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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 30), the latest monitoring results for the past 24 hours from the relevant departments are as follows:
Radiation level in Hong Kong
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According to Hong Kong Observatory, in the past 24 hours, the radiation level in Hong Kong remained normal. Very minute amount of artificial radionuclide Iodine-131 was detected from air samples collected at King's Park from noon, March 28, to noon, March 29, 2011. This will not affect public health and no precautionary measures are required.
Water safety
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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
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The Hong Kong Customs continues 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 16,189 air consignments and 63 sea containers, including two consignments of pharmaceutical products and 12 consignments of cosmetics. No irregularities have been detected so far.
Food Safety
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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 54 food samples imported from Japan (including 53 samples by air and one sample by sea) in the past 24 hours. Samples examined including aquatic products, vegetables, fruits, drinks, milk powder, meat and others. All examined samples were satisfactory.
Assistance to Hong Kong residents
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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. Regarding the three lost contact cases, one of the assistance seekers is requested to take no further action at the moment due to incorrect information. The ImmD will continue to closely monitor the remaining two cases 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/Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Issued at HKT 21:05
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