XN000022-1994-11-16 — Page 43

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VEGETABLE HYGIENE

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1994

FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON TIK CHI-YUEN AND A REPLY BY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS KATHERINE FOK, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

THE

QUESTION: RECENTLY THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF ACUTE FOOD POISONING INCIDENTS IN THE TERRITORY ARISING FROM THE CONSUMPTION OF CONTAMINATED VEGETABLES. AS A LARGE PORTION OF THE VEGETABLES IS IMPORTED FROM THE MAINLAND, WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL :-

(A)

(B)

OF THE AVERAGE DAILY NUMBER OF VEGETABLE SAMPLES EXAMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AT THE MAN KAM ΤΟ BORDER CHECKPOINT, AND WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF THE SAMPLES EXAMINED OUT OF ALL IMPORTED VEGETABLES;

OF THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING SPOT CHECKS AT THE BOARDER AT PRESENT; AND WHETHER THERE ARE PLANS TO INCREASE THE MANPOWER FOR THESE DUTIES;

(C) OF THE RESPECTIVE PERCENTAGES OF VEGETABLES FOUND TO BE CONTAMINATED OUT OF THE SAMPLES EXAMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN EACH OF THE PAST THREE YEARS;

AND

REPLY:

(D)

WHAT ARE THE MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT CURB THE IMPORTATION OF CONTAMINATED VEGETABLES THROUGH ILLEGAL MEANS?

TO

MR PRESIDENT,

EFFECTIVE CONTROL OVER PESTICIDE-CONTAMINATED VEGETABLES DEPENDS ON A COMBINATION OF MEASURES AT SOURCE, UPON IMPORT, AT SALES OUTLETS AND IN THE KITCHEN. TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC HEALTH, GOVERNMENT CO-ORDINATES ACTION THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO MONITOR HYGIENE OF VEGETABLES.

COUNTRIES.

THE

ABOUT 50% OF THE FRESH LEAFY VEGETABLES CONSUMED LOCALLY COME FROM CHINA, 25% ARE LOCAL PRODUCE AND THE REST ARE IMPORTED FROM OTHER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS IN PLACE AT THE BORDER A MONITORING SYSTEM то CHECK THE QUALITY OF IMPORTED VEGETABLES. IN 1994, AN AVERAGE OF 70 QUICK TESTS ARE PERFORMED DAILY AT THE MAN KAM TO CHECKPOINT.

WELL-TESTED

/AN AVERAGE