FEHD steps up inspections at food premises
The Centre for Food Safety and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continues to jointly step up inspections of food premises to protect food safety of the public.
A spokesman for the FEHD said today (July 29), "The FEHD continues to step up inspections of food premises, including those shops selling Lo Mei. Special attention is being paid to food storage, preparation and hygiene to ensure compliance with safety standards and relevant legislation. In the event of any breaches of food safety or health requirements, the FEHD will take stringent follow-up action. We have also strengthened communication with the trade to remind food premises to adhere to Good Hygiene Practices and to promote food safety awareness."
The spokesman said the inspections cover the key aspects of food storage and preparation, including checking the compliance of food storage temperature to ensure that cold food is kept at or below 4 degrees Celsius while hot food is kept at or above 60 degrees C. Moreover, the inspections also aim to check if raw and cooked foods are separately stored and handled to prevent cross-contamination, if adequate liquid soap is provided, and to ensure food handlers maintain personal hygiene such as thorough hand washing before and after handling food to reduce the risk of food contamination.
In mid-June, the FEHD inspected about 2 800 food premises across the territory, carried out immediate rectifications, issued warnings and health advices, and initiated eight prosecutions in total on aspects relevant to food storage, preparation and hygiene. The operations are ongoing.
The FEHD appeals to food businesses to follow Good Hygiene Practices and make reference to the following advice when preparing food:
Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling food, and keep hands and utensils clean. Handwashing facilities should be equipped with adequate supply of liquid soap;
Store and handle raw and cooked foods separately to prevent cross-contamination;
Cook food thoroughly until the core temperature reaches at least 75 degrees C, and keep the cooked food at above 60 degrees C if not consumed immediately;
Pre-cooked food subjected to cold storage should be cooled from 60 degrees C to 20 degrees C within two hours, and from 20 degrees C to 4 degrees C inside a chiller within the next four hours;
Food handlers should report to their supervisor immediately and refrain from working if they feel sick;
When handling vomitus, wear gloves and apply 1:49 diluted household bleach (by adding one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite to 49 parts of water) to clean and disinfect contaminated areas or items thoroughly. Wash hands thoroughly afterwards; and
Provide food handlers with regular training on food safety, environment and personal hygiene.
FEHD steps up inspections at food premises Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD steps up inspections at food premises Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by SITI at 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit today (January 16):
Professor Sun Dong, Photo by Bastille Post
Ms Qiu (Vice President of DLG Exhibitions & Events Co Ltd, Ms Qiu Haoming), Hendrick (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, Mr Hendrick Sin), Terry (Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Terry Wong), Duncan (Member of the Legislative Council, Mr Duncan Chiu), Alex (President of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, Dr Alex Chung), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. I am delighted to join you at the 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit.Today's theme, "Wake Up More!", is a call not only for any single company, city, or country but also a timely reminder for all of us to embrace a new era of intelligence, possibility, and shared responsibility.
A big thank you to the organiser for choosing Hong Kong as a destination for this remarkable Summit. This is another testament to Hong Kong's unique position as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" that thrives on global connection and creativity. We are delighted to see that world-class academics, industry experts and leading entrepreneurs from around the world gather here today to explore the future of AI and the opportunities it brings to us.
AI has become a core engine driving global technological and economic progress, and all economies recognise its strategic importance.Under the unique advantages of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is also seizing this AI moment.With a focus on "strengthening infrastructure and promoting the application-oriented approach", Hong Kong is steadily advancing a series of AI initiatives.
In terms of R&D (research and development), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government is working to establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute within this year, which is a new engine for discovery, translation, and real-world impact.Through our AIR@InnoHK research cluster, we have funded the establishment of 16 R&D laboratories focusing on AI and robotics technologies.Notably, the "HKChat" AI chatbot developed by the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center has already launched its public version.
Hong Kong's total computing power has now reached 5 000 PFLOPS, with the Cyberport AI Supercomputing Centre contributing 3 000 PFLOPS. This centre is a critical hub that supports Hong Kong's AI development, and its capacity will continue to expand to meet growing demand. The upcoming data facility cluster at Sandy Ridge in North District will further provide advanced computing power facilities, promoting the development of data and AI-related industries in Hong Kong.
And at the heart of all progress is talent. We recognise that people, not algorithms, will shape the future of AI. Our strategy is simple yet powerful: "Promote technology with talent, lead industries with technology, and attract talent with industries". To this end, we have included in the Talent List a number of professions in the I&T (innovation and technology) segment, including experienced AI Specialists, to facilitate global experts, like all of you here, in developing your careers in Hong Kong.
Looking ahead, the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to foster strong collaboration among the Government and the industry, academia, research and investment sectors. The future of AI cannot be built by anyone or any place alone. It requires a global community that is awake, aware, and aligned.I am confident that this Summit will spark new ideas and inspire us to wake up more for high-quality AI development.
I wish the Summit great success. Thank you.
The 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit, Photo by Bastille Post
