ENG-2010 — Page 234

188 Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

The FEHD promotes sustainable means of burial and alternative ways of paying tribute to the deceased to facilitate transformation of social traditions. The Government encourages scattering of ashes in the eight Gardens of Remembrance managed by the department or in designated Hong Kong waters.

In January 2010, the department launched a pilot scheme to provide free ferry service for families of the deceased to scatter their ashes at sea.

The FEHD also introduced an Internet Memorial Service in June 2010 for members of the public to pay tribute to the deceased and to extend condolences to their families through a dedicated webpage (www.memorial.gov.hk).

Licensing of Food Premises and Other Trades

The FEHD is the licensing authority for food businesses. It also issues permits for the sale of restricted foods, including Chinese herbal tea, milk, frozen confections, sushi and sashimi, as well as licences for places of public entertainment such as theatres, cinemas and entertainment machine centres. It issues licences for private swimming pools, commercial bathhouses and factories engaged in offensive trades. The FEHD provides executive and secretarial support to the Liquor Licensing Board, an independent statutory body that issues liquor licences, including those for clubs.

During the year, the department handled 3 580 applications for food business. licences, 873 permits for restricted foods, 1 690 licences for places of public entertainment, 39 licences for other trades, 956 liquor and club liquor licences, and 34 permits for karaoke establishments in premises with restaurant licences.

The department continues to streamline licensing procedures in line with the Government's policy of facilitating business operations in Hong Kong. Since August 1, 2010, it has been issuing Composite Food Shop Licences for the sale and preparation for sale of various types of simple or ready-to-eat food items for consumption outside the premises where the food is prepared. It also created a Liquor Licence Processing System on August 1, 2010 that enables the trade to submit online liquor licence and club liquor licence applications as well as make payments of related licence fees.

Food Safety and Labelling

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) established within the FEHD is responsible for ensuring food sold in Hong Kong is safe for human consumption.

Under the food surveillance programme, about 64 455 samples of food were taken at import, wholesale and retail points in 2010 for chemical, microbiological and radiological testing as part of the work of ensuring food safety.

A total of 28 783 vehicles carrying vegetables, and 45 543 vehicles carrying live food animals including pigs, cattle, goats and poultry were inspected at the Food Control Office and Animal Inspection Station at Man Kam To during the year. A total of 5 507 325 live food animals were examined and 50 953 blood and 56 301 urine, faecal and tissue samples were tested for disease and veterinary drug residues.