ENG-2005 — Page 234

192 | Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

Hawkers

The FEHD maintains control over hawking activities in Hong Kong. During the year, there were 114 406 raids and 22 485 convictions secured in the courts for offences related to hawking.

Slaughterhouses

At present, fresh meat in Hong Kong is supplied from three slaughterhouses: Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse, Tsuen Wan Slaughterhouse and Cheung Chau Slaughterhouse. The FEHD assumes the role of the managing authority to monitor and oversee the operation of these slaughterhouses.

During the year, 43 830 animal health certificates and 27 434 admission forms for local pigs were verified at the slaughterhouses. To enhance food safety and public health protection, 70 274 urine and tissue samples were collected from slaughterhouse animals for testing for veterinary drug residues. A total of 2 050 216 pigs, 48 203 cattle and 7 185 goats were slaughtered and examined in the three slaughterhouses. Meat supplied from the slaughterhouses is subject to inspection by health inspectors and only meat fit for human consumption is released for sale in the market.

The Intelligence Unit of the department continued its role in cracking down on illegal slaughtering activities. Owing to the department's persistent efforts, illegal slaughtering activities have subsided. Unit staff also worked with the Customs and Excise Department and conducted four large-scale raids on meat-smuggling operations, resulting in five arrests and the seizure of 5 035 kilograms of smuggled

meat.

Public Education

The FEHD operates the Health Education Exhibition and Resource Centre in Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui and the Communication Resource Centre at the Fa Yuen Street Municipal Services Building in Mong Kok to educate the public on the importance of food safety and environmental hygiene through multi-media interactive exhibits and library materials.

Outreach programmes, including talks, exhibitions and various health education activities, are organised to disseminate messages on personal hygiene, food safety and measures that help maintain a hygienic living environment. During the year, 2 966 health talks were given to the general public and various target groups, including food handlers, school children, foreign domestic helpers, the elderly and new arrivals.

The FEHD also launched new publicity drives to encourage the public to continue to keep Hong Kong clean and to promote food safety and public health. They included television and radio announcements in the public interest, advertisements at bus shelters and railway stations, banners and posters, and the distribution of pamphlets. To encourage involvement in keeping Hong Kong clean, the department