CFS Proposes Stricter Regulations on Mini-Cup Konjac Jelly Confectionery Due to Choking Risks

Legislative proposal to regulate konjac-containing jelly confectionery

A spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (April 24) that the CFS, after reviewing the potential choking risks associated with the consumption of mini-cup konjac-containing jelly confectionery products, the regulatory practices of major economies concerning such products, and conducting a risk assessment, proposes amendments to the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) to strengthen regulation of konjac-containing jelly confectionery.

Proposed amendments include –

(i) If a mini-cup jelly confectionery product is with a height or width of 45 millimetres or less, it shall not contain konjac; and

(ii) To require all prepackaged konjac-containing jelly confectionery products to be labelled with a warning statement on prevention of choking hazard in both English and Chinese: "Caution: Do not swallow whole. Elderly and children must consume under supervision."

The spokesman said, "While the Codex Alimentarius Commission considers konjac a safe food additive, improper consumption of mini-cup konjac jellies can increase the choking risk, particularly for children and elderly people, due to their unique product design and firm texture. The Government has been promoting health education messages on prevention of food choking through various channels, including advice on avoiding direct consumption of mini-cup konjac-containing jelly confectionery products."

The CFS has consulted the Expert Committee on Food Safety regarding the proposed amendments and engaged the trade through a trade meeting and a Trade Consultation Forum. The Government initially proposes that amendments to ban the sale of mini-cup konjac-containing jelly confectionery products with a height or width of 45mm or less will take effect six months after passage of the amended Regulations, while the labelling requirements for all konjac-containing jelly confectionery products will come into operation 12 months after passage of the amended Regulations.

Additionally, the CFS, in collaboration with the Education Bureau, has issued a letter to schools recommending that they cease selling or providing mini-cup konjac-containing jelly confectionery products with a height or width of 45mm or less in places such as tuck shops and canteens.

The CFS has established a dedicated webpage with the regulatory proposal uploaded. Members of the public and the trade are welcome to offer their views on or before June 8.

HKSAR Government responds to media enquiries on reporting, photo and video-taking at prohibited places specified in subsidiary legislation made under Safeguarding National Security Ordinance

​In response to media enquiries on reporting, photo and video-taking at prohibited places specified in the subsidiary legislation made under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, a spokesman for the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region today (May 16) said the following:

The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, at the meeting of the Legislative Council Subcommittee on Two Items of Subsidiary Legislation Made under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and the subsequent media session yesterday (May 15), clearly said that according to section 45 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, a "specified officer" (including a police officer or a guard of the prohibited place), who has reasonable grounds to believe that exercising such power is necessary for safeguarding national security, may order any person not to do or cease to do such acts as that of approaching or inspecting (including doing so by electronic or remote means) a prohibited place, and such officer may also order persons in the neighbourhood of a prohibited place to leave. Any person who contravenes an order commits an offence.

There is no problem for members of the public to purely "check in" and take photos near a prohibited place while passing by, without any intention of endangering national security. However, if they deliberately take photos or videos of the entrances or the interior of a prohibited place so as to inspect such place, or engage in other conduct during photo or video-taking giving people reasonable grounds to believe that they may endanger national security, police officers or guards of the prohibited place have the power to ask the members of the public to leave in accordance with the above legal requirements and the judgment made at the scene at the time.