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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Mr. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT, Chairman OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT Committee, replied as follow (in Cantonese):-The question which is made up of six parts concerns the actions taken by the Department in controlling uninspected meat derived from illegal sources.
The first question asks how many unstamped pig carcasses were recently seized in Sau Mau Ping, Kwun Tong. At 5.00 a.m. on 27 June 1995, departmental staff seized two unstamped pig carcasses (4 sides) weighing about 200 kg from a lorry at the open space around Block 28 to 31 of Sau Mau Ping Estate. The lorry driver was arrested and charged under Food Business (Urban Council) By-law 30 for the possession of an item of prohibited food. He was convicted on 29 June 1995 and fined $3,000 with the carcasses confiscated.
The second question asks whether the source of those carcasses has been identified. Despite the investigation into the incident and the questioning of the driver, the source of the unstamped carcasses could not be ascertained.
The third question asks how many seizures of unstamped meat occurred in the past year, and the total number of carcasses seized. In the past 12 months ending June 1995, there were five seizures of unstamped pig carcasses in the urban area. In total, 17 pig carcasses were seized and confiscated.
The fourth question asks if there were similar seizures in Sau Mau Ping previously. The incident on 27 June 1995 was the first instance in which unstamped carcasses were seized from a lorry in the course of its delivery in Sau Mau Ping area. However, according to departmental records, there was another incident in January 1992 in which three unstamped carcasses were seized in this area from three unlicensed hawkers who were later convicted and each fined $1,000 with the confiscation of the meat.
The fifth question asks how the Department will handle a case of seizure of the unstamped pig carcasses. In a typical case, departmental officers will, apart from arresting the persons involved in the supply or sale of meat derived from illegal sources, seize all the dubious carcasses which will be kept in a cold store at Cheung Sha Wan or Kennedy Town Abattoir to be used as Court exhibits if required. If inspection marks found on any carcass are doubtful, verifications with abattoirs or approved slaughterhouses will be made and laboratory tests of the marking dye will also be conducted. If the source of supply can be ascertained, follow-up action to stop such supply will be taken, or the information may be passed to the Director of Health or the Director of Regional Services for appropriate action. When the Court orders the confiscation, the carcasses will be sent to the Department's by-product plant for disposal.
The sixth question asks whether the existing legislation have sufficient deterrent effect and whether the need for heavier penalties has been considered. The Department has recognized that the deterrent effect under the existing legislation is inadequate. Hence, there are already plans to raise the penalties under the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws from the existing fine of
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