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should be made into how to take samples more properly for a deterrent effect.
Although there is a food inspection centre at Mankamto, we have discovered that vegetables are still coming in through Sha Tau Kok where there is no inspection centre. There are staff of the Department of Health taking samples at Sha Tau Kok, but I am not sure about the deterrent effect of this arrangement. As for vegetables transported by sea, we are told by the Department that most of them are not leafy vegetables. Nevertheless, there is no sampling mechanism for this type of vegetables, I feel something must be done.
As for sampling in the retail market, work is being done at markets and the Vegetable Marketing Organization. However, poisonous vegetables were recently discovered being sold at a famous supermarket chain which imports directly from mainland farms. The incident reflects the need for sampling in the retail market including supermarkets.
We must maintain the labeling system so that we can trace sources when necessary.
Those are the four areas to improve on with regard to stepping up of inspection work.
Fifthly, we should move from the stage of precaution to promoting products of accredited farms and pesticide-free vegetables. This will be moving from the passive to the positive stage. Both local and mainland government departments should encourage and promote the supply of uncontaminated vegetables for our people. Only market force can give farmers the incentive to join the list of accredited farms, produce fresh vegetables with self-discipline and promote harmless vegetables widely. At present, only 133 farms of Hong Kong and 13 from the mainland have joined the list of accredited farms. Unfortunately, those of the mainland are financed by Hong Kong. It reflects that the idea is not yet popularized in the mainland. The production of these farms is limited too. They can produce at most 80 tonnes of harmless or accredited farm vegetables per day. Their market share is thus small and their prices are higher. I think government should further promote the idea of quality vegetables as well as increase the supply of quality vegetables.
On the day of site inspection, we saw with regret that vegetable baskets bearing labels of accredited farms were mixed with those without labels when they were sent in from the mainland. We could not tell which from which. There might even have been unaccredited vegetables put in baskets for accredited vegetables. The whole mechanism should be reviewed if we want to preserve the good name of Hong Kong as a gourmet paradise.
I hope Members will support my motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Joseph Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese);—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
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should be made into how to take samples more properly for a deterrent effect.
Although there is a food inspection centre at Mankamto, we have discovered that vegetables are still coming in through Sha Tau Kok where there is no inspection centre. There are staff of the Department of Health taking samples at Sha Tau Kok, but I am not sure about the deterrent effect of this arrangement. As for vegetables transported by sea, we are told by the Department that most of them are not leafy vegetables. Nevertheless, there is no sampling mechanism for this type of vegetables, I feel something must be done.
As for sampling in the retail market, work is being done at markets and the Vegetable Marketing Organization. However, poisonous vegetables were recently discovered being sold at a famous supermarket chain which imports directly from mainland farms. The incident reflects the need for sampling in the retail market including supermarkets.
We must maintain the labeling system so that we can trace sources when necessary.
Those are the four areas to improve on with regard to stepping up of inspection work.
Fifthly, we should move from the stage of precaution to promoting products of accredited farms and pesticide-free vegetables. This will be moving from the passive to the positive stage. (Both local and mainland government departments should encourage and promote the supply of uncontaminated vegetables for our people. Only market force can give farmers the incentive to join the list of accredited farms, produce fresh vegetables with self discipline and promote harmless vegetables widely. At present, only 133 farms of Hong Kong and 13 from the mainland have joined the list of accredited farms. Unfortunately, those of the mainland are financed by Hong Kong. It reflects that the idea is not yet popularized in the mainland. The production of these farms is limited too. They can produce at most 80 tonnes of harmless or accredited farm vegetables per day. Their market share is thus small and their prices are higher. I think government should further promote the idea of quality vegetables as well as increase the supply of quality vegetables.
On the day of site inspection, we saw with regret that vegetable baskets bearing labels of accredited farms were mixed with those without labels when they were sent in from the mainland. We could not tell which from which. There might even have been unaccredited vegetables put in baskets for accredited vegetables. The whole mechanism should be reviewed if we want to preserve the good name of Hong Kong as a gourmet paradise.
I hope Members will support my motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Joseph Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese);—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
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