XN000022-1995-03-01 — Page 55

44

-

Staffing of Agriculture and Fisheries Department

Following is a question by the Hon Mrs Peggy Lam and a written reply the the Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Gordon Siu, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

According to available information, the number of officers in the rank of Field Officer II currently employed by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) is below the approved staffing establishment. Will the Government inform this Council:

Reply:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

(b)

of the approved staffing establishment and the existing number of vacancies in the rank;

whether the AFD has deployed any staff to monitor the operation of pet shops and snake shops on a regular basis; if so, how staff are deployed to fulfil all inspection duties when the AFD is experiencing a shortage of staff; and

how snake shops are monitored to ensure that appropriate measures are adopted by these shops to prevent snakes from sneaking out of shop premises and causing nuisance to the residents nearby?

There are 152 posts of Field Officer II on the establishment of the Agriculture & Fisheries Department, of which 24 are vacant at present.

The Department has deployed nine Field Officer II posts on the monitoring of licensed animal trading establishments, including pet shops and snake shops. These establishments are visited twice a month to check that health and safety regulations are being complied with. Should there be a shortage of staff to perform this work, temporary redeployment of Field Officers II from other parts of the Department will be arranged as necessary.