Speech by CS at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (with photos/video)
Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX) hosted by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council today (October 14):
尊敬的王松苗秘書長 (Secretary General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Wang Songmiao), 李永勝副特派員 (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR Mr Li Yongsheng), Kenneth (Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Mr Kenneth Fok), Wilfred (Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Fund Advisory Committee, Dr Wilfred Wong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening.
On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I would like to welcome you all to the inaugural Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo.
HKPAX provides a comprehensive platform for showcasing top-notch performing arts productions from the international and local community, as well as promoting exchanges and collaborations to create business opportunities for these programmes and creative talents.
The first HKPAX has received an overwhelming response, with strong support from our country and friends from around the world. More than 1 400 delegates from over 60 countries and regions are participating in HKPAX and sharing their artistic visions and creations with us.
Hong Kong is a melting pot of Chinese and Western cultures. We enjoy the distinct advantage of having strong support from our motherland and being closely connected to the world. These, together with our world-class arts and culture facilities and pluralistic arts environment, pave the way for us to further develop the city's role as a cultural hub for the region and the world.
HKPAX is much more than a market. It is a platform for making connections, exchanging ideas and fostering collaborations.
For friends coming from abroad, please get to know the many and varied local artists and arts groups through various performances, showcases, pitches and other activities, and exchange innovative ideas on the artistic front. Also, do not miss the opportunity to get to know the rapidly emerging cultural cities in our motherland, especially those in the Greater Bay Area.
Right after HKPAX, we will host the 2024 Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival, which aims to promote integration, exchanges and collaborations, and enrich the cultural soft power of the Greater Bay Area. We hope that these two mega events will synergise and complement each other, and provide you, the visitors, and the people of Hong Kong with quality arts and cultural offerings.
The HKSAR Government is committed to strengthening Hong Kong's position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges. With your enthusiastic support for the event, HKPAX has succeeded in establishing itself as an important platform for new artistic connections and exchanges, and has made a mark for Hong Kong in the world of performing arts.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members and staff of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council for their tireless efforts in planning and organising HKPAX. My special thanks also go to all our partners, participating arts leaders and practitioners from Hong Kong, the Mainland and around the world. HKPAX would not be possible without your support and participation.
Last but not least, I wish HKPAX every success, and hope you all enjoy the exciting programmes of HKPAX and your stay in our beautiful city in the coming days.
Thank you. And now, I would like to say a few words in Cantonese.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the speech.)
Speech by CS at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by CS at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by CS at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CFS to follow up certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 10) said that, it took initiative to meet with Nestlé Hong Kong again today, and confirmed the company's today announcement of an additional batch of powdered infant and young children formula suspected to have possibly used the raw material concerned. Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. The CFS has collected samples of powdered infant and young children formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, the test results so far were satisfactory. The Environmental and Ecology Bureau is also closely monitoring the supply situation of other formula milk powder and maintaining communication with other major suppliers. It is noted that there is sufficient formula milk powder to meet the demand.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Photo source: reference image
The spokesman said, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. According to the latest information from Nestlé Hong Kong today, an additional batch of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. The CFS had earlier enhanced surveillance in the market and collected a sample from the above batch for testing of Bacillus cereus. The test result of the sample was satisfactory. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall.
Product details are as follows:
Product name (Net weight): NAN PRO 1 2 HMO (800g)
Batch number: 51670742F2
Best-before date: June 16, 2027
Place of Origin: Germany
"The CFS met Nestlé Hong Kong again today, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue and respond to public enquiries, in order to safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests. In addition, the CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, six suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products that had not entered the market were marked and sealed. An additional 15 batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety, " the spokesman said.
Nestlé Hong Kong has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:
Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031/ 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)
Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.com
WhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ® NAN®) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth® Nutrition)
Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink
Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at place of purchase, or at exclusive service counters of Nestlé Nutrition Services from January 13 (Tuesday) onwards, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the exclusive service counters are as follows:
Kowloon Services Counter
Address: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D)
Contact number: 3996 8196
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)
Hong Kong Services Counter
Address: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)
Contact number: 3996 8197
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)
The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance.
Over the past three days (as of 4pm on January 9), the FEHD received a total of 18 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on all cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health department for follow-up. At present, no food poisoning cases related to the formula have been recorded.
Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.
"The CFS continues to closely monitor the developments of the situation, follow up and take appropriate action," the spokesman said.
The infant formula of Nestlé, Photo source: online image
