Page 182 of 654
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
183
In order to follow up on the loophole in monitoring food hygiene exposed during the recent crisis, the Public Health Select Committee convened two extraordinary meetings. The Department as well as a government inter-departmental working group passed four motions for the implementation of improvement and remedial measures moved at the meetings at one time. Three of the motions were moved by me. The measures cover mainly six aspects as follows.
First, increase fines and double the number of days of suspension upon the first two times when points are taken off for contravention. When points are taken off the third time, the license should be suspended. This will give a greater deterrence and warn operators who fail to meet hygiene requirements. Secondly, the Judiciary has agreed to increase court sessions for food hygiene cases from 5 to 7 a week from September onwards.
Thirdly, attendance of food hygiene courses run by the Department is made a condition for renewal or application of licences for food operators or managers. Such courses started from June and are expected to be completed at the end of August. It is estimated that people from around 8,000 food premises in the urban area would attend the courses.
Fourth, the Urban Services Department has set up a food hygiene complaint hotline and promised to investigate promptly into emergency cases that affect public hygiene adversely.
Fifth, food premises are required to display a sign to specify that they have been granted licences at a prominent place at the entrance. This helps members of the public to identify lawful establishments.
Sixth, food manufacturers, suppliers or retailers are required to keep records of food sold without packaging so that the source of infected food can be easily traced.
However, response to the above 6 improvement measures have not been made at the extraordinary meeting which carried unanimously my motion for immediate closure of unlicensed food premises or food manufacture factories. This results in a big loophole for the monitoring of food hygiene. That loophole is not yet resolved. Because of that loophole, there are at present some 1,100 unlicensed food premises or food factories within the urban area under the Provisional Urban Council. Their operation is like a thousand time bombs to explode any minute, bringing out endless crises of food hygiene.
As the licensing authority, the Provisional Urban Council has no reason to stand by. The Urban Services Department thinks that under the principal Ordinance, it is not empowered to close premises summarily and only the Department of Health has that power. However, the Department of Health only works under Section 19 of the Prevention of Spread of Infectious Diseases Regulations (Cap. 141) and it acts upon the spread of infectious diseases only. The thing is, unlicensed food premises may not be associated with infectious
Page 182 of 654
Page 182 of 654
Page 182 of 654
Page 182 of 654
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
183
In order to follow up on the loophole in monitoring food hygiene exposed during the recent crisis, the Public Health Select Committee convened two extraordinary meetings. The Department as well as a government inter- departmental working group passed four motions for the implementation of mmprovement and remedial measures moved at the meetings at one time. Three of the motions were moved by me. The measures cover mainly six aspects as Follows.
First, increase fines and double the number of days of suspension upon the First two times when points are taken off for contravention. When points are taken off the third time, the license should be suspended. This will give a greater delerrence and warn operators who fail to meet hygiene requirements. Secondly, the Judiciary has agreed to increase court sessions for food hiygiene cases from 5 to 7 a week from September onwards.
Thirdly, attendance of food hygiene courses run by the Department is made a condition for renewal or application of licences for food operators or managers. Such courses started from June and are expected to be completed at the end of August. It is estimated that people from around 8 000 food premises im the urban area would attend the courses.
Fourth, the Urban Services Department has set up a food hygiene complaint mot line and promised to investigate promptly into emergency cases that affect public hygiene adversely.
Fifth, food premises are required to display a sign to specify that they have been granted licenses at a prominent place at the entrance. This helps members of the public to identify lawful establishments.
Sixth, food manufacturers, suppliers or retailers are required to keep records of food sold without packaging so that the source of infected food can be easily traced.
However, response of the above 6 improvement measures have not been made at the extraordinary meeting which carried unanimously my motion for immediate closure of unlicensed food premises or food manufacture factories. This results in a big loophole for the monitoring of food hygiene. That hoophole is not yet resolved. Because of that loophole, there are at present some 1,100 unlicensed food premises or food factories within the urban area under the Provisional Urban Council. Their operation is like a thousand time Dombs to explode any minute, bringing out endless crises of food hygiene.
As the licensing authority, the Provisional Urban Council has no reason to stand by. The Urban Services Department thinks that under the principle Ordinance, it is not empowered to close premises summarily and only the Department of Health has that power. However, the Department of Health Only works under Section 19 of the Prevention of Spread of Infectious Diseases Regulations (Cap. 141) and it acts upon the spread of infectious diseases only. The thing is, unlicensed food premises may not be associated with infectious
Page 182 of 654
Page 182 of 654
Page 182 of 654
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