Hong Kong Suspends Poultry Imports from Poland and US Due to Avian Influenza Outbreaks

Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Poland and US suspended

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 10) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in Poland and the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

The relevant areas are as follows:

Poland

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Łódzkie Region

(1) Sieradz District

US

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State of South Dakota

(2) Bon Homme County

(3) Brule County

(4) Kingsbury County

State of Iowa

(5) Worth County

(6) O'Brien County

(7) Sac County

State of Missouri

(8) Daviess County

State of Kansas

(9) Rooks County

(10) Doniphan County

State of Minnesota

(11) Chippewa County

(12) Fillmore County

(13) Stearns County

State of Wisconsin

(14) Kenosha County

(15) Barron County

State of Mississippi

(16) Greene County

State of Illinois

(17) Livingston County

State of Alabama

(18) Cullman County

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 3 480 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland; and about 63 470 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 17.2 million poultry eggs from the US in the first nine months of last year.

"The CFS has contacted the Polish and American authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen related to Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited

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

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or One-Time Password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.