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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
GREATER CONTROL OF NT PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES *****
NEW REGULATIONS ARE TO BE INTRODUCED TO STRENGTHEN CONTROL OF PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND IMPROVE THE HYGIENE STANDARDS OF VEHICLES USED TO TRANSPORT MEAT FROM THE ABATTOIRS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES (NEW TERRITORIES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1983 UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE WHICH WERE PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
THESE WILL COME INTO FORCE ON MAY 1, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE NEW REGULATIONS ENABLE THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO EXERCISE GREATER CONTROL OVER PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES OPERATING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC HEALTH.
UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATION, THE LICENSEES OF PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN KEEPING THEIR PREMISES IN A SANITARY CONDITION.
THE LICENSEES ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A SECURITY CONTROL SYSTEM TO STRICTLY PROHIBIT UNAUTHORISED ENTRY OF PERSONS INTO THE IR SLAUGHTERHOUSES.
IN THIS CONNECTION, THE NEW REGULATION ALSO PROVIDES THAT ONLY AUTHORISED VEHICLES ARE PERMITTED TO REMOVE MEAT AND OFFAL FROM LICENSED SLAUGHTERHOUSES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO APPROVED AN INCREASE OF LICENCE FEE FOR PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE ANNUAL LICENCE FEE FOR OPERATING EACH PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSE WILL BE INCREASED FROM $500 TO $2 500 WHILE THE LICENCE FEE FOR ERECTING A SLAUGHTERHOUSE INCREASES FROM $10 TO $1 200.
THE EXISTING FEES HAD NOT BEEN REVISED SINCE 1971, THE SPOKESMAN SAID,
A RANGE OF NEW OFFENCES IS CONTAINED IN THE REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES ARE RAISED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. THE MAXIMUM BEING A FINE OF $10 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.
ADDITIONAL PENALTY IS ALSO IMPOSED ON CONTINUING OFFENCE AT A MAXIMUM DAILY FINE OF $250.
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