HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
113
$5,000, imprisonment for 3 months and $150 for each day to a fine of $25,000, imprisonment for 6 months and $500 for each day. After consulting the Director of Regional Services, a committee paper proposing the law amendment will be presented to the Council for approval.
MR. KWOK BIT-CHUN (in Cantonese):—I have 3 follow-up questions. First, of the 5 cases reported last year, do you know the source of the unstamped meat? Secondly, what is the number of staff in the Urban Services Department deployed to check on these unlicensed/unstamped meat? Thirdly, how frequently does the Department carry out its inspection on the meat vendors in the markets and fresh provision shops?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):—Usually, we cannot trace the origin of the unstamped pig carcasses because the offenders normally keep their mouths shut and they feel they have a moral obligation to keep silent.
Secondly, we do have enough manpower for a dedicated team to do the inspection work. We also have a monitoring system to monitor the supply of meat, particularly in our markets. We regularly conduct inspections at fortnightly or monthly intervals. Special inspections are also conducted in early mornings, at the time of meat delivery to the markets to check stamp markings of meat and pin codes of abattoirs and we also check the registration numbers of the respective slaughter houses.
We also count on 'intelligence' provided to us. If there are cases of suspected meat, we will take action immediately.
Regarding tracing and preventing illegal meat from entering the territory, in fact it is not the sole responsibility of the Council, the Department of Health, the Police, the AFD, Customs Excise Department and RSD also have a role to play. So, we do have enough resources to stop illegal meat from entering the territory.
(5) MR. WU CHI-WAI asked the following question (in Cantonese):—As niches of the Urban Council, especially occasionally surrendered ones, are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, the public have to queue up regularly for their allocation. Owing to limited supply of niches, people often do not know the result after waiting for three to four months. I would like to ask:
(a) When was the existing first-come-first-served method of allocating occasionally surrendered niches first adopted? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such method? What is the average waiting time before one can get a niche?
(b) What are the difficulties if the existing method is replaced by a system of prior registration?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—The two-part question concerns
Page 137 of 485
Page 137 of 485
Page 137 of 485
Page 137 of 485
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
113
$5,000, imprisonment for 3 months and $150 for each day to a fine of $25,000, imprisonment for 6 months and $500 for each day. After consulting the Director of Regional Services, a committee paper proposing the law amendment will be presented to the Council for approval.
MR. Kwok Bit-CHUN (in Cantonese);—I have 3 follow up questions. First, of the 5 cases reported last year, do you know the source of the unstamped meat? Secondly, what is the number of staff in the Urban Services Department deployed to check on these unlicensed/unstamped meat? Thirdly, how frequently does the Department carry out its inspection on the meat vendors in the markets and fresh provision shops?
Mr. Joseph Chan Yuek-suT (in Cantonese):-Usually, we cannot trace the origin of the unstamped pig carcasses because the offenders normally keep their mouths shut and they feel they have a moral obligation to keep silent.
Secondly, we do have enough manpower for a dedicated team to do the inspection work. We also have a monitoring system to monitor the supply of meat, particularly in our markets. We regularly, conduct inspections at fortnightly or monthly intervals. Special inspections are also conducted in early mornings, at the time of meat delivery to the markets to check stamp markings of meat and pin codes of abattoirs and we also check the registration numbers of the respective slaughter houses.
We also count on 'intelligence' provided to us. If there are cases of suspected meat, we will take action immediately.
Regarding tracing and preventing illegal meat from entering the territory, in fact it is not the sole responsibility of the Council, the Department of Health. the Police, the AFD, Customs Excise Department and RSD also have a role to play. So, we do have enough resources to stop illegal meat from entering the territory.
(5) MR. Wu Chi-wai asked the following question (in Cantonese):—As niches of the Urban Council, especially occasionally surrendered ones, are allocated on a first-come-first served basis, the public have to queue up regularly for their allocation. Owing to limited supply of niches, people often do not know the result after waiting for three to four months. I would like to ask:
(a) When was the existing first-come-first-served method of allocating occasionally surrendered niches first adopted? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such method? What is the average waiting time before one can get a niche?
(b) What are the difficulties if the existing method is replaced by a system of
prior registration?
Mr. Joseph CHAN YUEK-SUT, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): -The two part question concerns
Page 137 of 485
Page 137 of 485
Page 137 of 485
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.