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other hand, Methamidophos as a pesticide, especially for vegetables for export, was not completely banned. It is indeed a great shock for us. It is hard to imagine that the digestive system of people north of Shenzhen can cope with Methamidophos. We believe mainland authorities cannot shift the blame and something must be done as soon as possible to deal with the matter.
The following are our requests:
1. Mainland authorities should ban Methamidophos as a pesticide for vegetables;
2. The number of samples taken from truckloads of vegetables at Man Kam To should be increased so that test paper or in-depth tests are conducted on samples from each batch of vegetables.
3. Channels for transporting vegetables through other border points should be blocked.
4. A basket tag system should be introduced for proper input of information such as farm, importer, pesticide used and a coding system for batches imported should be used so that in case of any problem, whole batches can be recalled or banned from the market.
5. Laboratories should be set up by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department at various vegetable wholesale markets to implement a review system.
6. Studies on a licensing system for vegetable transporters, importers, wholesalers and retailers should be made. As one of the conditions for licensing, one should be required to keep record of stock for a certain period of time.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. TOMMY Cheung Yu-Yan (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the people of Hong Kong are in fact very concerned about poisonous vegetables on the market recently. We are particularly concerned about the use of pesticide. Consumption of vegetables with residues of methamidophos leads to bad effects, but in fact pesticides containing methamidophos are cheap and practical. Such pesticides are already banned in Hong Kong, but I doubt the practicability of banning them in the mainland too. Other agricultural products need this sort of pesticide. Even if it is decided to ban such pesticides, it will take a long time to implement.
As to the suggestion of stepping up checks at Man Kam To, I fully support it. My worry is whether we have sufficient manpower to do so.
I have a positive and feasible proposal to put forth and it can help the community. The proposal includes two parts as follows:
1. Apart from the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Vegetable Market which has an independent testing centre for vegetables (about 60% of vegetables imported into Hong Kong), there are three more vegetable
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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
399
other hand, Methamidophos as a pesticide, especially for vegetables for export, was not completely banned. It is indeed a great shock for us. It is hard to imagine that the digestive system of people north of Shenzhen can cope with Methamidophos. We believe mainland authorities cannot shift the blame and something must be done as soon as possible to deal with the matter.
The following are our requests:
1. Mainland authorities should ban Methamidophos as a pesticide for
vegetables;
2.
3.
4.
5.
The number of samples taken from truckloads of vegetables at Mankamto should be increased so that test paper or in-depth tests are conducted on samples from each batch of vegetables. Channels for transporting vegetables through other border points should be blocked
100.
A basket tag system should be introduced for proper input of information such as farm, importer, pesticide used and a coding system for batches imported should be used so that in case of any problem, whole batches can be recalled or banned from the market.
Laboratories should be set up by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department at various vegetable wholesale markets to implement a review system.
Studies on a licensing system for vegetable transporters. importers, wholesalers and retailers should be made. As one of the conditions for licensing, one should be required to keep record of stock for a certain period of time.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. TOMMY Cheung Yu-YAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the people of Hong Kong are in fact very concerned about poisonous vegetables on the market recently. We are particularly concerned about the use of pesticide. Consumption of vegetables with residues of methamidophos leads to bad effects, but in fact pesticides containing methamidophos are cheap and practical. Such pesticides are already banned in Hong Kong, but I doubl the practicability of banning them in the mainland too. Other agricultural products need this sort of pesticide. Even if it is decided to ban such pesticides, it will take a long time to implement.
As to the suggestion of stepping up checks at Mankamto, I fully support it. My worry is whether we have sufficient manpower to do so.
I have a positive and feasible proposal to put forth and it can help the community. The proposal includes two parts as follows:
1.
Apart from the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Vegetable Market which has an independent testing centre for vegetables (about 60% of vegetables imported into Hong Kong), there are three more vegetable
11
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