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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Are there any booklets which are handed out to the people who attend the courses, and which they can keep for permanent reference?
CHAIRMAN: Each person who attends is given a certificate of attendance. I know that because it is signed by me. (Laughter)
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- In any case, Sir, this question was addressed to the Vice Chairman, through you.
CHAIRMAN:- He is about to speak. (Laughter)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- There is a booklet, Mr. Chairman, on hygiene of food establishments. I believe the present one is out of print at the moment, but it has been used for the last five or six years.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- It has been out of print for the last five years?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- No, it has been used for the last five or six years.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: How long has it been out of print?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- I am not sure exactly how long it has been out of print. It is being reprinted now.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- It could have been out of print for five or six years, couldn't it?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- I can assure Mr. CHEONG-LEEN it has not been.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- I beg your pardon?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- I can assure you it has not been out of print for five or six years.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- It must have been out of print quite some time, Mr. Chairman, otherwise the Vice-Chairman would have remembered since when it was out of print.
(5) MR. LI YIU-BOR asked the following question:-
Will the Chairman tell this Council
(a) which Department is responsible for checking the quantity of preservative used in tinned food produced in Hong Kong either for export or for local consumption;
(b) whether any case has come to light where the quantity of preservative used is so excessive as to constitute a health hazard; and
(c) whether there is any check at all on the amount of preservative used in tinned food imported from other countries?
MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
Since the three parts of the question are inter-related, I shall, with your permission, give a general reply.
The use of preservatives in food, irrespective of how it is packed, is controlled by the Preservatives in Food Regulations, 1960, administered by the Urban Services Department. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the Health Staff of the Urban Services Department to check on the quantities of preservatives in tinned food, whether imported or produced locally for export or local consumption. The method of checking is usually carried out by routine sampling. As far as tinned food is concerned, sampling is rarely carried out, the reason being that, with the exception of a few specific items of food, the use of chemical preservatives in tinned products is seldom necessary since the process of canning usually involves heat treatment which is, in itself, a form of food preservation.
Checking on the use of preservatives in food products not packed in tins is routine, and whilst quantities of preservatives used have been found to be either in excess of the amount permitted by law or of a type which is prohibited, no case has come to light to indicate anything which would constitute a health hazard.
MR. LI:- Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary question? Has there been any case of food poisoning as a result of eating tinned food?
CHAIRMAN:- Within what period Mr. LI?
MR. LI: Recently, Sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- I do not know of any outbreak of food poisoning due to a particular tinned food. Food poisoning is not notifiable, and all I can say is that no cases have come to our notice.
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Are there any booklets which are handed out to the people who attend the courses, and which they can keep for permanent reference?
CHAIRMAN: Each person who attends is given a certificate of attendance. I know that because it is signed by me. (Laughter)
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In any case, Sir, this question was addressed to the Vice Chairman, through you.
CHAIRMAN:-He is about to speak. (Laughter)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-There is a booklet, Mr. Chairman, on hygiene of food establishments. I believe the present one is out of print at the moment, but it has been used for the last five or six years.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-It has been out of print for the last five years? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: ---No, it has been used for the last five or six years.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:
How long has it been out of print?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I am not sure exactly how long it has been out of print. It is being reprint- ed now.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-It could have been out of print for five or six years, couldn't it?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:--I can assure Mr. CHEONG-LEEN it has not been.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I beg your pardon?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I can assure you it has not been out of print for five or six years.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-It must have been out of print quite some time, Mr. Chairman, otherwise the Vice-Chairman would have remem- bered since when it was out of print.
(5) MR. LI YIU-BOR asked the following question :-
Will the Chairman tell this Council
(a) which Department is responsible for checking the quantity of preservative used in tinned food produced in Hong Kong either for export or for local con- sumption;
(b) whether any case has come to light where the quantity of preservative used is so excessive as to constitute a health hazard; and
(c) whether there is any check at all on the amount of preservative used in tinned food imported from other countries?
MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
Since the three parts of the question are inter-related, I shall,
with your permission, give a general reply.
The use of preservatives in food, irrespective of how it is packed, is controlled by the Preservatives in Food Regu- lations, 1960, administered by the Urban Services Depart- ment. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the Health Staff of the Urban Services Department to check on the quantities of preservatives in tinned food, whether import- ed or produced locally for export or local consumption. The method of checking is usually carried out by routine sampling. As far as tinned food is concerned, sampling is rarely carried out, the reason being that, with the exception of a few specific items of food, the use of chemical preservatives in tinned products is seldom necessary since the process of canning usually involves heat treatment which is, in itself, a form of food pre- servation.
Checking on the use of preservatives in food products not packed in tins is routine, and whilst quantities of preserva- tives used have been found to be either in excess of the amount permitted by law or of a type which is prohibited, no case has come to light to indicate anything which would constitute a health hazard.
MR. LI:—Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary question? Has there been any case of food poisoning as a result of eating tinned food?
CHAIRMAN: -Within what period Mr. LI?
MR. LI: Recently, Sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I do not know of any outbreak of food poisoning due to a particular tinned food. Food poisoning is not notifiable, and all I can say is that no cases have come to our notice.
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