XN000022-1988-06-01 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1988

15

"AS A SHORT-TERM MEASURE, CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN COMPULSORY ARTIFICIAL PURIFICATION OF LOCAL SHELLFISH,

TO THE

PROVISION OF ON THE

ALSO

"LONGER TERM ANTI-POLLUTION MEASURES SUCH AS THE FURTHER SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES AND CONTROLS DISPOSAL OF LIVESTOCK WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT REDUCE THE RISK.

"I

SHOULD

KONG'S TYPES OF

MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT AS A RESULT OF POLLUTION OF HONG COASTAL WATERS, SEAFOOD MIGHT BE CONTAMINATED BY THREE HARMFUL SUBSTANCE.

THEY ARE PATHOGENIC BACTERIA AND VIRUSES WHICH ARE HUMAN SEWAGE AND LIVESTOCK WASTE; ALGAL TOXINS PRODUCED

BY

PRESENT IN CERTAIN BECAUSE OF AND

TYPES OF PHYTOPLANKTON WHICH MAY BLOOM AND FORM RED TIDES NUTRIENT POLLUTION; AND HEAVY METALS SUCH AS ORGANOCHLORINES OTHER CHEMICALS ORIGINATING FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTE.

CONTROLS ON IMPORTED MEATS CONSIDERED ADEQUATE

THE PRESENT CONTROLS ON THE SALE OF IMPORTED COOKED CONSIDERED TO BE ADEQUATE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PURPOSES, THE FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SAID

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP, MR SAID THE SALE OF IMPORTED COOKED MEATS WAS GOVERNED BY THE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE.

CONTROLS, HOWEVER, ON

MEATS ARE SECRETARY

IN

THE

CHAMBERS PROVISIONS

"THERE ARE NO STATUTORY ITEMS BROUGHT INTO HONG KONG BY TRAVELLERS FROM CHINA OR ELSEWHERE FOR COOKED FOOD THEIR OWN PERSONAL CONSUMPTION," HE SAID.

THAT THE

INDIVIDUAL ITEMS

"THE QUANTITY OF COOKED FOOD ITEMS CARRIED IN BY TRAVELLERS IS USUALLY SMALL AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE ARE BEING RE-SOLD AFTER ENTRY.

CUSTOMS SURVEILLANCE INSPECTORS

"NEVERTHELESS, THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH AND THE AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT ARE KEEPING THE SITUATION UNDER AND, IN CASES OF DOUBT, FOOD ITEMS CAN BE REFERRED TO FOOD FOR EXAMINATION."

IN

PROCEDURES CONTROLS

OF

MR CHAMBERS ALSO SAID THAT SHOULD THERE BE ANY EVIDENCE, FUTURE, THAT ATTEMPTS WERE BEING MADE TO CIRCUMVENT PROPER FOR THE SALE OF IMPORTED COOKED MEATS, THE NEED FOR UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND COURSE BE CONSIDERED.

TIGHTER MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE WOULD

"THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH WARRANTED AT THE PRESENT TIME,

ACTION IS

HE ADDED.

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