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I would like to know:
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(a) Has the intensification of Public Education on pesticide-contaminated vegetables been extended to all market places?
(b) Is there any progress with the liaison between the USD, the Department of Health and the Government departments concerned, viz., the Building and Lands Department and the Architectural Services Department, on the urgent establishment of the Man Kam To Food Control Office? Is there any hope of starting this project within the next three years?
(c) I suggested research on a possible neutralizing agent to be used in vegetable washing. Has there been any progress?
MR. PAO PING-WING, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This three-part question concerns vegetables contaminated by pesticides. The first part queries whether the intensification of public education regarding pesticide-contaminated vegetables has been extended to all market places?
The simple answer is yes. The Department of Health has printed an additional 55,000 posters and leaflets which contain information as to necessary preventive measures to reduce the chances of pesticide poisoning due to vegetable consumption. Posters have been put up at all Urban Council markets by the Urban Services Department as well as at housing estates markets by the Housing Department. In addition, leaflets are distributed in all these markets to further intensify public awareness, particularly to coincide with the recent outbreak of food poisoning caused by pesticide-tainted vegetables imported from China. Furthermore, broadcasting vans are deployed at markets throughout the territory to disseminate the message about 'poisonous vegetables'.
The second part of this question enquires about progress with the liaison between the Department of Health, the Urban Services Department and the other Government departments concerned on the urgent establishment of the Man Kam To Food Control Office and asks whether there is any hope of starting this project within the next three years.
There is satisfactory progress on the joint efforts of the relevant departments in the establishment of a Food Control Office at Man Kam To. This matter was considered by the Hygiene Services Committee at the beginning of August this year, following which USD staff met with their counterparts in the Regional Services Department on 21 August and agreed to support the project in principle. A suitable site was identified by the Lands Department and this, together with the proposed schedule of accommodation, has been forwarded to the Government Property Administrator for approval, to the Secretary for Security for security advice, as well as to the Director of Architectural Services for the preparation of cost estimates. Construction work can hopefully start within the next two years. Action is now in hand to establish a Working Party of concerned departments under the chairmanship of the Hygiene Division of the Department of Health, to review and seek necessary improvements to border entry points, including Man Kam To. The issue of permanent facilities at Man Kam To will be discussed further within this forum.
The last part of this question asks about a possible neutralizing agent that might be used as part of the vegetable washing.
To date, there is no known neutralizing agent for the pesticide 'methamidophos'. However, in conjunction with the Government Laboratory, the Hygiene Division will actively investigate possible methods of vegetable preparation that could be helpful in this regard.
(Mr. MA Lee-wo arrived at 2:39 p.m.)
DR. LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—I have three supplementary questions, Mr. Chairman. Firstly, concerning the Man Kam To Food Control Office and the facilities there, it is said that hopefully work can start within two years. I think two years is too long a time for us. Can we have some interim measures, e.g., to use a container as a low-quality but instant food control office as early as possible, though it may not be an altogether satisfactory arrangement. The second question is: I have been to six outdoor markets, which sell a lot of vegetables, including Graham Street, Bridges Street, and Stanley Street in Central, Shun Ning Road and Pei Ho Street in Sham Shui Po, and Kimberley Street in Tsim Sha Tsui. I did not see any posters concerning vegetable poisoning, and I did not see any facilities or boards for putting up posters in these outdoor markets. Are these outdoor markets outside the jurisdiction of the Urban Council? If the answer is yes, can such markets be put under the purview of the public education efforts of the Urban Council? The third question concerns possible neutralizing agents. Can the Urban Council, the education sector, or the relevant bodies support such research for the neutralizing agents?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Concerning the three questions raised by Dr. LEUNG, in fact, I share the majority of his views. Firstly, Dr. LEUNG feels that two years is too long to set up a Food Control Office at Man Kam To. In my reply, I gave a number of the names of Government departments and their works in this regard. If such bureaucratic processes could be reduced, I absolutely agree that the setting up of a food control office can be speeded up. Our Committee will continue to monitor the Government so that this permanent facility can be set up as soon as possible. I think this is a very good question by Dr. LEUNG. Concerning the second part of the first question, is it possible to have some interim measures before there is a permanent office? In fact, the relevant departments are considering setting up a food control office in the form of a container. This interim facility is being arranged at full speed, and I hope that in due course, this arrangement can be commissioned. Concerning the lack of posters in those outdoor markets, as far as I know, outdoor markets are only temporary in nature, and so not all market facilities are included in those outdoor markets. In view of the food poisoning incident, it's very important to step up education for the public, and I agree that Dr. LEUNG's suggestion should...
Page 67 of 126
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 67 of 126
117
Page 67 of 126
116
I would like to know:
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(a) Has the intensification of Public Education on pesticide-contaminated
vegetables been extended to all market places?
(b) Is there any progress with the liaison between the USD, the Department of Health and the Government departments concerned, viz., the Building and Lands Department and the Architectural Services Department, on the urgent establishment of the Man Kam To Food Control Office? Is there any hope of starting this project within the next three years?
(c) I suggested research on a possible neutralizing agent to be used in vegetable
washing. Has there been any progress?
MR. PAO PING-WING, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This three-part question concerns vegetables contaminated by pesticides. The first part queries whether the intensification of public education regarding pesticide-contaminated vegetables has been extended to all market places?
The simple answer is yes. The Department of Health has printed an additional 55 000 posters and leaflets which contain information as to necessary preventive measures to reduce the chances of pesticide poisoning due to vegetable consumption. Posters have been put up at all Urban Council markets by the Urban Services Department as well as at housing estates markets by the Housing Department. In addition, leaflets are distributed in all these markets to further intensify public awareness, particularly to co-incide with the recent outbreak of food poisoning caused by pesticide-tainted vegetables imported from China. Furthermore, broadcasting vans are deployed at markets throughout the territory to disseminate the message about 'poisonous vegetables'.
The second part of this question enquires about progress with the liaison between the Department of Health, the Urban Services Department and the other Government departments concerned on the urgent establishment of the Man Kam To Food Control Office and asks whether there is any hope of starting this project within the next three years.
There is satisfactory progress on the joint efforts of the relevant departments in the establishment of a Food Control Office at Man Kam To. This matter was considered by the Hygiene Services Committee at the beginning of August this year following which USD staff met with their counterparts in the Regional Services Department on 21 August and agreed to support the project in principle. A suitable site was identified by the Lands Department and this together with the proposed schedule of accommodation has been forwarded to the Government Property Administrator for approval, to the Secretary for Security for security advice, as well as to the Director of Architectural Services for the preparation of cost estimates. Construction work can hopefully start within the next two years. Action is now in hand to establish a Working Party of concerned departments under the chairmanship of the Hygiene Division of
Page 67 of 126
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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the Department of Health, to review and seek necessary improvements to border entry points including Man Kam To. The issue of permanent facilities at Man Kam To will be discussed further within this forum.
The last part of this question asks about a possible neutralizing agent that might be used as part of the vegetable washing.
To date, there is no known neutralizing agent for the pesticide 'methamidophos'. However, in conjunction with the Government Laboratory, the Hygiene Division will actively investigate possible methods of vegetable preparation that could be helpful in this regard.
(Mr. MA Lee-wo arrived at 2.39 p.m.)
DR. LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—I have three supplementary questions, Mr. Chairman. Firstly, concerning the Man Kam To Food Control Office and the facilities there, it is said that hopefully work can start within this two years. I think two years is too long a time for us. Can we have some interim measures, e.g. to use a container as a low quality but instant food control office as early as possible though it may not be an altogether satisfactory arrangement. The second question is: I have been to six outdoor markets, which sell a lot of vegetables including Graham Street, Bridges Street and Stanley Street in Central, Shun Ning Road and Pei Ho Street in Sham Shui Po and Kimberley Street in Tsim Sha Tsui. I did not see any posters concerning vegetable poisoning and I did not see any facilities or boards for putting up posters in these outdoor markets. Are these outdoor markets outside the jurisdiction of the Urban Council? If the answer is yes, can such markets be put under the purview of the public education efforts of the Urban Council? The third question concerns possible neutralizing agents. Can the Urban Council, the education sector or the relevant bodies support such researches for the neutralizing agents?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Concerning the three questions raised by Dr. LEUNG, in fact, I share the majority of his views. Firstly, Dr. LEUNG feels that two years is too long to set up a Food Control Office at Man Kam To. In my reply, I gave a number of the names of Government departments and their works in this regard. If such bureaucratic process could be reduced, I absolutely agree that the setting up of a food control office can be speeded up. Our Committee will continue to monitor the Government so that this permanent facility can be set up as soon as possible. I think this is a very good question by Dr. LEUNG. Concerning the second part of the first question, is it possible to have some interim measures before there is a permanent office. In fact, the relevant departments are considering setting up a food control office in the form of a container. This interim facility is being arranged at full speed and I hope that in due course this arrangement can be commissioned. Concerning the lack of posters in those outdoor markets, as far as I know, outdoor markets are only temporary in nature and so not all market facilities are included in those outdoor markets. In view of the food poisoning incident, it's very important to step up education for the public and I agree that Dr. LEUNG's suggestion should
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