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Remarks by S for S at media session after Fight Crime Committee meeting (with video)Issued at HKT 20:23

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CFS announces food safety report for AprilIssued at HKT 15:00

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 4 400 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for four unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.

A CFS spokesman said that about 1 200 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 3 200 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 1 400 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 400 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 400 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 700 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 500 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1 000 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).

The four unsatisfactory samples comprised a prepackaged milk product sample detected with milk fat content not in compliance with the regulations, and three frozen confection samples found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit.

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.

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.

Quotations invited for tenancies at Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong PortIssued at HKT 12:30

The Government Property Agency (GPA) is inviting three separate quotations for the government properties at (i) Shop No. 508, (ii) Shop No. 509 and (iii) Shop No. 510, on the First Floor, Passenger Clearance Building, 33 Shun Fai Road, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port, Lantau, Hong Kong, each for a three-year tenancy subject to the provisions for renewal for a further term of two years.

The three premises should only be used for general retail and/or services purposes. Details are available in the respective Quotation Notices and Forms of Tenancy Agreement.

The quotation notices were uploaded today (May 30) to the GPA Property Portal: www.gpaproperty.gov.hk/en/index.html. Quotation documents are available for collection at the GPA, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the GPA Property Portal.

Interested bidders who wish to conduct a site inspection of the premises should make a prior appointment with the GPA by calling 3842 6918 or 3842 6915 by June 5.

Bidders must submit their quotations by placing them in the GPA Quotation Box placed at the Ground Floor Lobby, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, before noon on June 20. Late quotations will not be accepted.

A woman who went missing in Sham Shui Po has been located.

Lung Wai-yan, aged 64, went missing after she was last seen on Cheung Sha Wan Road on May 6 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on May 28.

The woman was located in Tung Chau Street Park this afternoon (May 30). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected dangerous drugs worth about $2.6 million (with photo)Issued at HKT 16:50

​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 29) seized about 2 kilograms of suspected crack cocaine and 654 suspected “space oil drug” capsules with a total estimated market value of about $2.6 million in Tin Shui Wai. A 25-year-old man and a 29-year-old man were arrested.

During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Tin Shui Wai yesterday, Customs intercepted two men. Customs officers later escorted them to a residential premises nearby for a search and seized the batch of suspected crack cocaine and suspected “space oil drug” capsules. A batch of suspected drug-packing paraphernalia and tools were also found therein. The two men were subsequently arrested.

An investigation is ongoing.

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.

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).

Residential Mortgage Survey Results for April 2025Issued at HKT 16:30

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced the results of the residential mortgage survey for April 2025.

The number of mortgage applications in April decreased month-on-month by 7.8 per cent to 7 795.

Mortgage loans approved in April increased by 2.4 per cent compared with March to HK$25.3 billion. Among these, mortgage loans financing primary market transactions decreased by 7.5 per cent to HK$9.3 billion and those financing secondary market transactions increased by 17.6 per cent to HK$13.7 billion. Mortgage loans for refinancing decreased by 23.5% to HK$2.3 billion.

Mortgage loans drawn down during April increased by 7.7 per cent compared with March to HK$17.1 billion.

The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to HIBOR increased from 90.4 per cent in March to 91.8 per cent in April. The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to best lending rates decreased from 3.2 per cent in March to 2.3 per cent in April.

The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased month-on-month by 0.2 per cent to HK$1,881.9 billion at end-April.

The mortgage delinquency ratio stood at a low level of 0.13 per cent and the rescheduled loan ratio was unchanged at nearly 0 per cent.

Hospital Authority releases Medication Safety Bulletin Issued at HKT 16:00

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: The Hospital Authority (HA) today (May 30) published the biannual issue of the Medication Safety Bulletin (MSB). This issue focuses on etomidate, a drug that is commonly used in clinical practice to induce anaesthesia or to facilitate sedation. Recently, etomidate has been used illegally as a narcotic and is known as the space oil drug. Since etomidate has been upregulated as a Dangerous Drug, healthcare professionals should comply with relevant requirements on storage, issuance, etc, and maintain regular inspection. The latest issue also reminds healthcare professionals that the “On Long Term Steroid Replacement Alert” has been implemented in the Clinical Management System to safeguard patients receiving longterm hydrocortisone replacement therapy. In addition, the Kowloon Central Cluster shares its experience in enhancing dispensing accuracy with the implementation of the Pick-to-light system in the General Outpatients Clinics. The publication has already been posted on the HA homepage for sharing with healthcare staff. Members of the public are also welcome to browse its content at the following link: www.ha.org.hk/msb. The MSB is published every six months, during the last week of May and November. The next issue will be published in November 2025.