HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
firstly, the number of retail outlets selling raw fish food products has been increasing and, secondly, I have noticed that even hawkers are selling these food products in one of the streets at Mongkok. So, I consider that the Urban Council and the departments concerned should square up to this problem and this motion. In the meantime, effective measures should be worked out as soon as possible, so that the public will have a better knowledge of food hygiene concerning raw fish products. Such measures are also to ensure that citizens will not have their health adversely affected after having consumed these food products. With these remarks, I support the motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese):—I greatly support the spirit of Ms. Jennifer Chow Kit-bing's motion because sushi and sashimi food products have become a fad. In addition, since these food products are widely promoted in the mass media, more and more people fancy them. As a result, the supply increases continuously. Existing legislation has lagged behind the need to regulate the hygiene standard of sushi and sashimi food products. Resultantly, the Urban Council and the Regional Council are greatly concerned about the situation.
On 24 April this year, I raised with the Department of Health that we should legislate to regulate sushi and sashimi food products. The Department of Health agreed to draft the relevant bill. Since it will probably take some time for the bill to be drafted and then vetted by the two Municipal Councils and the Legislative Council, it is very essential for us to step up monitoring actions in the interim, especially in the coming summer. Therefore, I support the spirit of the motion, which is to urge the two Municipal Councils to be concerned about the issue and monitor these food products. According to the information on hand, throughout the territory there are at present 132 restaurants and one light refreshment restaurant selling sushi and sashimi, 28 food factories manufacturing sushi and sashimi food products and 37 restaurants supplying fresh and raw fish food products. Some of them sell these food products under very undesirable conditions. Therefore, in the interim, if we don't step up monitoring actions in accordance with the existing regulations to protect public health, there will be an acute potential crisis in this regard.
On the other hand, we also notice that markets and supermarkets are becoming more common as outlets for selling sushi and sashimi food products. For instance, when some Urban Councillors and I went to Lei Yue Mun for a celebration dinner recently, I was astonished to find some sashimi, contained in plastic bags, were put on display in a water tank containing fresh seafood. I believe that if we do not step up monitoring actions, the public will be gravely affected. What is more, there is not any stringent standard set for containers for sashimi and sushi. Therefore, I feel that it is necessary for the motion to mention stepping up monitoring actions in the interim. I support the spirit of
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
firstly, the number of retail outlets selling raw fish food products has been increasing and, secondly, I have noticed that even hawkers are selling these food products in one of the streets at Mongkok. So, I consider that the Urban Council and the departments concerned should square up to this problem and this motion. In the meantime, effective measures should be worked out as soon as possible, so that the public will have a better knowledge of food hygiene concerning raw fish products. Such measures are also to ensure that citizens will not have their health adversely affected after having consumed these food products. With these remarks, I support the motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese):—I greatly support the spirit of Ms. Jennifer Chow Kit-bing's motion because sushi and sashimi food products have become a fad. In addition, since these food products are widely promoted in the mass media, more and more people fancy them. As a result, the supply increases continously. Existing legislation has lagged behind the need to regulate the hygiene standard of sushi and sashimi food products. Resultantly, the Urban Council and the Regional Council are greatly concerned about the situation.
On 24 April this year, I raised with the Department of Health that we should legislate to regulate sushi and sashimi food products. The Department of Health agreed to draft the relevant bill. Since it will probably take some time for the bill to be drafted and then vetted by the two Municipal Councils and the Legislative Council, it is very essential for us to step up monitoring actions in the interim, especially in the coming summer. Therefore, I support the spirit of the motion, which is to urge the two Municipal Councils to be concerned about the issue and monitor these food products. According to the information on hand, throughout the territory there are at present 132 restaurants and one light refreshment restaurant selling sushi and sashimi, 28 food factories manufacturing sushi and sashimi food products and 37 restaurants supplying fresh and raw fish food products. Some of them sell these food products under very undesirable conditions. Therefore, in the interim, if we don't step up monitoring actions in accordance with the existing regulations to protect public health, there will be an acute potential crisis in this regard.
On the other hand, we also notice that markets and supermarkets are becoming more common as outlets for selling sushi and sashimi food products. For instance, when some Urban Councillors and I went to Lei Yue Mun for a celebration dinner recently, I was astonished to find some sashimi, contained in plastic bags, were put on display in a water tank containing fresh seafood. I believe that if we do not step up monitoring actions, the public will be gravely affected. What is more, there is not any stringent standard set for containers for sashimi and sushi. Therefore, I feel that it is necessary for the motion to mention stepping up monitoring actions in the interim. I support the spirit of
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