Page 3 of 485
222
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Department has already established a monitoring system to check on the legality of meat supply in licensed food premises and meat stalls in UC markets. Apart from routine inspections which are conducted at fortnightly or monthly intervals, special inspections are also conducted in early mornings at the time of meat delivery. Particular attention is paid to stamp markings of meat inspection and pin codes of abattoirs which indicate whether or not the carcasses have been slaughtered and inspected in government or licensed slaughterhouses. A period of surveillance is maintained on any suspect premises and, where reliable information can be gathered, special raids will be promptly mounted at the optimum time to arrest the offenders and seize the meat.
For meat stalls in UC markets, a condition has already been imposed in the tenancy agreement specifying that all meat on sale must be obtained from a government abattoir, a licensed slaughterhouse or other approved source. Any breach of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance may lead to termination of the tenancy agreement. This question reflects that many problems have arisen as a result of the growing import of other food from China. It also relates to contaminated vegetables. All these questions actually reflect that food hygiene is very important in Hong Kong and we mustn't treat this host of problems lightly. From the angle of the government we must pay due attention to these problems and from the angle of the members of the public they have to cook the meat well before they consume it.
MISS CHRISTINA TING YUK-CHEE (in Cantonese):—Thank you Professor LEUNG, I have several follow-up questions concerning penalties and fines. Two figures were quoted, $1,200 and $2,000. I think the fines are too lenient, especially with regard to cases involving unlicensed premises. Secondly, concerning stamp markings of meat inspection and pin codes, you mentioned that these markings and stamps could be forged. I would like to know whether there are any measures to differentiate the genuine codes or markings from the fake ones?
Thirdly, you said that at appropriate time, a special raid team would be mounted to carry out arrests and seize the meat. I would like to know the number of staff in each team and whether the teams are stationed in designated districts and are supposed to cover the entire urban area.
Professor Leung has also mentioned poisonous vegetables. Since most of the meat is imported from mainland China, I would like to know whether there is any method or cross-border co-operation between China and Hong Kong to ensure that members of the public's health will not be jeopardised.
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—I wish to thank Miss TING for her very complex questions. Of course, if we are to effectively control unlicensed meat, we have to intercept the meat at the border. Interception of all uninspected meat at the border has posed some problems. Similar to the case of poisonous vegetables, co-operation from mainland China has yielded very good results. However, interception of all uninspected meat at the Chinese border may not be forthcoming.
Page 3 of 485
1
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 3 of 485
223
Concerning penalties, there are already plans to raise the maximum fine from $5,000 to $10,000.
As regards other punishment on illicit sale or illicit trading of meat, the new demerit point system has been implemented since February. The licences are liable to be suspended or cancelled once the fresh provision shops have been found guilty of selling uninspected meat. Up to certain points the licence would be revoked. Concurrently, health education will be stepped up and the Department would also urge members of the public to make use of the Complaint Hot Line. If illicit sale of meat is found, they should dial the hotline number 2868 0000.
As to the reasons for the discovery of only three cases of illicit sale of meat last year, this is mainly due to the fact that all UC markets and fresh provision shops are situated in the urban area where most of the sources for supply of meat are legal. Illicit sources of supply of meat are mostly located in N.T. area and that is why we do not have to face so much of the problem of illicit sale of meat.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):—I would like to ask a question. If we ever discover that there is sale of uninspected meat in UC markets, is the tenancy agreement revoked immediately or is it the case that it would be put on record to accumulate to certain points to terminate the tenancy agreement?
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—Concerning action to be taken after suspect cases have been identified, usually this could happen at a variety of levels. If we are only suspicious of certain stalls that are selling meat from illegal source then the meat stall is likely to be placed under surveillance and, when sufficient information is gathered, the meat will be seized and confiscated. On the other hand, it is necessary to mount early morning raids to identify whether they are illegal or not. And the size of the team is not really very large and each year they can mount inspection in the early hours, around 250 times a year. However, after the pig carcasses have been delivered to the meat stalls and carved up, then it would be more difficult to differentiate whether the pig carcasses are from illegal source. In conclusion, the most effective means is to intercept the illegal meat at the border point and that would be more appropriate and more effective.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):—What I am concerned about is that if we discover that our meat stalls in our markets are selling meat from illegal source, will the tenancy agreements be terminated right away, or do we allow them a grace period before termination of tenancy is effected?
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—This is a matter of technicality and there are various levels where action could be taken. Say, if all pig carcasses are lacking approved markings then, probably, the meat will be seized and confiscated. If the meat stall is only under suspicion, then probably we'll effect surveillance.
Page 3 of 485
Page 3 of 485
222
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Department has already established a monitoring system to check on the legality of meat supply in licensed food premises and meat stalls in UC markets. Apart from routine inspections which are conducted at fortnightly or monthly intervals, special inspections are also conducted in early mornings at the time of meat delivery. Particular attention is paid to stamp markings of meat inspection and pin codes of abattoirs which indicate whether or not the carcasses have been slaughtered and inspected in government or licensed slaughterhouses. A period of surveillance is maintained on any suspect premises and, where reliable information can be gathered, special raids will be promptly mounted at the optimum time to arrest the offenders and seize the meat.
For meat stalls in UC markets, a condition has already been imposed in the tenancy agreement specifying that all meat on sale must be obtained from a government abattoir, a licensed slaughterhouse or other approved source. Any breach of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance may lead to termination of the tenancy agreement. This question reflects that many problems have arisen as a result of the growing import of other food from China. It also relates to contaminated vegetables. All these questions actually reflect that food hygiene is very important in Hong Kong and we mustn't treat this host of problems lightly. From the angle of the government we must pay due attention to these problems and from the angle of the members of the public they have to cook the meat well before they consume it.
MISS CHRISTINA TING YUK-CHEE (in Cantonese):-Thank you Professor LEUNG, I have several follow-up questions concerning penalties and fines. Two figures were quoted, $1,200 and $2,000. I think the fines are too lenient, especially with regard to cases involving unlicensed premises. Secondly, concerning stamp markings of meat inspection and pin codes, you mentioned that these markings and stamps could be forged. I would like to know whether there are any measures to differentiate the genuine codes or markings from the fake ones?
Thirdly, you said that at appropriate time, a special raid team would be mounted to carry out arrests and seize the meat. I would like to know the number of staff in each team and whether the teams are stationed in designated districts and are supposed to cover the entire urban area.
Professor Leung has also mentioned poisonous vegetables. Since most of the meat is imported from mainland China, I would like to know whether there is any method or cross-border co-operation between China and Hong Kong to ensure that members of the public's health will not be jeapordised.
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-I wish to thank Miss TING for her very complex questions. Of course, if we are to effectively control unlicensed meat, we have to intercept the meat at the border. Interception of all uninspected meat at the border has posed some problems. Similar to the case of poisonous vegetables, co-operation from mainland China has yielded very good results. However, interception of all uninspected meat at the Chinese border may not be forthcoming.
Page 3 of 485
1
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 3 of 485
223
Concerning penalties, there are already plans to raise the maximum fine from $5,000 to $10,000.
As regards other punishment on illicit sale or illicit trading of meat, the new demerit point system has been implemented since February. The licences are liable to be suspended or cancelled once the fresh provision shops have been found guilty of selling uninspected meat. Up to certain points the licence would be revoked. Concurrently, health education will be stepped up and the Department would also urge members of the public to make use of the Complaint Hot Line. If illicit sale of meat is found, they should dial the hotline number 2868 0000.
As to the reasons for the discovery of only three cases of illicit sale of meat last year, this is mainly due to the fact that all UC markets and fresh provision shops are situated in the urban area where most of the sources for supply of meat are legal. Illicit sources of supply of meat are mostly located in N.T. area and that is why we do not have to face so much of the problem of illicit sale of
meat.
MR. MA LEE-Wo (in Cantonese):—I would like to ask a question. If we ever discover that there is sale of uninspected meat in UC markets, is the tenancy agreement revoked immediately or is it the case that it would be put on record to accumulate to certain points to terminate the tenancy agreement?
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Concerning action to be taken after suspect cases have been identified, usually this could happen at a variety of levels. If we are only suspicious of certain stalls that are selling meat from illegal source then the meat stall is likely to be placed under surveillance and, when sufficient information is gathered, the meat will be seized and confiscated. On the other hand, it is necessary to mount early morning raids to identify whether they are illegal or not. And the size of the team is not really very large and each year they can mount inspection in the early hours, around 250 times a year. However, after the pig carcasses have been delivered to the meat stalls and carved up, then it would be more difficult to differentiate whether the pig carcasses are from illegal source. In conclusion, the most effective means is to intercept the illegal meat at the border point and that would be more appropriate and more effective.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):-What I am concerned about is that if we discover that our meat stalls in our markets are selling meat from illegal source, will the tenancy agreements be terminated right away, or do we allow them a grace period before termination of tenancy is effected?
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—This is a matter of technicality and there are various levels where action could be taken. Say, if all pig carcasses are lacking approved markings then, probably, the meat will be seized and confiscated. If the meat stall is only under suspicion, then probably we'll effect
Page 3 of 485
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.