LON
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1986
THOUGH REGULAR SAMPLES WERE TAKEN FOR BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS, HE SAID HE CONSIDERED IT MOST UNDESIRABLE THAT THERE WAS NO PROVISION UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AND TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO SELL THE PRODUCT IN QUESTION SHOULD SAMPLES BE FOUND TO BE UNHYGIENIC OR UNSAFE.
MR CHEUNG NOTED THAT THE PROPOSAL UNDER THE BILL TO AMEND BOTH THE DEFINITIONS OF +FOOD+ AND +DRINK+ IN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE WATER PLACED IN A SEALED CONTAINER FOR SALE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION WOULD BRING THE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF +MINERAL WATER+ UNDER THE EXISTING FOOD LAWS REGARDING CONTROL OVER SALE, CONTENT AND LABELLING.
+ADDITIONALLY, MANUFACTURERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN
A FACTORY LICENCE FOR THE OPERATION, HE SAID.
MR CHEUNG SAID HE BELIEVED THESE MEASURES WERE BOTH TIMELY AND NECESSARY AS PUBLIC HEALTH WOULD BE SAFEGUARDED.
HE ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION COST TO THE MANUFACTURERS WOULD VARY DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEIR EXISTING PROCESSES MET PROPOSED STANDARDS.
+HOWEVER, THE EFFECT ON THE PRICES OF SUCH BOTTLED MINERAL WATER' IS ON THE WHOLE EXPECTED TO BE MARGINAL.
+ IT IS WELL WORTH PAYING A SMALL PREMIUM IN RETURN OF A GREATER HEALTH PROTECTION THEREBY MADE AVAILABLE, MR CHEUNG SAID.
THE HON SELINA CHOW, IN SUPPORTING THE BILL, SAID SHE LOOKED FORWARD TO MORE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COULD WORK CLOSELY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CONSUMERS.
SHE SAID CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC ATTENTION HAD BEEN FOCUSSED ON +MINERAL WATER+ WHICH HAD HITHERTO ESCAPED MUCH NOTICE SUBSEQUENT TO THE PUBLICATION OF A TEST REPORT ON IT BY THE CONSUMER COUNCIL IN ITS MONTHLY PUBLICATION.
MRS CHOW NOTED THAT THE QUESTIONS POSED BY THE CONSUMER COUNCIL ON WHETHER GOVERNMENT HAD ANY REGULATIONS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MINERAL WATER OR ANY CONTROL ON THE QUALITY OF IMPORTED MINERAL WATER AND NATURAL SPRING WATER. TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC REACTION TO THE REPORT, HAD PROVED INSPIRING TO GOVERNMENT AND LED TO THE AMENDMENT BILL.
ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN SAID ITS PASSAGE WAS DESIRABLE AND WOULD ENABLE THE URBAN COUNCIL TO PREPARE A LICENSING POLICY SO THAT LOCAL PRODUCERS COULD BE PROPERLY LICENSED AS FOOD FACTORIES.
/+THE PUBLIC