XN000022-1988-06-01 — Page 15

14

TIT

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1988

"THE ADVISORY

COMMITTEE

17

PROPOSED AT A MEETING YESTERDAY,

DISCUSSED HE SAID.

THE VARIOUS MEASURES

MR CHAMBERS EXPLAINED THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH 1TS TERMS OF REFERENCE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ADVISED THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

"I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING THE ADVICE OF BOTH BODIES AFTER THE NEXT MEETING OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HE ADDED.

RISK OF CONTAMINATED SEAFOOD REACHING MARKET SMALL

IS SMALL

THE RISK OF CONTAMINATED SEAFOOD REACHING THE MARKET AND THE PUBLIC WOULD BE WARNED IMMEDIATELY OF ANY CASES THAT ARE DETECTED, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A

QUESTION BY DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE GREATEST POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK TO THE PUBLIC WAS THE CONSUMPTION OF POLLUTED SHELLFISH SUCH AS OYSTERS, MUSSELS AND CLAMS, WITECH COULD ACCUMULATE HARMFUL SUBSTANCES DUE TO THEIR FILTER FEEDING HABITS.

"THE COLLECTION OF SHELLFISH FROM POLLUTED WATERS SUCH AS VICTORIA HARBOUR, ABERDEEN, KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN IS THEREFORE PROHIBITED UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE, HE SAID.

"

"IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT MONITORS THE CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF FISH AND SHELLFISH AND SAMPLES ARE REGULARLY TAKEN FROM RETAIL OUTLETS FOR ANALYSIS.

"IF ANY SEAFOOD IS FOUND TO BE UNSAFE FOR CONSUMPTION, ACTION IS TAKEN UNDER THIS ORDINANCE TO PREVENT ITS SALE AND, IF NECESSARY, TO PROSECUTE THE VENDOR.

AS REGARDS THE MONITORING OF SEAFOOD CONTAMINATED BY RED TIDES, A SPECIAL PROCEDURE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY WHICH SAMPLES SEAFOOD AND SEAWATER ARE TAKEN FOR TESTING FOR CONTINUED.

OF

TOXICITY,

HE

"FISH KILLED BY TOXIC RED TIDES ARE SEIZED AND DESTROYED.

"SPECIAL INSPECTIONS OF RETAIL OUTLETS ARE ALSO CONDUCTED TO DETECT ANY SUSPECTED FOOD ITEMS.

MR CHAMBERS NOTED THAT IT HAD BEEN EMPHASISED IN CAMPAIGNS THAT SHELLFISH SHOULD ALWAYS BE PROPERLY COOKED.

PAST MEDIA

/"AS A