ENG-2014 — Page 200

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Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

prohibit the import and supply, as well as mandate recall and proper disposal of relevant oils and related food products made with such oils. During the incident, the CFS kept close contact with Taiwanese authorities and tested samples of food and edible oil to safeguard public health.

Public Markets and Cooked Food Markets

The FEHD operates 101 public markets (including 25 free-standing cooked food markets) with some 14,400 stalls selling fresh products, cooked food, light refreshments and household items and providing service trades. As at the end of 2014, the overall occupancy rate at these markets was 91.2 per cent.

In 2013, the FHB commissioned a consultancy study on improvements to the public markets' operating environment, including their functions and positioning, factors affecting their competitiveness, public expectations and ways to retain traditional trades. The consultant's report is expected in early 2015. The government will then formulate improvement plans for implementation.

Hawkers

The FEHD regulates hawking in Hong Kong. As at the end of 2014, there were 5,905 hawkers carrying out business in licensed fixed-pitch stalls and 442 itinerant hawkers.

Since the launch of the five-year 'Assistance Scheme for Hawkers in Fixed-pitch Hawker Areas' in June 2013 to provide financial assistance to 4,300 hawkers in the 43 fixed-pitch hawker areas to reduce fire risks in hawker areas, the FEHD has worked out relocation plans with all fixed-pitch hawkers whose stalls may obstruct building staircase discharge points or emergency operations, involving about 500 fixed pitches. Including hawker licences surrendered, 56 per cent of the hawker pitches have been vacated.

Up to the end of 2014, the FEHD has received 1,060 applications for relocation and reconstruction grants and 356 hawkers have surrendered their licences.

Slaughterhouses

The FEHD oversees the hygiene standards of licensed slaughterhouses in Sheung Shui, Tsuen Wan and Cheung Chau. Meat supplied by the slaughterhouses has to pass inspection by health officials before delivery to markets. During 2014, 41,917 animal health certificates and 7,945 entry permits for local pigs were verified at the slaughterhouses, 52,813 samples of urine and tissue were taken from animals and tested for veterinary drug residues, and 1,710,272 pigs, 18,612 cattle and 5,283 goats were slaughtered.

The FEHD's Intelligence Unit continued to track down vendors selling chilled meat as fresh meat in 2014 and, working with the Customs and Excise Department and the Centre for Food Safety, carried out 20 raids, launched 26 prosecutions and seized 1.36 tonnes of smuggled meat.

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