XN000022-1985-07-12 — Page 24

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FRIDAY, JULY 12, 19:

STRINGENT MEASURES FOR +TOLERATED+ SLAUGHTERHOUSES

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THE OPERATION OF UNLICENSED SLAUGHTERHOUSES IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE NON-URBAN AREAS IS BEING TOLERATED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF CONVENIENT ALTERNATIVE FACILITIES, THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE REGIONAL SERVICES (HEADQUARTERS), MR PETER CHEUNG, TOLD THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL TODAY.

EXPLAINING THE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY ON THE LICENSING OF SLAUGHTERHOUSES, HE SAID THESE ESTABLISHMENTS WERE REGULARLY CHECKED BY HEALTH INSPECTOR TO ENSURE THAT THEY MET THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS IN RESPECT OF HYGIENE STANDARDS.

MR CHEUNG SAID IN THE MORE RURAL PARTS OF THE TERRITORY ESPECIALLY SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS DISTRICTS - UNLICENSED PRIVATE SLAUGHTERING ON A SMALL SCALE WAS STILL PRACTISED.

IN GENERAL, HE SAID, TOLERATED SLAUGHTERHOUSES WERE SMALL IN SIZE, OPERATED ON A LIMITED SCALE WITH ACTIVITIES CONFINED TO THE EARLY HOURS OF THE DAY ONLY.

ON AVERAGE, THE DAILY KILL WAS BELOW THREE LOCAL SOURCES, HE ADDED.

PIGS

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MOSTLY FR

MR CHEUNG SAID THERE WERE 34 SUCH TOLERATED SLAUGHTERHOUSES UNSUITABLE FOR LICENSING AS THEY DID NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS.

+AS THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE SCATTERED AND OPERATING DURING VERY INCONVENIENT HOURS AND IRREGULARLY, THE PROVISION OF REGULAR MEAT INSPECTION AT THESE PLACES IS DIFFICULT, HE SAID.

+EVEN IF REGULAR INSPECTIONS COVERING ALL THESE ESTABLISHMENTS COULD BE WORKED OUT. THE COST IN TERMS OF STAFF TIME WOULD BE EXCEED INGLY HIGH AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE MEAT INSPECTION SERVICE WOULD BE MADE USE OF.

+HOWEVER IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH, DISTRICT HEALTH INSPECTORS PAY MONTHLY VISITS TO THESE ESTABLISHMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE BASIC STANDARD OF HYGIENE IS MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES.

+ IN ADDITION, HEALTH INSPECTORS MAKE REGULAR VISITS TO MARKETS AND FRESH PROVISION SHOPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MEAT AND OFFAL ON SALE ARE WHOLESOME. IN THE RARE CASE THAT MEAT OR OFFAL OF DUBIOUS QUALITY ARE DETECTED, THE MARKET STALLHOLDER OR SHOP OPERATOR IS REQUIRED TO SURRENDER THEM FOR DESTRUCTION, ▾ HE SAID.

MR CHEUNG SAID IT WAS GOVERNMENT INTENTION TO PHASE OUT TOLERATED UNLICENSED SLAUGHTERHOUSES.

PLANS WERE IN HAND TO INTRODUCE TWO ABATTOIRS-SLAUGHTERHOUSES IN SAI KUNG AND CHEUNG CHAU IN 1988-89. TWO OTHER SMALL ABATTOIR WERE IN THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES -- ON PENG CHAU AND ONE AT MUI WO - PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME BUT CONSTRUCTION DATES WERE UNCERTAIN.

MR CHEUNG