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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHEONG-LEEN :- A little while back my colleague Mr. Brook Bernacchi said the Reform Club had to lean somewhat backward to support a motion which was put forward by a Civic Association elected member. The Civic Association elected members in the Urban Council, Mr. Chairman, have always subscribed to the view that Urban Council business and the interests of the public should stand apart from party politics and therefore on this occasion I don't think we find it particularly difficult to lean forward a little and support Dr. Bell's motion.
I understand that all shops licensed to retail frozen and chilled confections are actually being visited about once a fortnight. However, in view of the fact that frozen and chilled confections are dangerous conveyors of typhoid and cholera and other infectious diseases of the intestinal group, it would seem advisable for the approximately 1,000 licensed retailers to be visited even oftener than fortnightly, particularly at this time of the year.
Dr. Bell also suggests that there should be more frequent samplings of confections so as to ensure that they are free from bacteriological contamination. I think her suggestion has merit, especially since soft ice-cream, which is becoming increasingly popular in Hong Kong, does require more careful control from a health point of view. Here the question of available staff arises, but I imagine that the services of one or two of the three qualified food inspectors who have just returned to Hong Kong, together with a few of the 1957 crop of probationary health inspectors, might be provided for the purpose.
Dr. Bell has furthermore wisely asked that the substance of her motion be referred to the appropriate Select Committee (which I presume is the Disease Prevention (Food and Drinks) Select Committee). I gather that this Select Committee is now in the process of examining the requirements and conditions for the issuance of licences to retailers of frozen and chilled confections. I wonder how many members of the public know that all of the 300-odd hawkers of ice-cream and other iced confections in the Colony are medically examined annually, which examination includes vaccination against smallpox and injections against cholera and typhoid. I am sure that the Select Committee will carefully study whether or not the staff of licensed shops who handle iced confections should be required, providing it is practicable, to be medically examined as well.
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It is my understanding too that a survey of ice-cream manufacturing is at present being carried out. No doubt this Survey will assist the Council to soon establish a suitable chemical standard for ice-cream, so as to ensure that the public will at least be eating nutritious ice-cream and not—since we have no standard laid down—what in other circumstances might be termed adulterated ice-cream.
DR. TENG :- Mr. Chairman, one cannot but agree with Dr. Bell that it is a sound public health principle that all premises handling foodstuffs, especially chilled and frozen confections, should be very regularly visited and samples taken of these foodstuffs. Although there has been no bacteriological indication that there has been lack of control on the part of the Urban Services Department, we really ourselves would like to do more in this connexion, but our activities have been hampered somewhat by two considerations. One is the lack of facilities in the Bacteriological Institute for increased work and the other is shortage of staff.
In my reply on a similar subject at the Annual Debate I pointed out that consideration will be given and more facilities will be provided when the new Sai Ying Pun Out-Patients building is completed; and in regard to staff, it is in the minds of the officers of the Urban Services Department to give urgent consideration to increase the present staff in order to adequately deal with food problems and also to visit licensed premises. As Mr. Cheong-Leen said, our inspectorate visit these premises once every two weeks. And all food handlers are under obligation by law to be vaccinated against typhoid and paratyphoid A and B. That is a condition of licensing. With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I have pleasure in stating that the official view is to support the motion.
MR. BERNACCHI :-- I have just two short comments to make in view of what has been said. One is that I would throw out for consideration by the Select Committee, if this motion is adopted, that we might invite the University to assist. Dr. Teng has mentioned the lack of facilities in the Bacteriological Institute and that might well be supplemented by the University if they care to co-operate with us in this matter. And the other is that, although premises may be visited already as a matter of course, I think I am right in saying that no staff is at present available to take regular samples for the purposes of a bacteriological check.
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