XN000022-1985-09-10 — Page 17

16

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10.

+WITH THIS AMENDMENT, THE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF MI WATER' FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION WILL BE SUBJECT TO CONTROL UNDE EXISTING FOOD LAWS. MANUFACTURERS OF MINERAL WATER WILL REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A FOOD FACTORY LICENCE FOR THE OPERATION, LI SAID.

A RECENT SURVEY HAD SHOWN THAT THERE WERE 40 DIFFERENT APL OF BOTTLED MINERAL WATER+, 14 OF THEM LOCAL AND 26 IMPORTED, ON SALE IN HONG KONG.

BUT HE SAID, ALL THE SO-CALLED MINERAL WATER+ PRODUCE.. LOCALLY WAS BOTTLED MAINS WATER WHICH MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN FILTERED OR STERILISED AND WHICH MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD MINERALS ADDED TO IT.

MR LI SAID THAT IF CONTROLS WERE INTRODUCED ON THE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF SUCH BOTTLED MINERAL WATER, GUIDELINES WOULD BE SET FOR PROVIDING EVIDENCE OF UNFITNESS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN PROSECUTIONS BROUGHT UNDER SECTION 54 OF THE ORDINANCE.

THE GUIDELINES WOULD BE THAT THE QUALITY OF BOTTLED WATER SOLD AS +MINERAL WATER+ SHOULD CONFORM TO THE CODEX STANDARD FOR NATURAL MINERAL WATERS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

ORGANISATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION. THESE STANDARDS GIVE IN DETAIL THE PERMISSIBLE LIMITS OF BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CONTENTS IN NATURAL MINERAL WATERS, MR LI ADDED,

ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SERVICES IMPROVED ******

ABOUT 5 600 STAFF MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. OR 65 PER CENT OF ITS ENTIRE FORCE, ARE INVOLVED IN THE IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE, MR LI TIN-MING, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE. HE SAID WORK INCLUDED PUBLIC CLEANSING, DISTRICT HYGIENE WORK. MANAGEMENT OF HAWKERS AND MARKETS, MANAGEMENT OF CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIA, MEAT INSPECTION SERVICES, LICENSING AND PROSECUTION.

HE EXPLAINED THAT PUBLIC CLEANSING SERVICES INCLUDE STREET SWEEPING, REFUSE AND NIGHTSOIL COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT OF REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS, PUBLIC TOILETS AND BATHHOUSES, STREET WASHING AND GULLY CLEANSING.

/+IN THE