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.
Business of Innovation and Technology Week in April gathers global innovation and technology elites to showcase cutting-edge innovations
The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) are jointly organising the Business of Innovation and Technology Week (BIT Week) in April. A series of mega innovation and technology (I&T) events will be held, including the flagship event InnoEX, which will return with great acclaim, concurrently with the 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit.
The fourth InnoEX, co-organised by the ITIB and the HKTDC, will be held from April 13 to 16 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). This annual I&T event, themed "Innovate • Automate • Elevate" this year, will bring together I&T enterprises, industry elites and buyers from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas to jointly promote the application of cutting-edge technology solutions in five key areas, namely AI+, robotics, the low-altitude economy, property technology and retail technology, while exploring global collaboration opportunities. The "RoboPark" zone will also be held concurrently, showcasing over 100 robots from technology enterprises in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas.
Another highlight of InnoEX is the Smart Hong Kong Pavilion set up by the Digital Policy Office. This year, themed "AI+ Hong Kong", the pavilion will showcase over 100 I&T solutions, including those developed by the Government that benefit the public and businesses, as well as award-winning I&T projects by local industry and students, demonstrating Hong Kong's achievements in I&T and smart city development.
The third Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and the Xiangjiang Nobel Forum will also be held from April 12 to 16at the HKCEC. The event is organised by the Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities with full support from the ITIB. Top I&T talent from around the world including Nobel Prize and Turing Award laureates, academicians, renowned scientists, etc, will gather in Hong Kong to discuss frontier developments and co-operation in areas such as AI, embodied robotics, biomedicine, quantum technology and green energy, thereby enhancing Hong Kong's international standing in the global scientific arena.
In addition, the International Academicians Hong Kong Forum to be held on April 14by the International Alliance of Academicians has joined the BIT Week this year. The forum has invited a Fields medallist and over 10 globally renowned experts and academicians in the fields of medicine, AI and higher education as speakers to jointly promote the translation of academic achievements from research to application.
Meanwhile, the 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit will be held April 13 and 14at the HKCEC. Under the theme "Digital and Intelligent Empowerment for Innovative Development - Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace", the summit is expected to attract more than 1 000 government and business leaders, representatives of international organisations, experts and scholars from around the world to Hong Kong. They will engage in in-depth exchanges on Internet frontier topics to strengthen regional digital collaboration and jointly create new momentum and advantages for the development of the Asia-Pacific region.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, "Under 'one country, two systems', Hong Kong is the only open economy in the world that simultaneously benefits from the strengths of both China and the global community. Through flagship exhibitions and a wide range of activities, the BIT Week in April will bring together over 3700 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions. This demonstrates Hong Kong's distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland and being closely connected to the world, as well as its best bridging role of 'bringing in' and 'going global', thereby helping Hong Kong proactively seek development breakthroughs, actively integrate into the National 15th Five-Year Plan, accelerate its development into an international I&T centre, and deepen co-operation with the Mainland and overseas markets."
Other major industry events during the BIT Week include the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and Smart Lighting Expo, as well as the Hong Kong Web3 Festival. Details of the BIT Week can be found at bitweek.hktdc.com/en.
Source: AI-found images
