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"To ensure the wholesomeness of the meat, all slaughtered animals are inspected by qualified health inspectors of the municipal services departments," he stressed.
The Government notes the European Commission statement that "the evidence suggests that even should there be a link to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), the risk to human health has been eliminated or at worst reduced to a minimal level following the ban in 1989 on putting specified bovine offal (SBO) into the food chain" and that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that, following the very stringent precautions already taken in the UK, the risk of human beings becoming contaminated by this disease is absolutely remote.
The Director of Health, Dr Margaret Chan. has already made it clear that it is not necessary, on the evidence currently available, to prohibit the import of British beef on health grounds.
The decision made today has been taken in order to restore confidence in the beef market in Hong Kong.
However, the Government notes that WHO will be holding a further meeting on April 2 to consider again the whole question of BSE. The Government will take particular note of the outcome of that meeting.
End
Month-long quality promotion drive for local industries
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The Industry Department is organising a Quality Month in April to promote greater consciousness and application of quality concepts and tools in Hong Kong.
"Following the two very successful Quality Weeks organised in 1994 and 1995, this year's event has been expanded to a 'Quality Month 96', to give due recognition to the growing interest of Hong Kong companies in 'Quality' matters," the Director- General of Industry, Mrs Regina Ip, said today (Thursday).
The theme for this year's Quality Month programme is "Quality Excellence and Profitability".
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