HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ————— 2 November 1988
香港立法局——————— 一九八八年十一月二日
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SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: The answer to Mr. POON'S question is "no". The matter is not a unilateral one. As I said, the best method of control is exercised at the source of production and so the Municipal Services Branch has now obtained the agreement of the Shenzhen Import and Export Commodity Inspection Bureau to put into place the control measures at the source of production and at the point of export. To the second question I think it is not a question that can be answered entirely by the Hong Kong Government. I would refer it to the Secretary for Municipal Services.
林貝聿嘉議員問:主席先生,刚才衛生福利司說過文康市政司有檢查入口的菜蔬,是否今次的入 口菜蔬檢查疏忽而引致市民中毒才查出呢?檢查方法是否不善呢?第二點,入口菜蔬的出產人是 否須負上責任呢?有刑事懲罰呢?
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: I think I have answered both questions already. But I have to repeat, Sir, Hong Kong imports 13.5 tonnes of vegetable every day. Only about 17% of that comes through the Mankamto border crossing. But it would be impossible as well as impracticable for 100% check to be made on all imports of vegetable. And Municipal Services Branch already examined and took samples of one-fifth of the vegetables crossing the border at Shenzhen. It is not totally within its power to stop all contaminated vegetable from passing through the border. As to the responsibility of the importers, I have said earlier that under existing law not only importers but also wholesalers or retailers are already liable if they are found to have committed an offence under section 52 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance covering the general protection for purchases of food. Such offences have to be investigated and I understand that it takes three to four months to collect evidence, including evidence from doctors who treated the patients and the patients themselves. For example, in respect of the previous outbreak which occurred in July this year there might possibly be some prosecutions later on, if evidence were to be found.
MR. ARCULLI: Will the Secretary for Health and Welfare inform this Council what steps the Government could have taken had the owners not voluntarily surrendered their goods for destruction? And if there were no steps it could take, is it not time for new legislation?
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Sir, in such circumstances the Government could then have detained the consignments, had them tested and then destroyed if they were found to contain contaminated pesticide residues.
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