New Commissioner of Customs Appointed as Louise Ho Retires After 33 Years of Service

Appointment of Commissioner of Customs and Excise

​The Central People's Government, on the nomination and recommendation of the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, has approved today (December 31) the appointment of Mr Chan Tsz-tat, formerly Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise, as Commissioner of Customs and Excise and the removal of Ms Louise Ho Pui-shan from the post of Commissioner of Customs and Excise. Ms Ho proceeded on pre-retirement leave today after serving the Customs and Excise Department for 33 years.

Commenting on the appointment of Mr Chan, Mr Lee said, "Mr Chan has served in the Customs and Excise Department for 30 years and has extensive experience in departmental operations. He possesses solid management and leadership skills. I am confident that he will lead the Customs and Excise Department in meeting the challenges ahead."

Speaking on Ms Ho who reached the retirement age and proceeded on pre-retirement leave, Mr Lee said, "Since taking up the appointment as Commissioner of Customs and Excise in October 2021, Ms Ho has made sustained efforts in leading the Department with distinguished results on the prevention of smuggling activities, the protection of Government revenue on dutiable goods, the detection and deterrence of narcotics trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs, the protection of intellectual property rights and consumer interests and the combat of money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism. During her tenure, she has also been committed to maintaining close collaboration with international and regional partners to uphold the position of Hong Kong as an international trade centre and logistics hub. On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, I convey my heartfelt appreciation to Ms Ho for her contribution to the HKSAR and I wish her a happy retirement."

The following are biographical notes of Ms Ho and Mr Chan:

Ms Louise Ho

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Ms Ho joined the Customs and Excise Department as Inspector of Customs and Excise in February 1991. She was promoted to Superintendent of Customs and Excise in 2010, to Senior Superintendent of Customs and Excise in 2013, to Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise in 2017 and to Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise in 2019. She took up the Commissioner of Customs and Excise post in October 2021.

Ms Ho has been awarded three Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise's Commendations in 1999, 2003 and 2005 respectively; Hong Kong Customs and Excise Long Service Medal in 2009, with the first clasp and second clasp in 2016 and 2021 respectively; Hong Kong Customs and Excise Medal for Meritorious Service in 2017; and Hong Kong Customs and Excise Medal for Distinguished Service in 2022.

Mr Chan Tsz-tat

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Mr Chan joined the Customs and Excise Department as Inspector of Customs and Excise in August 1994. He was promoted to Superintendent of Customs and Excise in 2015, to Senior Superintendent of Customs and Excise in 2017, to Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise in 2020 and to Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise in 2022.

Mr Chan has been awarded Hong Kong Customs and Excise Long Service Medal in 2012, with the first clasp in 2019; and Hong Kong Customs and Excise Medal for Distinguished Service in 2023.

Appointment of Commissioner of Customs and Excise Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Appointment of Commissioner of Customs and Excise Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Appointment of Commissioner of Customs and Excise Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Appointment of Commissioner of Customs and Excise 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