CE's statement on 2025-26 Budget
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (February 26) issued the following statement on the 2025-26 Budget:
The Financial Secretary today delivered the third Budget of the current-term Government and put forward a series of practical and effective measures on Hong Kong's economic development and public fiscal consolidation. The Budget will reinforce the Government's financial strength, and create new momentum and new advantages for Hong Kong's economic development.
The Budget put forward various measures which are consistent with the directions of the Policy Address, including nurturing new quality productive forces to strengthen the development of innovation and technology and artificial intelligence; speeding up the development of the Northern Metropolis and the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, fully leveraging the strategic position of "three centres and a hub", further nurturing and attracting talent, upgrading industries with advantages, and accelerating the development of Hong Kong's economy.
The Budget proposes pragmatic measures to improve public finances, focusing primarily on strictly controlling government expenditures, supplemented by suitably increasing revenue, to steadily restore fiscal balance while taking into account the actual social situation and Hong Kong's competitiveness. At the same time, it aims to leverage market forces to promote infrastructure projects through innovative and diversified development models, and government bonds will be issued to finance related projects.
In a complicated and volatile external environment, I am confident that Hong Kong will be able to seize opportunities and continue to give full play to its unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle of having the strong support of the country while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world, and further strengthening its connection with both the Mainland and the world. We will proactively integrate into and align with the country's national development strategies, foster accelerated economic growth and improve people's livelihood. Like the Financial Secretary, I have full confidence in Hong Kong's development and future. I appeal to all sectors of the community to support this Budget.
Beef and beef congee samples found to contain sulphur dioxide
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 6) that two beef samples collected from a licensed food factory in North District were found to contain sulphur dioxide, contravening the provisions on preservative of the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) (the Regulation). The CFS is following up on the incident. The food factory concerned has suspended its business.
A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to the earlier announcement that a beef congee sample taken from a licensed general restaurant in Wah Kwai Estate, Aberdeen, was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a follow-up investigation by the CFS revealed that the beef concerned was suspected to be supplied by the licensed food factory mentioned above. The CFS has immediately taken follow-up action and collected beef samples from the relevant food factory for testing. The test results showed that the two beef samples contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 7 700 parts per million (ppm) and 8 300 ppm respectively."
"As instructed by the CFS, the concerned licensed general restaurant in Wah Kwai Estate, Aberdeen has earlier stopped the sale of the relevant beef congee. The CFS had collected another beef congee sample for follow-up investigation before the restaurant concerned stopped selling the relevant product, and the test result showed that the beef congee sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 540 ppm," the spokesman added.
The CFS has informed the food factory concerned of the irregularities and instructed it to stop the sale of the products concerned and discard relevant raw materials. During an inspection to the food factory concerned, stains were detected in several areas of the premises, and a gap at the door was found. Prosecution was then initiated to the relevant person; and a Notice of Elimination of Vermin was issued under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) Section 47(1), requiring the person-in-charge of the premises to adopt necessary procedures to remove any items causing rodent infestation within specified time frame, failing which prosecution will be instituted.
According to the Regulation, contravening relevant provisions on preservatives is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. Prosecution will be instituted for the violation of the Regulation. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: AI-found images
