XN000022-1993-12-01 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1993

THE TWO MUNICIPAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PREVENTING SMUGGLED PORK FROM BEING PUT ON SALE IN RETAIL MARKETS.

THEY WOULD CONDUCT SURPRISE CHECKS ON MEAT SHOPS AND MARKET MEAT STALLS TO SEE IF MEAT FROM ILLEGAL SOURCES WAS DELIVERED TO THEM.

PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS PAID TO CHECK WHETHER THE PIG CARCASES BEAR STAMPS INDICATING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SLAUGHTERED IN A GOVERNMENT OR LICENSED SLAUGHTERHOUSE.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF LIVESTOCK DISEASE CONTROL, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES IS AUTHORISED UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH (ANIMALS AND BIRDS) REGULATIONS TO DIRECT IMPORTED LIVE PIGS ΤΟ ABATTOIRS FOR IMMEDIATE SLAUGHTERING.

AS SUCH, THE LEGISLATION IS NOT DESIGNED TO REGULATE THE IMPORTATION OF LIVE PIGS FROM CHINA.

AS REGARDS PENALTIES, DR LEE NOTED THAT THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL IMPORTATION OF MEAT UNDER REGULATION 7 OF THE IMPORTED

GAME, MEAT AND POULTRY ORDINANCE WAS A FINE OF $25,000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.

"HOWEVER, ONCE THE MEAT HAS PASSED THROUGH FRONT-LINE DETECTION AND HAS REACHED THE MARKET PLACE, THE OFFENDER CAN ONLY BE CHARGED WITH SALE OF UNSTAMPED MEAT UNDER THE FOOD BUSINESS BY-LAWS, FOR WHICH THE MAXIMUM PENALTY IS A FINE OF $5,000 AND THREE MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.

"TO RECTIFY THIS DISCREPANCY,

BOTII MUNICIPAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS ARE PREPARING TO REVISE THE MAXIMUM PENALTY UNDER THE BY- LAWS TO BRING IT INTO LINE WITH THAT IN THE REGULATIONS," DR LEE SAID.

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MAN-MADE SLOPES UNDER ONGOING INSPECTION

THREE KINDS OF INSPECTIONS FOR MAN-MADE SLOPES ARE BEING CARRIED OUT ON LANTAU ISLAND AND ELSEWHERE IN HONG KONG AS AN ONGOING EXERCISE.

THESE INCLUDE REGULAR MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS CARRIED OUT EITHER BY PRIVATE OWNERS OF THE LAND OR BY THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS OF LAND UNDER THEIR CARE.

THE GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING OFFICE (GEO) ALSO CARRIED OUT EMERGENCY INSPECTIONS IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS RECEIVED AND LANDSLIPS REPORTED.

ALSO, UNDER THE

GOVERNMENT'S LANDSLIP PREVENTIVE MEASURES PROGRAMME (LPMP), GEO INVESTIGATES EXISTING SLOPES THAT POSE A POTENTIAL RISK TO LIFE, EXECUTES UPGRADING WORKS ON GOVERNMENT LAND AND INITIATES NECESSARY ACTIONS FOR PRIVATE LAND UNDER THE BUILDINGS

ORDINANCE.

/THE EXERCISE