Page 155 of 606
UI 606
XII
# PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
At the recent meeting of the Provisional Urban Council's Public Health Select Committee on 8 July, I asked the Urban Services Department for a direct reply and examples to prove that no uniformity of the policies of the two municipal councils did result in food incidents. None of the officers present, from the Director, Deputy Director to Assistant Director, none could give an example in reply. I therefore formally asked that the Public Health Select Committee put it down in record.
If we are to solve the problem and improve management of food safety and environmental health, enhance efficiency and protect the health of our citizens, we must provide a remedy suited to the problem in a practical and realistic attitude. If we cannot do so and just for the sake of removing the food safety and environmental health functions from the two municipal councils, we make up excuses and allegations, mislead public opinion, direct public sentiment to 'put the blame on the two municipal councils', we are stamping our feet on the councils to ban them as perpetual wrong-doers on food safety and environmental health matters. If this happens, the two councils will never be able to come clean. Can I ask the authorities if food safety and environmental health matters will be solved by removing such functions from the municipal councils? Will there be no more Ciguatoxin in fish? Will problems with the supervision on the use of sea water for fish culture be solved once and for all? Will bird flu be eliminated forever? Will problems with supervision on shellfish be solved? ... Frankly, if the removal of food safety and environmental health functions from the two municipal councils can solve the above so easily, what reason do we have to oppose the suggestion to remove these two functions from the councils? If this is the case, I will be the first one to welcome the suggestion.
Based on the above analysis, I would like to make five directional proposals on the Consultation Document on Review of District Organisations:
(1) Professionals should be respected and the spirit of science should be given emphasis so that we do not blindly let amateurs lead experts. The Department of Health should commission food safety supervision authorities and professionals from member countries of the World Health Organisation such as Australia and New Zealand to carry out a comprehensive study review on food safety and environmental health in Hong Kong. An appropriate reform policy should be devised so as to enhance food safety and health standards in Hong Kong. Problems with local eating houses and food industries in their production, import, export, wholesale, distribution and retail stages should be identified from the angles of supervisory structure, management system, crisis management, testing facilities, amendments of ordinances and by-laws, law enforcement and judicial matters. Practicable improvement measures, methods and enforcement steps can then be devised. Only by respecting professionalism and banking on the function of professionals can we prevent blind reforms and bring the food safety and
Page 155 of 606
£606
Page 156 of 606