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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government continues to closely monitor the Fukushima nuclear incident. Various departments will keep track of the radiation level of the air and fresh water in Hong Kong, food and imported products from Japan round the clock. As at noon today (March 28), the latest monitoring results for the past 24 hours from the relevant departments are as follows:
Radiation level in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Observatory continues to monitor round-the-clock the real-time ambient gamma radiation levels in Hong Kong. In the past 24 hours, no abnormal changes in the ambient radiation levels in Hong Kong have been detected.
Water safety
The Water Supplies Department continues to monitor the radioactivity level of Dongjiang water supplied to Hong Kong, raw water from impounding reservoirs and fresh water. In the past 24 hours, the monitoring results show that the radioactivity level of all samples did not show any observable change. The radiological quality of fresh water remains normal and safe.
Sea and air cargo
The Hong Kong Customs will continue to select cargoes imported from Japan for inspection, including pharmaceutical products, cosmetics and personal hygiene products. In the past 24 hours, the Customs has checked 1,222 air consignments and 34 sea containers, including one consignment of pharmaceutical products and three consignments of cosmetics. No irregularities have been detected so far.
Food Safety
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department continues to collect samples from local fish culture zones and fish wholesale markets under the Fish Marketing Organisation for radiological testing on a daily basis. In the past 24 hours, the results of all collected samples were satisfactory.
The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has examined 130 food samples imported from Japan (including five samples by air and 125 samples by sea) in the past 24 hours. Samples included aquatic products, vegetables, fruits, drinks and others. All examined samples were satisfactory.
Assistance to Hong Kong residents
The Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department (ImmD) has not received any new request for assistance during the past 24 hours. Three lost-contact cases concerning a family have been resolved - the family member in Hong Kong noted that they are safe and has made no further request. There are still three persons believed to be in Japan who cannot be contacted. The ImmD will continue to closely monitor the situation and take whatever action as appropriate.
For more relevant statistics and information, please visit "Japan Earthquake - Information for Residents" at GovHK website, www.gov.hk.
Ends/Monday, March 28, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:31
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