ENG-2006 — Page 228

188 Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

reared in Hong Kong farms is expected to fall to 1.7 million, a decrease of about 53 per cent.

The AFCD conducted an exercise, codenamed 'Lily', with the Centre for Health Protection on October 20, 2006 to assess the department's preparedness should it be called upon to cull large numbers of birds in Hong Kong's poultry farms. In November, the department also co-hosted two meetings to brief FEHD and Centre for Health Protection personnel on government measures to combat avian influenza and increase public awareness of those measures.

Retail and Cooked Food Markets

The FEHD operates 103 public markets, including 25 free-standing cooked food markets, and about 11 450 occupied stalls that sell commodities ranging from fresh food to household items.

Hawkers

The FEHD maintains control over hawking activities in Hong Kong. During the year, 121 231 raids were carried out on hawkers and 26 695 convictions were secured in the courts for offences related to hawking.

Slaughterhouses

At present, fresh meat in Hong Kong is supplied by three licensed slaughterhouses namely Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse, Tsuen Wan Slaughterhouse and Cheung Chau Slaughterhouse. The FEHD is responsible for overseeing the smooth operation of these slaughterhouses.

During the year, 43 270 animal health certificates and 27 813 entry permits for local pigs were verified at the slaughterhouses. To help ensure food safety and public health protection, 69 871 samples of urine and tissue were taken from pigs at the slaughterhouses for testing for veterinary drug residues. A total of 1 969 710 pigs, 46 349 cattle and 11 202 goats were slaughtered and examined in the three slaughterhouses. Meat supplied by the slaughterhouses is subject to inspection by health inspectors and only meat fit for human consumption is released for sale.

The Intelligence Unit of the FEHD continued to carry out surveillance and collect evidence to close down illegal slaughterhouses; to track down the sale of chilled meat as fresh meat; and to mount joint operations with the Customs and Excise Department and the Police to tackle meat-smuggling. In 2006, two illegal slaughterhouses were shut down and four large-scale raids on meat-smugglers were mounted, resulting in four arrests and the seizure of 12 tonnes of smuggled meat. Five FPS licences and two market tenancies were cancelled for fraudulently selling chilled meat as fresh meat.

Public Education

The FEHD runs the Health Education Exhibition and Resource Centre in Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, and the Communication Resource Centre at the Fa Yuen Street