XN000022-1993-12-01 — Page 26

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1993

UP TO NOVEMBER 27 THIS YEAR, THE INTAKE OF LOCAL AND INSPECTORS WAS 71 AND 16 RESPECTIVELY.

OVERSEAS

MR HARBINSON ADDED THAT LOCAL OFFICERS COMPRISED 78 PER CENT OF ALL STAFF IN THE INSPECTORATE.

0

CONCERTED EFFORTS TO CURB ILLEGAL IMPORTATION OF MEAT

A MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 8,000 KILOGRAMS OF PORK WERE SEIZED AT SHA TAU KOK BETWEEN AUGUST LAST YEAR AND OCTOBER THIS YEAR.

IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR, 11,000 KILOGRAMS WERE SEIZED.

SIGNIFICANT SEIZURES HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE AT MAN KAM TO AND LOK MA CHAU CONTROL POINTS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH WELFARE. DR SH LEE, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE MICHAEL HO MUN-KA IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DR LEE SAID FOLLOWING AN INCREASE IN ILLEGAL IMPORTATION MEAT AT SHA TAU KOK IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, INTER-DEPARTMENTAL ORDINATION HAD BEEN IMPROVED AND ENFORCEMENT ACTION STEPPED UP, AT THE BORDER AS WELL AS AT RETAIL LEVEL.

AN ADDITIONAL CUSTOMS POST HAS ALSO BEEN SET UP AT SHEK AU TO CHECK VEHICLES COMING FROM SHA TAU KOK.

AND

HON

OF

CO-

BOTH

CHUNG

"ALL DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED ARE CO-OPERATING TO CONTROL THE ILLEGAL IMPORTATION OF PIGS AND PORK AND CONCERTED EFFORTS OF ALL ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WILL BE MAINTAINED," HE STATED.

DR LEE EXPLAINED THAT THE FRONT-LINE CONTROL ON ILLEGAL IMPORTATION OF MEAT AND LIVESTOCK RESTED WITH THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE,

THE TWO DEPARTMENTS HAVE CHECKPOINTS ALONG THE BORDER AND SEA PATROLS WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS.

ACTION.

CASES MAY ALSO BE REFERRED TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR APPROPRIATE

FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER REGULATION 4 OF THE IMPORTED GAME, MEAT AND POULTRY REGULATIONS, ALL IMPORTED MEAT MUST BE COVERED BY AN OFFICIAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY A COMPETENT AUTHORITY RECOGNISED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

BY

WHERE IMPORTED PORK SEIZED AT THE BORDER IS NOT ACCOMPANIED SUCH CERTIFICATES (OR SOMETIMES ACCOMPANIED BY FAKE CERTIFICATES), THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH WILL TAKE NECESSARY ACTION UNDER THE REGULATION AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE.

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