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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government continues to closely monitor the Fukushima nuclear incident. Various departments are keeping track of radiation levels in Hong Kong's air and fresh water, and in food and imported products from Japan, round the clock. The latest monitoring results for the 24 hours until noon today (May 19) from the relevant departments are as follows:
Radiation level in Hong Kong
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the radiation level in Hong Kong remained normal in the past 24 hours.
No artificial radionuclide was detected from air samples collected at King's Park from noon on May 17 to noon on May 18.
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 showed no observable change in the radioactivity level of all samples. The radiological quality of fresh water remains normal and safe.
Sea and air cargo
Hong Kong Customs continues to select cargo imported from Japan for inspection, including pharmaceutical products, cosmetics and personal hygiene products. In the past 24 hours, Customs has checked 9,760 air consignments and 56 sea containers, including one consignment of pharmaceutical products and 11 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 Organization for radiological testing on a daily basis. In the past 24 hours, results of all collected samples were satisfactory.
The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has examined 200 food samples imported from Japan, including 16 samples that arrived by air and 184 samples that arrived by sea, in the past 24 hours. Samples included aquatic products, vegetables, fruits, drinks and others. All examined samples were satisfactory.
For more relevant statistics and information, please visit "Japan Earthquake - Information for Residents" at the GovHK website, www.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, May 19, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:01
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