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for this category of imported food, particularly because it was reported by the media that, pending the resumption of live chicken supply, traders are considering importing frozen poultry to satisfy our need for chickens at the Lunar New year. However, if we do not have an inspection system in place, another problem may arise and this is what we are concerned about. I therefore hope that senior officials of the department concerned will think thrice and draw lessons from the bird flu crisis and the numerous incidents on food safety in the past year. We should no longer be conservative and complacent. An overall review on the territory's surveillance testing system for imported frozen meat should be conducted with a view to setting up, at an early instance, a comprehensive surveillance testing system for imported frozen meat and poultry, which is on a par with the quarantine system for imported poultry and food animals.
Finally, I would like to add a few words. At the beginning of today's debate, the Vice-Chairman mentioned the bird flu outbreak and criticized senior Government officials for ‘making use of the incident to denounce the Council'. I think his views are very correct. In the whole course of events, both the Urban Council and the Regional Council have shown great concern and have followed up closely on its development. I, as Vice-Chairman of the Public Health Select Committee, am also its member. Therefore, besides keeping close watch on developments, I have time and again raised questions. In fact, we are rather illy informed and have not been advised of the actions to be taken by the departments concerned beforehand. If something occurs, we can only learn of it from the media. However, we have never set aside or given up our responsibilities. On the contrary, we have made good use of various meetings to raise questions and put forward proposals. Therefore, it is absolutely unfair to pass the buck to the two Municipal Councils. The accusation throws dust in people's eyes and is meant to deceive and mislead the public. The public are, in fact, smart enough to distinguish the truth. Hence, I very much agree to Mr. IP, the Vice-Chairman's penetrating comment made at the beginning of today's debate. With these remarks, I support the motion. Thank you.
MR. JOSEPH Lai Chi-keong (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in retrospect, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) has been established for more than half a year. Over the past six months, representatives of the public were expelled from the Chamber of the Legislative Council, which was replaced by the Provisional Legislative Council. The original fully elected Urban Council and District Boards became the Provisional Urban Council and Provisional District Boards. On top of elected members, the SAR Government appointed to the Urban Council Members who were not returned by elections. Hence, the characteristics of the Urban Council as a fully elected body and its representativeness have been reduced. This is regrettable and it gives people a bad impression that the SAR Government is retrogressive in terms of democracy. In the coming year, the SAR Government will review the structure and functions of the two-tier councils, i.e. the Municipal Councils
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