HEALTH
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Food samples are taken regularly for chemical analyses, bacteriological examinations and toxicity tests to ascertain their wholesomeness for human consumption. Field tests for pesticide residues are also performed on imported vegetables at the points of entry into Hong Kong. Following the Chernobyl reactor accident in 1986, imported food commodities, especially those from Europe, have continued to be closely monitored for possible radioactive contamination.
The growing number of food establishments and the quantities and variety of food items available on the local market have increased the importance of law enforcement. Parallel to this is the increasing demand for services for health certification of foods for export and re-export to foreign countries.
The review of food legislation has been an on-going exercise with a view to ensuring that laws made are consistent with international standards, guidelines and recommendations based on scientific evidence. This is important in order to provide a high standard of public health protection and, at the same time, facilitate international trade in foods.
On the international scene, Hong Kong maintains close ties with the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and other international authoritative bodies on foods. As the bulk of the local food supply comes from the mainland, Hong Kong has been working hand in hand with the Chinese authorities to promote food safety and food hygiene.
- -Markets
- The Urban Council operates 60 retail markets in the urban areas. A total of 9 294 stalls are provided in these markets offering a choice of commodities ranging from fresh food to household items.
Old and outdated markets have been gradually replaced by multi-purpose complexes with new markets and cooked food centres accommodated on the lower floors. On the upper floors, these complexes provide a variety of amenities for indoor sports activities, cultural and recreational pursuits. There are 13 such multi-purpose complexes in the Urban Council areas.
New markets with cooked food centres are built to meet consumer demand in the areas where they are situated and not just to meet hawker resiting commitments. This approach, together with improvements in design, has been adopted in planning and building in order to provide more viable markets with better environments for stall-holders and customers.
The commissioning of the Kimberly Street Market in the Yau Tsim District in February 1991 will mark the beginning of a new era of modern, high-class market provision that reflects the prosperity of Hong Kong. The market is in a modern hotel building with air-conditioning and relatively large market stalls, offering a wide range of commodities to the public in a hygienic and comfortable shopping environment.
The Regional Council is responsible for the management of public markets within its region. Two new markets, located at Yeung Uk Road and at Tsuen King Wai in Tsuen Wan, were completed and commissioned in May 1990. Two other market projects, at Plover Cove Road, Tai Po, and Hop Yick Road, Yuen Long, were completed and commissioned at the end of 1990. The council now manages a total of 44 markets, ac- commodating 5 067 stalls and 362 cooked food stalls. Another new market project with 240 stalls and 16 cooked food stalls is under construction at Cheung Chau and is expected to be completed in mid-1991.
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