TNAG-1732-FCO40-2445-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 136

Question No. 4

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REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE

TO A QUESTION BY DR HON CHIU HIN-KWONG

IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 1 JUNE 1988

Question:

4. DR. CHIU asked:

Since, as a result of water pollutiuon, substances which are harmful to the human body if accumulated beyond a certain quantity are sometimes found in the tissues of fish and other seafoods, will Government inform this Council what measures are being taken to ensure that people of Hong Kong are protected from the hazards posed by seafoods containing such substances and whether, for the purpose of enhancing public health, consideration will be given to providing information to the general public as to which kinds of seafoods have been found to be contaminated and whether they are still safe for human consumption?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE:

sir,

As a result of pollution of Hong Kong's coastal

waters, seafood may be contaminated by three types of

harmful substance. First, pathogenic bacteria and viruses

which are present in human sewage and livestock waste;

secondly, algal toxins produced by certain types of

phytoplankton which may bloom and form red tides because

of nutrient pollution; and thirdly, heavy metals such as

organochlorines and other chemicals originating from

per cent

industrial waste. About 90% of seafood consumed in Hong

Kong is either imported or obtained from deep sea and should therefore not be affected by local pollution. fishing,

The remaining 10 consists of locally caught

finfish and the products of mariculture zones, which are

generally sited as far as possible from densely populated

areas and industrial centres.

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