Hong Kong Launches Coastal Cleanup Campaign for Beautiful Bays Initiative on Environment Day 2026

EPD participates in joint eco-environmental volunteer service campaign in coastal provinces (regions and municipalities)

In support of the National Event on the Environment Day 2026, and the Beautiful Hong Kong Green Fest launched on June 1, the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) held the joint eco-environmental volunteer service campaign in coastal provinces (regions and municipalities) in Hong Kong today (June 6). The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; and the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, led a government volunteer team to conduct coastal cleanup activity at To Tau Wan, Wu Kai Sha, and also mobilised the community to carry out coastal cleanup activity across Hong Kong, demonstrating a territory-wide commitment to protecting the ocean and building "Beautiful Bays".

Speaking at the event, Mr Tse said that the Special Administrative Region Government has all along spared no effort in protecting the marine ecological environment. To align with the nation's comprehensive promotion of building a Beautiful China, the Government has actively taken forward the "Beautiful Bays" initiative, and Mirs Bay (Hong Kong Section) was honoured to be selected as a national "Outstanding Example of Beautiful Bays" at the end of 2025. In recent years, Hong Kong has also deepened regional cooperation with Guangdong Province and Shenzhen. In the monitoring of shoreline cleanliness, the Government has actively introduced smart technologies, such as drone monitoring and artificial intelligence image analysis, gradually moving forward to the goal of "clear water and clean beaches, thriving marine life, and harmonious coexistence between humans and the sea".

Mr Tse said, "To safeguard this beautiful ocean, it is not enough to solely rely on the Government's efforts, but rather on the concerted efforts from the entire society." He expressed his gratitude to the volunteers attending the activity and the volunteer groups participating in coastal cleaning at different coasts concurrently for their efforts to protect the ocean.

On the same day, a delegation led by the Deputy Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Ms Fabia Tam; and the Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Vanessa Au, attended the launching ceremony for the joint eco-environmental volunteer service campaign in coastal provinces (regions and municipalities) in Shenzhen.

The launching ceremony was guided by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), and co-organised by the Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province, the Society Work Department of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, and the Center for Environmental Education and Communications of the MEE. During the ceremony, the Director-General of the Department of Publicity and Education of the MEE, Mr Pei Xiaofei, presented flags to the heads of the ecological environment departments from the participating coastal provinces (regions and municipalities). The heads then read the proposal of eco-environmental volunteer service campaign "united for blue seas and beautiful bays".

For event details of the Beautiful Hong Kong Green Fest, please visit www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/news_events/events/hk_green_fest_2026.html.

The launching ceremony of the joint eco-environmental volunteer service campaign in coastal provinces (regions and municipalities) was conducted in Happy Harbour, Bao'an District, Shenzhen. Photo shows the Director-General of the Department of Publicity and Education of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Mr Pei Xiaofei (sixth left), presenting flags to the heads of the Mainland ecological environment departments. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Ms Fabia Tam (left); and the Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Vanessa Au (right), attended the launching ceremony for the joint eco-environmental volunteer service campaign in coastal provinces (regions and municipalities) in Happy Harbour, Bao'an District, Shenzhen today (June 6). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (first right) led a government volunteer team to conduct coastal cleanup activity at To Tau Wan, Wu Kai Sha today (June 6). Photo shows a colleague from the Environmental Protection Department volunteer team participating in the activity together with her family. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department held the joint eco-environmental volunteer service campaign in coastal provinces (regions and municipalities) in Hong Kong today (June 6). Photo shows the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (left); and the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui (right), participating in the coastal cleanup activity at To Tau Wan, Wu Kai Sha. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department held the joint eco-environmental volunteer service campaign in coastal provinces (regions and municipalities) in Hong Kong today (June 6). The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (front row, eighth right); and the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui (front row, seventh right), leading a government volunteer team to conduct coastal cleanup activity at To Tau Wan, Wu Kai Sha. Photo shows the group photo of government volunteer team. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS urges public not to consume batch of imported spread product suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 18) urged the public not to consume a batch of spread product imported from France due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

The Centre for Food Safety, Photo source: reference image

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Ktipiti Extra Red Pepper & Feta Cheese Spread

Brand: L'atelier Blini

Place of origin: France

Net weight: 175 grams

Batch number: 12262661

Use-by date: August 30, 2026

Importer: City Super Limited

Ktipiti Extra Red Pepper & Feta Cheese Spread, Photo source: online image

"The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notification from the Rappel Conso of France that the above-mentioned product is being recalled as it might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes due to suspected issue with the cold chain. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers to follow up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product concerned," a spokesman for the CFS said.

As a precautionary measure, the importer concerned has stopped sales and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product and has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2736 3866 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

"Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperatures. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicaemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in newborns," the spokesman added.

"In order to reduce the risk of listeriosis, susceptible populations such as pregnant women should consume freshly prepared hot food where possible, reheat chilled food until it is hot all the way through, and avoid high-risk foods, including ready-to-eat food such as cold cuts, cold smoked seafood, soft cheeses, salads, etc, or cook them thoroughly before consumption, even if they are presented as part of a dish."

The spokesman advised members of the public to stop consuming the affected batch of the product and seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming the product concerned.

The CFS has contacted the French authority over the incident and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing.

Spread product, Photo source: online image