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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
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quarantine system. This is the major difference between the motion moved by Mr. Li last time and the motion moved by Mr. WONG today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Christopher Chung SHU-KUN (in Cantonese):-First of all, I wish to thank Mr. Li Wah-ming and all the members of the Democratic Party for supporting this motion of the DAB's.
Apart from what Mr. Ir Kwok-chung just explained, today's motion differs from the one moved by Mr. LI Wah-ming of the Democratic Party because it also covers coral-reef fish and ciguatoxin. Since these two factors have limited the sources, species and sizes of fish, we consider the motion to be highly feasible and technically enforceable.
As to the situation mentioned by Mr. Li Wah-ming just now, it is probable that he is ignorant of the fishing industry and therefore he cannot tell the difference between the two. Anyway, it doesn't matter and I thank him for his support. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, after receiving Mr. WONG Kwok-hing's motion, I too studied carefully and pondered over it. I can see that this motion is consistent with our past stance and is actually copied from the motion I moved at the meeting of the Public Health Select Committee in February that the Government be requested to set up a live seafood quarantine and catch registration system. The motion then was moved by me and seconded by Mr. Wong Chung-ki. Since our stances are the same, we certainly support the motion.
As for the source of fish, I hope we will stop arguing about this. It is rather easy to find out the sources of certain species of seafood. Even though the sources are not the habitual homes of certain schools of fish, which might just happen to be passing by and caught, at least some information is available. We have been disturbed by the problem of coral-reef fish containing ciguatoxin for a long time. Not only the health of members of the public, but the business of food premises also is affected. The people of Hong Kong dare not eat any big fish now. It is probable that some of the big fish do not come from the waters affected, but being alarmed, members of the public stop eating all the big fish, resulting in unnecessary waste and dealing an undue blow to the industry. If we know that the fish in certain waters within a certain period likely contain ciguatoxin, a clear message will be sent out that if one stayed away from the catch in that certain waters, the chance of food poisoning would be lessened. The source registration system would in fact protect the industry and would also safeguard public health.
As for the quarantine system, at present the Government is still using the traditional testing method whereby the toxin is cultured in a mouse. This outdated method of testing takes three to five days or even a longer period. I
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