Development Bureau announces latest arrangements for two industry sites in Yuen Long and Hung Shui Kiu
The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (July 21) that in order to strengthen the Government's leading role and accelerate the anchoring of industries in the Northern Metropolis (NM), the Government has decided to cancel the tender for two sites in Yuen Long and Hung Shui Kiu. This facilitates efficient implementation of more pragmatic arrangements for the two industry sites, which include:
- Handing over the site at Yuen Long Fuk Wang Street and Wang Lee Street (i.e. Yuen Long Town Lot No. 545) (the Yuen Long Lot) to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), with a view to establishing a microelectronics ecosystem in the Yuen Long InnoPark and better promoting high value-added new industrialisation; and
- Incorporating the site at Area 39A and 39B, Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen (i.e. Hung Shui Kiu Town Lot No. 10) (the Hung Shui Kiu Lot) in a policy study to be completed by the DEVB within this year, which involves a larger area of land. The aim is for a company established by the Government to take up the management and operation for the industry sites in that area in the form of an industry park.
The DEVB launched tenders under the two-envelope approach for the Yuen Long Lot and the Hung Shui Kiu Lot in March and October 2024 respectively for the development of multi-storey buildings for modern industries (MSBs). Part of the floor space of the MSBs was to be leased to the Government at nominal rent for 10 years, allowing the Government to further rent out the floor space at concessionary rents to brownfield operators affected by government development projects during the period. The tender invitation for the two sites was originally to close on July 25, 2025.
A spokesperson for the DEVB said, "In order to lead and effectively promote the development of industries in the NM, the Government has to allow flexibility in the use of land in the NM and adopt a 'dynamic planning' approach in formulating strategies in accordance with the actual circumstances, thereby accelerating enterprise anchoring and fostering development of the area. Taking into account the views of the innovation and technology sector and the logistics sector on the industry development strategy in the area, as well as the Government's planning strategy for the NM, the Government has decided to cancel the tender for the two sites and proactively utilise the sites according to the Government's development strategy. This would allow the greater play of the sites in promoting industry development."
The 3-hectare Yuen Long Lot is situated within the vicinity of the Yuen Long InnoPark and the Microelectronics Centre therein. The Yuen Long InnoPark is operated and managed by the HKSTPC. To cater for the HKSTPC's plan to establish a vibrant microelectronics ecosystem within the Yuen Long InnoPark, the Government has seized the opportunity to convert the Yuen Long Lot to innovation and technology use. The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau will further discuss with the HKSTPC to draw up a concrete development proposal.
On the other hand, as announced in the 2024 Policy Address, the DEVB has been exploring the establishment of a company led by the Government to build and operate an industrial park, involving some of the logistics sites in Hung Shui Kiu. The study will cover around 15 hectares of industry sites situated in the northern part of Hung Shui Kiu, and the 8-hectare Hung Shui Kiu Lot is exactly adjacent to this 15-hectare area of industry land. Incorporating the Hung Shui Kiu Lot in the study will endow the industry park company with more ample land resources to achieve economies of scale in the future. The study will look into the approach for granting such industry sites to the proposed company to be established by the Government, which will be responsible for building and operating the industry park in accordance with the Government's industry policies, as well as attracting enterprises through flexible land grant arrangement and investment promotion measures. We will also explore the option of having the company to designate part of the land within the industry park for developing industrial spaces using low-cost technologies (such as modular construction) within a short period of time to accommodate some of the brownfield operators affected by government development projects. The DEVB will complete the study within this year and subsequently commence the work for the establishment of the company.
The locations of the two sites are shown in the Annex.
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
