HKCTC & HKAS Seminar on Healthy Life and Food Testing & Certification

The Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification (HKCTC) and Hong Kong Accreditation Service co-organized a seminar entitled “Healthy Life and Food Testing & Certification” on 9 Mar 2015. Food safety and hygiene are critical to our health. Hong Kong testing and certification industry, with its expertise in QC, plays an important role in supporting the food trade in meeting various regulatory requirements as well as promoting consumers’ confidence over the supply of foods. This seminar provided a platform for government representatives, practitioners of the T&C industry and food trade to share the needs and experience of food testing and certification.

In the beginning, Mr. Gregory Leung (Convener, Panel on Promoting Testing and Certification Services in Food Trade, HKCTC) gave a welcoming remark. He said public concerned the contamination of food; it was not only on food safety but also on healthy life for food consumption.

All guest speakers took a group photo.

The first speaker was Dr. Allen Chan (Senior Medical Officer (Risk Assessment), Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department) and his topic entitled “Protect Child Health and Enhance Breastfeeding – Regulation for Formula Products and Foods for Infants and Young Children”. Dr. Chan briefed the background of the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 2014; and proposed Regulatory Framework for Nutrition and Health Claims in Formula Products and Prepackaged Foods for Infants and Young Children.

Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap 132W) included Nutrition Labelling (“NL”) Scheme but did not cover formula products and prepackaged food for infants and young children. The key features of the Amendment Regulation included Nutritional Composition requirement for infant formula (IF) and Nutrition Labelling requirement for infant formula (IF), follow-up formula (FF) and prepackaged food for infants and young children (IYC).

The following diagrams showed the Nutrition labelling requirement for IF and FF.
IF: 1+29 for Nutrition Label

FF: 1+25 for Nutrition Label

IYC food must label the energy value and contents of 4 nutrients namely protein, fat, carbohydrates and sodium (i.e. “1+4”), as well as vitamin A and vitamin D if they are added to the food.

Proposed Regulatory Framework Nutrition and Health Claims aimed to better protect the health of IYC under the age of 36 months; and to facilitate effective regulatory control over nutrition and health claims on formula products and IYC foods. There were 5 principles to be considered as follows.

The type of claim and approaches were summarized in the following table.

Finally, Dr Allen Chan discussed Nutrient Reference Values (NRV) used in nutrition labelling. They met the problem that local NRVs did not exist and Mainland China also did not have NRVs for children under the age of 36 months.

The second speaker was Mr. Jacky Lo Tim-lun (Senior Manager, Castco Testing Centre) and his presentation was “Food Nutrition Label Tests Help Consumers to Make Choice”. Mr. Lo briefed the Nutrition Label in the supermarket.

In Hong Kong, 1+7 Nutrition Label was required under Food and Drugs (Composition and Labeling) Regulations (Cap 132W) 2008. In US Nutrition Label was 1+13. The comparison table was showed as follows.

1+7 Nutrition Label included Energy + 7 core nutrients (Protein, Carbohydrates, Total Fat, Sat. Fatty Acids, Trans Fatty Acids, Na & Sugar). Summary of testing methods of 1+7 were discussed.

(For more info about 1+7 testing, please visit Jacky’s talk in Technical Seminar on Product Testing and Certification 2012.)

The third speaker was Mr. Richard Fung (General Manager – Greater China & Hong Kong, ALS) and their presentation topic named “Pesticide Residues Tests and Food Safety”. He briefed the new regulation (Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation, Cap 132CM) had been enforced on Aug 2014; and total of 360 Pesticides would be controlled.

According to FEHD, 46 volition had been reported below. The following Pesticide Residues were found:
- Carbofuran
- Cypermethrin
- Cyhalothrin
- Chlorpyrifos (short half life)
- Dimethoate (short half life)
- Methamidophos (short half life: 5 days)
- Methomyl

The Richard mentioned the sample preparation such as QuEChERS (Multi-pesticide residue extractions) and instrumentation included LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, etc.

Richard discussed the testing approach that a lot of argument in Europe on Screening. He recommended the Hong Kong practical approach that was Screening plus Specific & Target-oriented Pesticide.

Mr. Andrew Chang (Senior Manager (QMD), Federation of Hong Kong Industries) was the fourth speaker and his topic entitled “Product Certification for Sauce”. He said Hong Kong Q-Mark Council had established by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) since 1978.

Then he briefed the objective of Q-Mark Council was to promote management system and product certification so as to enhance the trusted voice for consumer protection. They had four schemes showed as following table. The distribution of Q-Mark Certified Product included 45% of Food and Beverages; 13% of Kitchen and Household Products; 9% of Textile, Garment and Accessories; 9% of Spectacle Frames; 5% of Construction Materials and 4% of Watches, as well as, 15% of Others.

Mr. Andrew Chang introduced their new schemes for ISO 17065 accreditation. They focused on “Ready to eat food”. For this accreditation, Q-Mark Council had Safeguard Committee and Technical Committee. The organization chart was shared below. Until now, Q-Mark Council had Sauce scheme accredited by HKAS and then they would extend the scheme to Bakery and Preserved Meat.

Mr. Bryan Peng (Assistant Director, Manufacturing and Services, HKQAA) was the fifth speaker and his presentation was “Hong Kong Cooking Oil Registration Scheme”. In the beginning, Bryan briefed the gutter oil scandal in Hong Kong last year.

Details of scheme had recorded in the HKQAA Seminar on New Standard of Food Safety held on 26 Nov 2014. The Hong Kong Cooking Oil Registration Scheme Launching Ceremony cum Pilot Programme Presentation Ceremony held on 15 Dec 2014.

The last speaker was Prof. Jonathan Wong (Director, Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre Certification, Hong Kong Baptist University) and his topic named “Development of Organic Food Products Certification in Hong Kong”. Prof. Wong’s talk content included “Introduction to Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre Certification Limited”, “Organic Standard, Scope of Certification & Certification procedure” and “HKORC’s role in building trust on organic”.

Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre Certification Limited (HKORC-Cert) was established in Mar 2003. Its structure for integrity was showed as follows. HKORC-Cert is the first organization to be accredited by IFOAM under ISO65 in Hong Kong.

HKORC-Cert had three voluntary certifications such as Crop Production, Aquaculture and Processing Food. Prof. Wong said there were 244 organic farms in Hong Kong where 140 were certified. They built trust through control system of HKORC-Cert and all organic inspectors were registered by (Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA)).

Prof. Wong said there were too many foreign organic labels in the market which was very confusing. But, HKORC recognition from public was the highest coverage in Hong Kong. In order to develop unilateral product acceptance service, they would raise the no. of organic import with HKORC-Cert seal and to increase HOKLAS-Cert seal exposure and consumers’ confidence.

Q&A Session

I met several friends and took a photo for memory.
Mr. Leo Yuen (Founding Chairman, HKFSTA) and I

(Left: I, Mr. Richard Fung (ALS), Ms. Joyce Chan (VTC), Ms. Crystal Liang (CityU) and Ms. Christine Fan (VTC))

Reference:
HKCTC - http://www.hkctc.gov.hk/en/home.html
HKCTC Seminar presentation file - http://www.hkctc.gov.hk/en/work_seminars.html#b44
HKAS - http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/quality/hkas/about.htm

CityU Eminence Society – The 3rd Exco Inauguration Ceremony & Annual Dinner 2015

CityU Eminence Society (CES) has established on 31 Dec 2010. Our mission is “To unite senior alumni to proactively contribute their resources, expertise and networks to help advance the University and serve the community”. The 3rd Exco Inauguration Ceremony and Annual Dinner was held on 6 March 2015.
I appreciated to Dr. Peter Ho who donated a table for EngD cohorts. I invited Mr. Simon Tong (cohort in AP Dept.) to join the dinner.

Before the dinner, we took some photos with classmates and professors for memory.
(Left: I, Simon Tong, Dr. Peter W. Tse and Dr. George CY So (Chairman, Unity of HKSME Limited)

(Left: I, Dr. Rocky Lam (EngD cohort 2006), Mr. Keith KO Wu (GM, Tsit Wing International Holdings Ltd.), Simon and Dr. Szeto Wing Hong (EngD cohort 2007))

Then we met President Prof. Kuo Way and took a photo for memory.
(Left: Mr. Keith KO Wu, Dr. Rocky Lam, Prof. Kuo Way, Dr. Peter Ho, I, Simon and Dr. Szeto Wing Hong)

After that we found Dr. Raymond Leung, Dr. Luk Chi-fai and Mr. Simon Hui, as well as Professors. We took a photo for memory. (Right first row: Dr. Luk Chi-fai and Dr. Raymond Leung)

Sir Wu Ying-sheung Gordon, KCMG, FICE (Former Council Chairman, CityU & Chairman, Hopewell Holdings Ltd.) gave a welcome speech.

Then Prof. Kuo Way gave a speech and told some stories for guess games.

The new chairman of CES Ms. Chan Pik-ha Jenny (Sales Director, KGI Asia Ltd.) gave Inauguration speech with all members of the 3rd executive committee.

Mr. Simon Hui (Immediate Past Chairman, CES) reviewed the CES achievement and he had confident the new exco would achieve more under Ms. Jenny Chan leadership.

All committees, Professors and guests toast for celebrating the 3rd exco Inauguration to all CES members.

Dr. Rocky Lam got the lucky draw!

There had dancing performance.

Ms. Wu Mang-ching Agnes sang a song.

Final group photos with guests

I took a photo with my good friend Dr. Luk Chi-fai (Director, JC Metal Finishing) for memory.

Reference:
CityU Eminence Society - www.cityues.org
CityU Eminence Society Launching Ceremony (城賢匯成立典禮) - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2010/12/cityu-eminence-society-launching.html
CityU Eminence Society support ANQ Congress 2012 - http://www.anq2012.org/supporters_cityu.html
CityU Eminence Society AGM and Annual Dinner 2012 - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2012/03/cityu-eminence-society-agm-and-annual.html

SCL Talk on Photometric and Radiometric Measurement

The Standards and Calibration Laboratory (SCL) organized a talk on photometric and radiometric measurement on 6 March 2015. The speaker was Dr. Teresa Goodman of UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL). In the beginning, Ms. Brenda Lam (SCL) introduced the background of the speaker. Dr. Teresa Goodman is a Principal Research Scientist in the Optical Radiation Measurement Group at the NPL. She has more than 30 years of experience in R&D associated with the realization, maintenance and dissemination of optical radiation measurement scales for sources, detectors and materials. Dr. Goodman currently serves as International Commission on Illumination (CIE) Vice President Publications.

Dr. Teresa Goodman introduced her talk contents included Applications, Measurement principles, quantities, units and methods, Reference standards and traceability, Sources of error and uncertainty and brief the history of NPL.

Optical Radiation and “Light” principles were briefed. The following wavelength ranges were mentioned: UV-C (100nm – 280nm); UV-B (280nm – 315nm); UV-A (315nm – 400nm); Visible (~400nm – ~780nm); IR-A (780nm – 1400nm); IR-B (1.4um – 3um); IR-C (3um – 1mm). There were three measurement parameters included Artefact being measured, Spectral resolution and Measurement geometry.
Spectral = distribution of radiation as a function of wavelength
Broad band = weighting or radiation by a function such as eye response function or erythemal action spectrum

Then she introduced the measurements in terms of colour appearance “Colorimetry” (CIE 1931 Standard Observer function) and other weighting functions included Photobiological hazards, where actinic UV hazard for skin and eye; Near-UV hazard for eye, Retinal blue light hazard, Retinal thermal hazard, Infrared radiation hazard for eye and Thermal hazard for skin.

Dr. Goodman mentioned the measurement geometry which is determined by the optical system used on the input side of the measurement instrument. “Geometry is important for materials” she said because of interaction involved Refraction and Scattering which changed travel direction of radiation. During this measurement, we needed Standard Geometries.

After that she stated the measurement sources and detectors and equipment such as Goniophotometer and Integrating Sphere. The following setup was the basic measurement of intensity and illuminance.

The summary of different measurements’ Pros and Cons was shown in the following table.

Dr. Goodman also introduced the calibration and reference standard requirement to us. Reference lamp needed to have reproducible output under controlled operating conditions, easy to align in correct orientation and good wavelength coverage. We needed to consider the spectral differences and stray light.

Finally, she introduced NPL history to us. NPL has founded since 1900 with more than 450 specialists in Measurement Science. The photo showed NPL opening in 1902 and speech at that time was “The object of the scheme, I understand, is to bring scientific knowledge to bear practically upon our everyday industrial and commercial life, to break down the barriers between theory and practice, to effect a union between science and commerce.”

Mr. Dennis WK Lee (Head of SCL) moderated the Q&A Session.

I took a photo with Mr. S.T. Yip (Safety Officer, University Safety Office, CUHK).

After the seminar, Mr. Dennis Lee led me to visit their new accredited Photometric and Radiometric Measurement facilities. Photo showed different types of standard lamps.

The in-house design for swapping UUT and Ref during measurement was briefed. It enhanced the efficiency of measurement.

At the end, I took a photo with Dennis in front of the integrated sphere.

Reference:
SCL - http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/quality/scl/about.htm

答客問創科

創新及科技局最終不能在二月十四日通過立法會財委會撥款申請，令科技界失望。看完整個辯論，大多是對人不對事的無謂爭論，但有些問題官員還是需要用精簡言詞去解釋。其中有官員提到Rainforest，應該是指一本書名為「The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley」。我相信沒有多少個議員看過。歸納眾議員對創新及科技局（簡稱：創科局）的問題包括：定義、權責範圍、願景、使命、策略、詳細計劃、關鍵績效指標（KPI）及政策回顧等等。我嘗試提出一些看法及建議加強公眾認知創科局對科技界未來的貢獻。

愛因斯坦曾經說過：「如果你不能簡單地說明某一事物，代表你對這事物沒有足夠了解。」（原文：If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.）　首先是定義的問題，「創新」是指在思想、物質、程序及服務上，質或量的改變。以一句話簡單說明：「創新」是創造出更好的事物（即：Making Better Things）。「科技」是指應用科學或技術知識來解決實際問題（即：Solving Problem by Technical Knowledge）。「創新」可以包含「科技」和「非科技」。「創新及科技」是指通過科技知識解決實際問題而達致創造出更好的事物（Making Better Things through Technical Knowledge based Problem Solving）。這裡是用「及」，在邏輯上創科局應該是專注於「創新」與「科技」同在一起的政策制定。（１）

第二點是權責範圍，在EC(2014-15)7 附件9中有較詳細描述，如政策制定、官產學研的聯繫、私營機構參與、研發成果商品化、協調跨政策局的政策制定工作、培育創新及科技人才等等。在附件1中，創科局包括現有的創新科技署和政府資訊科技總監辦公室，以及增加創新及科技科來組成。議員常問為什麼不把將電訊和廣播政策範疇移轉予創科局，政府在CB(4)790/13-14號文件(檔號：B4/SS/6/13)的第11段回答不排除可能因應新的發展形勢重新調整日後的創科局的職能。有些議員認為範圍太少，我想在這裡補充，創新及科技政策不單是指資訊科技，其實它包含了其他科學如理物、生物化學、環保、電子電腦、醫療、工程、商業商品化、創業等等。其實範圍比想像中更廣，要協調的政策局及部門會更多。

第三點是願景使命，在EC(2014-15)7中第5段提到新的創新及科技局會在深度及廣度上加強有關創新及科技發展( 由研發以至應用及商品化)方面的政策和支援， 藉此優化整個生態系統。我理解創科局的願景是將香港成為創新及科技的樞紐，其使命是加速發展香港的創新及科技生態系統（Innovation and Technology Ecosystem）。這裡的生態系統，應該是「The Rainforest」一書中提及的其要素包括：創新及科技策略、私人機構的參與、企業和創業者的支持、負責科技人力開發、大學和產業聯繫、資本鏈、知識產權框架、積極開發創新領導力、支持性基礎設施及青年人的主動參與。

第四點是策略、詳細計劃、關鍵績效指標（KPI），在EC(2014-15)7中第8段提到讓政府、業界、學術界及研究界(即「官、產、學、研」)能在具備優質軟硬件支援的有利環境下互動合作，以發展及應用科技。這可視為策略。但現階段就沒有詳細計劃及關鍵績效指標（KPI），因為定詳細計劃首先需要定支持科技的方向。如我在前年八月二十九日參與香港電子科技商會（HKEIA）的一個名為「創新及科技2014年研討會」中，科技園的副總裁介紹五種科技大趨勢包括“超級雲計算”，“新材料”，“機器人復興”，“生物操縱”和“大腦解密”。究竟那一種科技大趨勢最適合香港呢？要回答這個問題，就需要有全面的政策回顧。我認為詳細計劃及關鍵績效指標（KPI）應該由新局管理層定出，不應由外行人定。

第五點是政策回顧，官員只用創新及科技基金的全面檢討最後報告（立法會CB(1)211/14-15(03)號文件）來回答，實有不足之處。但報告中的建議正正是回應業界所需如放寬大學與產業合作計劃項目的時限及加大專利申請資助的上限等。

要回答第三及四點，可參考羅祥國博士的「香港經濟轉型及新產業政策」。羅博士在總結中提到政府在考慮推動和資助新產業以達至經濟轉型目的時，應訂立明確可量化的政策目標，如下：
一、對經濟整體及增長的貢獻；
二、對經濟就業的貢獻；
三、對優化就業結構和減少結構性失業的貢獻；
四、對政府稅收的貢獻；和
五、對政府提供資助的直接和總體回報率。
羅博士還說在制定以上政策目標後，一定要作出定期性的檢討，對於那些不成功和效果不佳的新產業政策，可作出修訂改善，也可取消和停止資助。（２）

有些實質數據可參考香港統計月刊2014年4月中香港經濟的四個主要行業及其他選定行業，其中創新科技產業的增加價值由2009年的HK$10,733M至2012年的HK$13,422M。按年變動百分率分別為2010年增加9.6%，2011年增加5.1%和2012年增加8.5%。它的就業人數由2009年的27470人至2012年的30240人。按年變動百分率分別為2010年增加4.9%，2011年增加1.5%和2012年增加3.3%。這可作為基數由創科局定立可量化的政策目標。

而區玉輝、寶克、蔡美玲及譚安厚合著的「香港創新企業－發展政策與方向」提出創新及科技發展應採用的具體準則是確立香港具備優勢的重點科技範疇作重點發展，它需要配合市場，著重業界參與，借助內地優勢，加強各科技機構及業界協調等。最後他們提出五項建議如下：
一、改善制定政策的能力；（如促進業群在創新方面的發展作深入的分析）
二、協調及擴展各項跨越內地和香港的高增長創業政策；
三、增加跨越內地和香港的研發工作和合作；
四、繼續提升教育創意、完善課程改革及訂立相關基準；和
五、在招攬人才方面抱持積極取態。（３）

所以成立專責的決策局可以提供專注的高層次領導及協調。這裡所說的「高層次」涉及跨地域、跨行業及跨政策局的運作。徐岩、俞真合著的「香港創新」中，建議的香港創新科技基建框架正正提出以創科局來制定政策來協調三大支援包括設施、顧問及財務。（１）

希望政府再提出成立創科局時，可考慮以上建議。再給市民及眾議員解說，不要讓香港蹉跎歲月。最後本人對創科局未來政策有兩個建議，如下：

建議一、成立國家實驗室大樓(State Key Laboratory Building)：集合全港各大學的國家實驗室在科學園裹一起研究，才能產生重大影響力。這是創新科技的上游。

建議二、成立跨大學的知識及技術轉移中心：集合全港各大學的知識及技術轉移中心一起為大學研發成果商品化。這是創新科技的下游。而且不能依靠大學教授作商品化的領導，一定要有業界及商界的參與，才可成功。

文章粗糙，只希望拋磚引玉，令各科技界朋友熱烈探討未來創新及科技的政策，好為創科局鋪路。

QA

Reference:
（１）　徐岩、俞真合著稱（２００９）「香港創新」（Innovated by Hong Kong），香港科技大學商學院出版。
（２）　羅祥國博士（２００８）「香港經濟轉型及新產業政策」，新力量網絡出版。
（３）　區玉輝、寶克、蔡美玲及譚安厚合著（２００６）「香港創新企業－發展政策與方向」，香港中文大學創業研究中心出版。
Hwang, Victor and Greg Horowitt (2012). The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley. Los Altos Hills
2014 年11 月18 日 - 立法會工商事務委員會創 新及科技基金的全面檢討最後報告 - 立法會CB(1)211/14-15(03)號文件
2014 年7 月11 日 - 財務委員會討論文件 - FCR(2014-15)37
2014年6月20日 - 內務委員會會議文件 - 研究有關成立新的創新及科技局的法例修訂建議小 組委員會報告 - 立法會 CB(4)790/13-14號文件(檔號：CB4/SS/6/13)
2014 年5 月28 日 - 財務委員會人事編制小組委員會討論文件 - EC(2014-15)7
2014年4月 - 香港統計月刊 - 香港經濟的四個主要行業及其他選定行業

(在立場新聞登出: https://www.thestandnews.com/technology/答客問創科/ )
(在評台登出 - QA:答客問創科)

Focus Group Meeting for alignment of HKQF & EQF

I was honor to represent Hong Kong Society for Quality (HKSQ) to attend Focus Group Meeting on Technical Alignment of Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) and European Qualifications Framework (EQF) on 2 Mar 2015.

The Secretary for Education announced, at an international conference organized by the Education Bureau and supported by the European Commission on 26 November 2014, the commencement of the technical alignment project of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) and the European Qualifications framework (EQF) (the Project). The objective of the Project is to provide a translation device to understand the corresponding levels of qualifications between HKQF and EQF, thereby promoting better understanding of the qualifications offered under HKQF and by European countries and facilitating mobility of learners and labour between Hong Kong and European countries, even though the Project does not lead to automatic mutual recognition of qualifications between Hong Kong and European countries.

The Hong Kong Shue Yan University had been appointed as the consultant for the Project (Project Consultant), and would be responsible for conducting the technical alignment in accordance with the criteria as agreed with the European Commission.

During discussion, we knew that was not mutual recognition agreement but comparison on different national or regional frameworks to EQF. We could say it was equivalent or in principle same between two framework systems. The general comparison between HKQF and EQF showed in the following table.

HKSQ will support the exercise and design our own program for HKQF in near future. We hope it could bring local professional body’s course through HKQF to align with international Qualifications Framework.

Reference:
HKSQ – www.hksq.org
HKQF – http://hkqf.gov.hk/guie/home.asp
EQF – http://www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk/european-qualifications-framework-eqf.html
20130320 - QF Conference on "Global Mobility - Making it Happen" - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2013/03/qf-conference-on-global-mobility-making.html