investigate and enforce, with penalties for non-compliance ranging from administrative actions to criminal sanctions.
 
(b) Enacting the Stablecoins Ordinance in 2025
 
     Second, the Stablecoins Ordinance, enacted in May and becoming effective in August this year, seeks to lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the stablecoin industry. Only issuers licensed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) or certain entities can offer stablecoins publicly. As one of the first jurisdictions to put in place a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers, the HKMA has imposed rigorous requirements to guard against financial stability risks and to promote investor protection. These include requiring licensees to have a local presence, maintain reserve assets at least equal to the stablecoins’ par value, allow easy redemptions without excessive fees, ensure that key personnel are fit and proper, and implement strong risk management to prevent misuse of funds. The law also bans misleading promotional materials and creates offences for unlicensed operations or fraudulent transactions. Under the Stablecoins Ordinance, the HKMA has robust powers for licensing, enforcement and penalties, with a Stablecoin Review Tribunal established to review its decisions.
 
Intended reforms in future
 
(a) Proposal to limit unlicensed virtual asset platforms from using misleading names
 
     Looking ahead to future reforms in this fast-developing area of law, in June this year, the SFC launched a consultation aimed at restricting unregulated entities from improperly adopting names that may mislead the public into believing that such unregulated entities are regulated ones. The proposed reform aims to: (i) prohibit names that falsely suggest SFC regulation or licensing, such as those implying operation as an “SFC-regulated exchange or clearing house”, or an “SFC-licensed virtual asset trading platform”; and (ii) prevent misleading titles that imply affiliations with established financial entities, whether in Hong Kong or overseas, without genuine connections.
 
(b) Proposal to regulate over-the-counter virtual asset dealing and custodian services
 
     The SFC also held consultations with the industry and the public on the proposal to regulate service providers involved in over-the-counter virtual asset dealing and custodian services, with a view to further enhancing investor protection, combating financial crime, and maintaining market integrity and stability. Under the proposed licensing regime, the service providers would be licensed by SFC. They would be subject to the fit-and-proper test and requirements relating to anti-money laundering, financial resources, risk management and investor protection.
 
Judicial developments
 
     Notably, the Hong Kong’s Judiciary has also adopted innovative measures, likely to be the first in the world, to assist victims in cryptocurrency-related cases. In BP SG Investment Holding Limited v Chen Shanxian, a fraudster transferred victims’ assets into anonymous, decentralised, non-custodial cryptocurrency wallets, making identification and service of court documents extremely difficult and challenging. To address this issue, the Court permitted substituted service of an injunction order via a tokenised order, through a messaging platform between virtual asset wallets, and airdropping a non-fungible token, commonly known as NFT, containing a hyperlink to the court order. This method of service effectively “taints” the wallets in the sense that all subsequent transactions that follow the service can be traced to the blockchain and the existence of the injunction can be seen, and hence transactions with those wallets will be deterred.
 
Challenges and opportunities
 
     On the other hand, it must be recognised that cryptocurrency may be misused for money laundering and other unlawful or improper behaviour. This is countered by Hong Kong’s existing regulatory and criminal law framework. As digital assets grow in complexity, the law in this area evolves rapidly and demands high technical expertise. I would encourage young barristers to also take part in navigating, shaping, and upholding the law in this evolving field.
 
Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy
 
     Apart from advising policy bureaus, drafting new laws in these areas and prosecuting crimes involving cryptocurrencies, the Department of Justice also puts a great emphasis on capacity building, including for local lawyers through the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy.
 
     Launched in November last year, the Academy is an important initiative to provide capacity-building, exchanges and knowledge-sharing for professionals from the legal and dispute resolution sectors in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and across the globe. Since its launch, the Academy has organised diverse training programmes in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and abroad.
 
     For instance, it co-organised the “Workshop on Use of International Instruments to Legally Enable End-to-End Digitalization of Trade” with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) last August where international trade law experts and policymakers from different economies discussed how international law instruments could facilitate a harmonised, legally enabling environment for digitalisation of the whole business lifecycle.
 
     Last week, the Academy hosted the “Legal Practical Training Course for Chinese Enterprises Going Overseas” for 30 legal counsel and compliance officers from state-owned enterprises on the risks encountered by Chinese enterprises going overseas and the applicable compliance strategies with lectures on hot topics including stablecoins and global intellectual property.
 
     This December, the Department of Justice will host its annual flagship event – Hong Kong Legal Week 2025 with the theme “Linking Laws, Bridging Worlds”. The Academy will collaborate with UNCITRAL again to co-organise the 6th UNCITRAL Asia-Pacific Judicial Summit 2025, during which judges, officials, legal experts and scholars across various jurisdictions will explore digitalisation of trade and possibly covering issues relevant to cryptocurrency.
 
     Looking ahead, I anticipate more collaborations with the Bar Association, including the YBC, to further enhance Hong Kong’s legal expertise in these areas. Opportunities for young and future lawyers in the realms of art law and cryptocurrency are abundant. It is imperative that we equip ourselves with the necessary knowledge and skills and proactively seize these opportunities as they arise.
 
     Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to invite all those who are eligible to exercise your right to vote in the upcoming Legislative Council General Election on December 7. Your active participation is not simply a valuable exercise on a very important constitutional right; it is also a very important choice that will contribute to the future of our legal system, our legal practice and the rule of law, as well as the general well-being of our society.
 
     On this note, I wish you all a very fruitful and constructive conference this afternoon. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 6 600 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for six unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.

A CFS spokesman said that about 1 900 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 4 700 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests.

The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions.

The samples comprised about 1 900 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 500 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 900 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 900 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 800 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1 600 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).

The six unsatisfactory samples comprised a prepackaged dried porcini sample and a prepackaged black grouper fillet sample detected with metallic contaminants exceeding the legal limit, two dessert samples and a prepackaged shrimp noodle sample detected with preservatives exceeding the legal limit, and a chicken rice sample found to contain Salmonella.

The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question, and etc.

The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.

Separately, in response to the Japanese Government’s discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information.