Inspection of aquatic products imported from Japan
In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
From noon on July 18 to noon today (July 19), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 192 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 69 141 samples of food imported from Japan (including 44 457 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 16 394 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.
Rehabilitation project of CSD wins international correctional award
A rehabilitation project of the Correctional Services Department (CSD), "Project JET", has been awarded this year's Community Corrections Award, an excellence award by the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA).
The Deputy Commissioner of Correctional Services (Operations and Strategic Development), Mr Ng Chiu-kok, led a delegation to attend the ICPA Annual Conference held in Singapore from September 1 to 6 and received the Award at the award presentation ceremony today (September 4).
The ICPA presents correctional excellence awards to recognise individuals, organisations and projects that have achieved remarkable results in the corrections profession. Among them, the Community Corrections Award aims to commend exceptional work by units and projects that have supported and promoted rehabilitation work at the community level with innovative approaches.
The CSD launched "Project JET" in 2022, from the employment aspect, to provide one-stop training and career development opportunities for persons in custody (PICs), encouraging them to make life planning early, make full use of their talents and contribute to society.
The Project includes: (1) Life planning - providing talks and workshops on life planning for PICs in correctional institutions; (2) In-centre training - providing relevant professional training for PICs to master the required work skills; (3) Post-release internship - providing post-release internship opportunities for PICs who have completed relevant training; (4) Formal employment - offering full-time employment to rehabilitated persons with good performance during the internship; and (5) Mentoring scheme - matching rehabilitated persons with suitable mentors as life coaches to provide guidance on work skills and life education during the internship and formal employment periods.
Mr Ng said, "The CSD is honoured to receive the Award from the ICPA. The Award not only recognises the Department's efforts in launching new rehabilitation services, but also enables our international counterparts to understand the professionalism of Hong Kong's correctional work. We will continue to optimise our rehabilitation programmes and strengthen collaboration with various stakeholders to help PICs smoothly reintegrate into society and start a new life after release."
The ICPA was established in 1998 to promote international co-operation in the corrections profession, and to promote the implementation of humane and effective correctional policies and practices. Members of the ICPA include public sectors, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions and correctional professionals around the world. The Annual Conference is a flagship event of the ICPA, which includes plenary sessions, workshops and visits to promote the development of the corrections profession through exchanges between corrections professionals and international criminal justice experts.
Rehabilitation project of CSD wins international correctional award Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Rehabilitation project of CSD wins international correctional award Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Rehabilitation project of CSD wins international correctional award Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
