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MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, could Dr. LEUNG give some indication as to how long he thinks the working group would complete its work? Incidentally, it wouldn't be necessary for him to send me the minutes concerned because I have already read them.
Dr. Ronald D. B. LEUNG (in English):—Yes, I think we will convene the meeting sometime in the New Year, after the Christmas and New Year holidays, sometime in January.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—How long did he estimate it might take the working group to complete its work and present its recommendations to Council?
CHAIRMAN (in English):—You don't have to answer that. Do you like to hazard a guess.
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):—I cannot hazard a guess because it depends on the input from Members of the working group. But there are several possibilities whether we maintain the existing system as status quo or we replace the existing system with the fixed penalty mandatory fines or the third alternative would be to have two systems running in parallel—the existing system with option to appear in court to challenge the prosecutions. So the three alternatives would be discussed. So how long would it take and what will come out of it would depend on the input of the working group Members.
6. MR. DAVID P. S. FONG asked the following question (in Cantonese):—Most restaurants have the practice of handing to customers wet towels before and after meals. But a large proportion of these towels are dirty and stained to the extent of carrying bacteria and spreading diseases.
Some waiters like to go around the restaurant to offer to customers dim-sum or snacks on trays which are always without covers. As they shout for attention, saliva shoots out and contaminates the food.
In view of the above, I would like to know:
(a) Does the Council have any measures to monitor the cleanliness of towels used by restaurants in order to protect the health of the public?
(b) Does the above-mentioned form of selling uncovered food meet the requirement stipulated in Council's food hygiene ordinance?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—I remember sometime ago, our Councillor, Vicky CHAN also asked about the chipped crockery utensils and this question is in two parts. The first part concerns the cleanliness of towels that are provided by restaurants for the customers.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The provision by some restaurants of towels for use by customers is not a licensing requirement of the Council. However, under by-law 20 of the Food Business (Urban Council) by-laws, towels or napkins provided to customers must be sterilized after each occasion on which these have been used.
During routine inspections of restaurants, District Health Inspectors regularly check on the use of sterilization equipment and on the cleanliness of towels and napkins, if provided, to ensure compliance with this by-law.
The answer to the second part of this question, which relates to the sale of uncovered food, is that the provision of suitable containers to cover open food is a standard condition for the licensing of food businesses. Non-observance of this licensing condition is a breach of by-law 10 of the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws.
District Health Inspectors in the course of routine inspections of restaurants also ensure the compliance by food business operators of the requirement to keep food suitably covered. Otherwise, the operators are liable to prosecutions.
Mr. David P. S. FONG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in fact in many restaurants, it is a common practice to push the uncovered food in the trolley. Does the Council have any statistics about the prosecution of the restaurants? As far as I know, there is no such prosecution.
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, the routine procedure is if they are found to have food uncovered or if the use of sterilization equipment is not up to standard, the district health inspectors of our department will give warnings. If the warnings are not heeded, prosecutions will take place. In the past six months, a total of 445 warnings had been given to restaurant operators for using unclean towels and also 25 prosecutions had been taken against food operators for exposing food to the risk of contamination.
7. MR. STEPHEN F. C. Ho asked the following question (in Cantonese):—I have recently noticed that there is a tendency of a number of restaurants to extend their business into the streets by additional tables on the footpath and even into the roadway itself. Could I please be informed what action the Council is taking to abate this health hazard?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—This question concerns the action being taken against restaurants for extending their business onto the street.
In respect of licensed establishments: extension of business onto streets by licensed food establishments is a breach of the law and is subject to enforcement action. The Department takes regular enforcement action as appropriate against the offenders under the following legislative provisions:
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, could Dr. LEUNG give some indication as to how long he thinks the working group would complete its work? Incidentally, it wouldn't be necessary for him to send me the minutes concerned because I have already read them.
Dr. Ronald D. B. LEUNG (in English):—Yes, I think we will convene the meeting sometime in the New Year, after the Christmas and New Year holidays, sometime in January.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-How long did he estimate it might take the working group to complete its work and present its recommendations to Council?
CHAIRMAN (in English):-You don't have to answer that. Do you like to hazard a guess.
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):---I cannot hazard a guess because it depends on the input from Members of the working group. But there are several possibilities whether we maintain the existing system as status quo or we replace the existing system with the fixed penalty mandatory fines or the third alternative would be to have a two systems running in parallel the existing system with option to appear in court to challenge the prosecutions. So the three alternatives would be discussed. So how long would it take and what will come out of it would depend on the input of the working group Members.
6. MR. DAVID P. S. FONG asked the following question (in Cantonese):—Most restaurants have the practice of handing to customers wet towels before and after meals. But a large proportion of these towels are dirty and stained to the extent of carrying bacteria and spreading diseases.
Some waiters like to go around the restaurant to offer to customers dim-sum or snacks on trays which are always without covers. As they shout for attention, saliva shoots out and contaminates the food.
In view of the above, I would like to know:
(a) Does the Council have any measures to monitor the cleanliness of towels used
by restaurants in order to protect the health of the public?
(b) Does the above mentioned form of selling uncovered food meet the
requirement stipulated in Council's food hygiene ordinance?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):---I remember sometime ago, our Councillor, Vicky CHAN also asked about the chipped crockery utensils and this question is in two parts. The first part concerns the cleanliness of towels that are provided by restaurants for the customers.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The provision by some restaurants of towels for use by customers is not a licensing requirement of the Council. However, under by-law 20 of the Food Business (Urban Council) by-laws, towels or napkins provided to customers must be sterilized after each occasion on which these have been used.
During routine inspections of restaurants, District Health Inspectors regularly check on the use of sterilization equipment and on the cleanliness of towels and napkins, if provided, to ensure compliance with this by-law.
The answer to the second part of this question, which relates to the sale of uncovered food, is that the provision of suitable containers to cover open food is a standard condition for the licensing of food businesses. Non-observance of this licensing condition is a breach of by-law 10 of the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws.
District Health Inspectors in the course of routine inspections of restaurants also ensure the compliance by food business operators of the requirement to keep food suitably covered. Otherwise, the operators are liable to prosecutions.
Mr. David P. S. FONG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in fact in many restaurants, it is a common practice to push the uncovered food in the trolley. Does the Council have any statistics about the prosecution of the restaurants? As far as I know, there is no such prosecution.
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the routine procedure is if they are found to have food uncovered or if the use of sterilization equipment is not up to standard, the district health inspectors of our department will give warnings. If the warnings are not heeded, prosecutions will take place. In the past six months, a total of 445 warnings had been given to restaurant operators for using unclean towels and also 25 prosecutions had been taken against food operators for exposing food to the risk of contamination.
7. MR. STEPHEN F. C. Ho asked the following question (in Cantonese):--I have recently noticed that there is a tendency of a number of restaurants to extend their business into the streets by additional tables on the footpath and even into the roadway itself. Could I please be informed what action the Council is taking to abate this health hazard?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the action being taken against restaurants for extending their business onto the street.
In respect of licensed establishments: extension of business onto streets by licensed food establishments is a breach of the law and is subject to enforcement action. The Department takes regular enforcement action as appropriate against the offenders under the following legislative provisions:
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