SEE to visit Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences in Hainan Province
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, will depart for a visit to the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) in Hainan Province this afternoon (September 1).
During the visit, Mr Tse will visit several research facilities and a botanical garden under the CATAS to learn about the academy's latest research outcomes in fields including the conservation of tropical crop genetic resources, plant breeding and cultivation, innovative processing, as well as local practical experience in promoting the development of industrialisation and the commercialisation of research outcomes.
He will also meet with the President of the CATAS, Dr Lu Yanhui, and other experts to engage in in-depth exchanges on areas including agricultural technology co-operation between the two places, the application of scientific achievements and practical experience of the CATAS to the sustainable agricultural development in Hong Kong, as well as talent training.
The Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Ms Irene Young, and the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai, will also join the visit.
Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong on September 3. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, will be the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology.
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, Photo source: reference image
Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Korea and US suspended
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 9) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N9 avian influenza in Yeoncheon-gun of Gyeonggi-do Province in Korea, and outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
The relevant areas are as follows:
Korea
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Gyeonggi-do Province
(1) Yeoncheon-gun
US
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State of North Dakota
(2) Dickey County
State of Minnesota
(3) Roseau County
State of Nebraska
(4) Cedar County
State of Kansas
(5) Greeley County
State of South Dakota
(6) Hanson County
State of Illinois
(7) Clinton County
A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 80 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 11.48 million poultry eggs from Korea, and about 33 270 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 92.33 million poultry eggs from the US in the first nine months of this year.
"The CFS has contacted the Korean and American authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
Source: AI-found images
