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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Mr. Ip Kwok-Chung (in Cantonese):-As to Mr. CHEUNG's question on whether the hawker control performance was satisfactory, I think it is for us to decide. From the Members' and the public's point of view, we of course hope to have better service. So, whether the performance is satisfactory should be judged by us.

The second question about two or three shifts. I can tell Mr. CHEUNG that the Department is now working on a two shift system plus a task force. The feasibility of a three shift system was discussed at our meeting, but the Department explained that it did not have the resources to meet the requirements of a three shift system. Also, night shift people would only need to focus on hawking blackspots such as Causeway Bay, Mong Kok and Yau Tsin. If the three shift system is implemented fully, there may be the difficulty of certain areas having no need for night shift staff. It is initially considered that the task force system would be more effective. At recent meetings of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee and meetings of the relevant working group, it was emphasized that increasing the establishment of the task force might be desirable for more support at demanding areas. That is our present policy. Then of course, if Members feel that there is need for the three shift system to be implemented, maybe we can go into more detailed studies. I am willing to take this back to the Select Committee for follow up.

(4) MR. CHAN Kwok-LEUNG asked the following questions:—'According to press reports, nearly a hundred cattle, sheep and goats were infected with anthrax in Australia recently and it can be fatal for humans to contract the disease. Since beef and mutton from Australia are also exported to Hong Kong. I have the following questions regarding the effects of the disease on citizens:

(a) What is the quantity of beef and mutton imported into Hong Kong from Australia last year?

(b) Please give a brief account of how the Department of Health ensures the hygiene standard of imported frozen meat. Does the Department of Health merely rely on the health certificate issued by the health authority of the country of export?

(c) What respective roles do the Urban Services Department and Department of Health play in monitoring the hygiene standard of imported frozen meat? Have the two departments tightened control of the imported frozen meat concerned in response to the situation of the spread of anthrax in Australia?

(d) What is the current situation on the spread of anthrax among the said livestock in Australia? How can it be ascertained that the situation is under control? Have the international health organizations concerned (e.g. the World Health Organization) issued any "situation reports' on the matter?

(e) Regarding the case in which a citizen died in Hong Kong in 1994 after contracting anthrax, how was the disease transmitted? What are the symptoms of anthrax? What are the methods to prevent contracting of anthrax?

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symptoms of anthrax? What are the methods to prevent contracting of anthrax?

MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT, CHAIRMAN of the PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-Mr. Chairman, this five part question relates to the monitoring of the import of meat to ensure it free from infection of anthrax, a communicable disease. This matter comes under the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance for which the primary responsibility falls under the Department of Health. I am grateful to the Director of Health for supplying the information for me to reply to this question.

The first part of the question enquires about the quantities of meat imported from Australia. The latest statistics of the Department of Health reveal that 3038 and 448 tonnes of beef and mutton respectively were imported from Australia into Hong Kong from January to October 1996.

I shall take the second, third and fourth parts of the question together, as these questions concern the action taken and control measures already carried out by the Department of Health.

Under the above regulations, all meat imported into Hong Kong must be accompanied by an official health certificate issued by an authority recognized by the Director of Health. The certificate will confirm that the meat is fit for human consumption. Apart from that, the Department of Health takes samples of imported meat for analysis at points of entry and at the wholesale and retail levels in its food surveillance programme to ensure that these food items are unadulterated, hygienic, safe and fit for human consumption.

In connection with the outbreak of anthrax in Australia, the Department of Health has undertaken a special surveillance programme by taking samples of Australian meat for analysis and have not detected the existence of bacteria Bacillus anthracis in the samples.

The Department of Health has also liaised with the Australian Consulate General of Hong Kong on the incident. The Consulate has advised that the Australian Government has already imposed various measures, including mandatory vaccination of cattle in farms where clinical cases of anthrax have been found and a minimum of six weeks period of quarantine confinement for vaccinated cattle in these farms, to prevent the spread of the disease. Furthermore, animals will also be examined in detail during the ante-mortem process. Given that anthrax is an acute disease with obvious clinical presentation in a short period of time, the disease can be easily detected and hence meat can be prevented from entering into the market. The Australian Government has assured that meat exported from Australia remains safe for human consumption.

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