1974 — Page 63

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, about the advice given to the hawkers, can the advice be published in all the newspapers so that the hawkers can know how they can help themselves?

MR. HU (in English):-This point will be discussed when this whole question is brought forth in the Select Committee meeting.

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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Of the 149 outbreaks reported the possible source was classified as follows:-

Domestic 87

Restaurant 28

Hawkers 14

Canteens ...

Cooked Food Stalls 1

Source undetermined 15

149

(6) MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):-

(a) How many licensed restaurants were inspected by staff of the U.S.D. during the last twelve months?

(b) How many cases of food poisoning were reported in the same period from:

(i) licensed restaurants,

(ii) licensed cooked food stalls,

(iii) licensed food factories,

(iv) unlicensed restaurants,

(v) unlicensed cooked food stalls,

(vi) unlicensed food factories of the type generally referred to as food-caterers?

What follow-up action was taken as an outcome of these reports and with what results?

MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):–

Mr. Chairman, there are 3163 general and light refreshment restaurants in the urban areas (2621 in Kowloon and 542 in Hong Kong). Each of these restaurants is inspected once a fortnight by a health inspector.

149 outbreaks of food poisoning were reported during the period August 1973 to July 1974. However it must be realized that for every case reported many go unreported. Informed estimates would put the number of such outbreaks as probably in the region of 1500.

The Medical & Health Department is responsible for the investigation of food poisoning cases. The actual investigation is undertaken either by a Health Visitor of the Medical & Health Department or a Health Inspector of the U.S.D. From an epidemiological point of view the main emphasis on investigation is in determining the source of infection so that the spread of the outbreak can be controlled. In the food-poisoning investigation report no record is made of the licensed status of the premises concerned, therefore the figures requested in the second part of the question cannot be given.

The follow-up action taken in these cases is in line with normal epidemiological action which is to determine the source of infection and eliminate it. The overall results of these measures is that outbreaks are contained and prevented from spreading or creating secondary sources.

(7) MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW asked the following question (in Cantonese): -

(a) Since the Council last exposed the malpractice of “injecting water into beef", how many unlawful meat merchants have been charged with the offence and how many convicted?

(b) Has the Council taken such action as suspension or even cancellation of the licence against the offenders? Or, will the Council consider taking such action?

(c) Is it possible for the Council to warn the meat merchants by letter of notice or other means that "selling water-injected beef" is illegal?