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MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese): I have a few follow-up questions. Firstly, on part 2 of your reply to my question, which parts of the sea do you mean by the off-shore sites? In fact, are there any seawater suppliers who actually extract water from these sites and supply it to the seafood vendors? That's my first question.
My second question is also in response to part 2 of your reply which refers to the Working Group's study on the feasibility of legislation. In fact, the Council has heard the same answer for at least 4 years. It has been 4 years, and we still have the same answer. So, Mr. CHAN, will you follow up this and request the Working Group to provide us with a concrete timetable?
As regards question 3, there have been recent reports about an area near Yau Tong in Kowloon East in which a number of seafood vendors use toilet flushing water to keep their live seafood. This disclosure has aroused much public concern. Does the Department have any specific details on these reports? At the moment, the Council has not received any details concerning this.
The last question, Mr. CHAN, your reply in part 2 seems to be contradictory to those in parts 5 and 6. In part 2 of your reply, you said that the Working Group was studying the feasibility of legislation and registration. However, in parts 5 and 6, you said that the Working Group considered that legislation was not practical and cost-effective. Do you think these two answers are contradictory?
Lastly, Mr. CHAN, are you going to bring the matter regarding the monitoring of seawater for keeping live seafood to the PH SIC for follow-up action? It was released by the Department yesterday that the 7th case of cholera had occurred in Hong Kong. Among these cases, 4 were contracted from outside Hong Kong and 3 were contracted locally. As summer draws near, I am very worried that the situation may get worse. Mr. Chairman, will you ask the Department and other relevant government departments to submit papers to the PH SIC for follow-up action?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the off-shore sites refer to 3 locations in Sai Kung: Kau Tong Hau, Little Palm Beach and Tso Wo Hang. The water quality of these sites is considered acceptable by the EPD and seawater suppliers can draw water there. However, Mr. Chairman, I do not have information as to whether seawater suppliers actually draw water there. These sites are too far away. But there may actually be suppliers drawing water there. We can provide such information after the meeting if Mr. WONG requests it.
The second question is on whether there is a specific timetable for the Working Group to study the feasibility of legislation. The main task of the Working Group is to study the feasibility of legislation and the setting up of a registration system for seawater suppliers. I can ask the Department to take follow-up action and to submit a finalized timetable, including the time of
Page 464 of 606
I age 464 of 606
Page 464 of 606
608
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese):-/ have a few follow-up questions. Firstly, on part 2 of your reply to my question, which parts of the sea do your mean by the off-shore sites? In fact, are there any seawater suppliers who actuallyTM extract water from these sites and supply it to the seafood vendors? That's my first question.
My second question is also in response to part 2 of your reply which refers to the Working Group's study on the feasibility of legislation. In fact, the Council has heard the same answer for at least 4 years. It has been 4 years, and we still have the same answer. So, Mr. CHAN, will you follow up this and request the Working Group to provide us with a concrete timetable?
As regards question 3, there have been recent reports about an area near Yau Tong in Kowloon East in which a number of seafood vendors use toilet flushing water to keep their live seafood. This disclosure has aroused much public concern. Does the Department have any specific details on these reports? At the moment, the Council has not received any details concerning this.
The last question, Mr. CHAN, your reply in part 2 seems to be contradictory to those in parts 5 and 6. In part 2 of your reply, you said that the Working Group was studying the feasibility of legislation and registration. However, in parts 5 and 6, you said that the Working Group considered that legislation was not practical and cost-effective. Do you think these two answers are contradictory?
Lastly, Mr. CHAN, are you going to bring the matter regarding the monitoring of seawater for keeping live seafood to the PH SIC for follow-up action? It was released by the Department yesterday that the 7th case of cholera had occurred in Hong Kong. Among these cases, 4 were contracted from outside Hong Kong and 3 were contracted locally. As summer draws near, I am very worried that the situation may get worse. Mr. Chairman, will you ask the Department and other relevant government departments to submit papers to the PH SIC for follow-up action?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the off-shore sites refer to 3 locations in Sai Kung: Kau Tong Hau, Little Palm Beach and Tso Wo Hang. The water quality of these sites is considered acceptable by the EPD and seawater suppliers can draw water there. However, Mr. Chairman, I do not have information as to whether seawater suppliers actually draw water there. These sites are too far away. But there may actually be suppliers drawing water there. We can provide such information after the meeting if Mr. WONG requests it.
The second question is on whether there is a specific timetable for the Working Group to study the feasibility of legislation. The main task of the Working Group is to study the feasibility of legislation and the setting up of a registration system for seawater suppliers. I can ask the Department to take follow-up action and to submit a finalized timetable, including the time of
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