Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries | 185
A 12-month pilot study on keeping places free of rats was completed during the year. The study showed that, with active participation by residents, rat populations can be reduced.
The department continued its surveillance programme on Aedes albopictus, a major carrier of dengue fever in Hong Kong. Anti-mosquito squads conducted inspections of various places in 2006, including construction sites which they visited 20 612 times during the year. They also made 285 957 visits to village-type houses and eliminated 63 573 mosquito breeding grounds.
Cemeteries and Crematoria
As there is a limited amount of land in Hong Kong, the Government encourages cremation of the dead. Normally, human remains in public cemeteries are exhumed after six years and are either cremated or interred in urn cemeteries.
The FEHD operates six government crematoria and 11 public cemeteries, and oversees the management of 28 private cemeteries.
Food and Other Trade Licensing
The FEHD is the authority responsible for licensing food businesses and issuing permits for the sale of restricted foods including Chinese herb tea, milk, frozen confections, sushi and sashimi. It also issues licences to places of public entertainment such as theatres, cinemas and entertainment machine centres. In addition, it issues trade licences for private swimming pools, commercial bathhouses and offensive trades such as the tanning of hides and the processing of sharks' fins. The FEHD also provides support for the Liquor Licensing Board, an independent statutory body that issues liquor licences. The Chief Executive appoints the board members who meet about four times a month to consider licence applications.
During the year, the department received and processed 2 808 applications for food business licences, 901 for restricted food permits, 901 for places of public entertainment licences, 34 for other trade licences, 844 for liquor licences and club liquor licences, and 31 for karaoke establishment permits in premises with a restaurant licence.
In line with the Government's policy of facilitating business operations in Hong Kong, the department implements measures to streamline licensing procedures to shorten the processing time for licences.
The FEHD executed two closure orders against food premises during the year because of incidents of food poisoning.
Food Safety and Labelling
The FEHD is tasked with ensuring that food available for human consumption is safe and properly labelled. It aims to protect public health through the development and implementation of effective food control measures.
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