XN000022-1987-05-05 — Page 7

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1987

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PRIVATISATION OF ABATTOIRS PROPOSED

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BECAUSE OF THE INCREASINGLY HEAVY DEFICITS ARISING FROM THE OPERATION OF THE ABATTOIRS AT KENNEDY TOWN AND CHEUNG SHA WAN, THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE THAT PRIVATISATION OF THE SLAUGHTERING SERVICES SHOULD BE PURSUED, TO END WHAT IS AN INCREASINGLY UNACCEPTABLE BURDEN ON THE RATEPAYER.

*THE TOTAL OPERATING 'DEFICITS AT THE TWO ABATTOIRS WERE $30.21 MILLION IN 1984/85, RISING TO $50.11 MILLION IN 1985/86 AND $63.37 MILLION IN 1986/87,+ SAID AN URBAN COUNCIL SPOKESMAN TODAY.

IF THE PRIVATISATION PROPOSALS WENT AHEAD, HE SAID, THIS WOULD HEAN AN EXTENSION TO THE URBAN AREA OF A SCHEME ALREADY IMPLEMENTED AND PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA.

+AS IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA, ONLY THE ACTUAL BUTCHERING WILL BE PRIVATISED - NOT THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC FUNCTION OF MEAT INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION, HE SAID.

+THE URBAN COUNCIL, THROUGH THE HEALTH INSPECTORATE OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT ALL MEAT RELEASED FOR SALE IS FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION THE COUNCIL IS SATISFIED THAT THERE WILL BE NO ALTERATION TO THE PRESENT HIGH STANDARDS IN RELATION TO THE INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION OF MEAT.

+THE EXPERIENCE OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL IN THE TSUEN WAN SLAUGHTER HOUSE HAS SHOWN THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN ENFORCING APPROPRIATE MEAT STANDARDS IN A PROPERLY-RUN PRIVATE SLAUGHTER HOUSE.

+EFFECTIVE MEAT INSPECTION IS NOT ONLY ESSENTIAL FOR THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH BUT ALSO VIEWED BY ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE MEAT TRADE AS BEING IN THEIR BEST BUSINESS INTERESTS.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PRIVATISATION PROPOSALS WERE MADE AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF ALL RELEVANT FACTORS.

+FOLLOWING THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS ITS EXECUTIVE ARM WILL NOW PROCEED TO DETAILED DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VARIOUS PARTIES CONCERNED, INCLUDING THE MEAT TRADES, HE SAID,

THE SPOKESMAN SAID ANY PRIVATISATION OF THE ABATTOIRS WOULD INEVITABLY INVOLVE SOME STAFF REDUNDANCY, AND THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO MAKING SUITABLE AND REASONABLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ABATTOIR STAFF LIKELY TO BECOME REDUNDANT. INITIAL EXPLORATORY DISCUSSIONS WITH AFFECTED STAFF ARE IN PROGRESS.

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