ENG-2018 — Page 213

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Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

columbarium, except during the grace period as applicable. A private columbarium must obtain a licence before it sells or newly lets out niches.

Any person who operates, keeps, manages or has control of a private columbarium in contravention of the requirements under the new legislation is liable to prosecution and, on summary conviction, to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for three years or, on conviction on indictment, to a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for seven years.

The Private Columbaria Licensing Board regulates the operation and management of private columbaria, and handles applications for specified instruments. As at end-2018, it was processing about 340 applications for specified instruments submitted by 141 private columbaria. The FEHD conducts inspections and takes enforcement action to combat the illegal operation of private columbaria. During the year, it carried out about 530 inspections and investigated about 70 cases of suspected contravention of the ordinance.

The Private Columbaria Appeal Board is an independent quasi-judicial body to hear and determine an appeal lodged by the applicant or holder of a specified instrument aggrieved by a decision made on the licensing of private columbaria, an enforcement notice or an ash disposal plan.

Public Education

In 2018, the FEHD's Health Education Exhibition and Resource Centre in Kowloon Park. organised 2,375 health talks for the public and target groups, including students and the elderly. A mobile education centre also disseminates food safety and environmental hygiene messages across the territory.

Fourteen food trade associations and 1,423 food premises and retail outlets subscribe to the Centre for Food Safety's Food Safety Charter, which promotes best practices in handling food. The centre holds an annual signature Food Safety Day, conducts health talks on food safety and deploys vans to broadcast food safety messages in housing estates and markets.

Measures against Avian Influenza

Government measures to keep avian influenza (Al) at bay include stringent monitoring of the poultry supply chain from farm to retail levels, vaccination of chickens against H5 and H7 Al and close surveillance of imported and local birds.

Hong Kong prohibits the keeping of poultry in backyards. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. Owners of racing pigeons are required to hold exhibition licences, while pet bird traders must submit official animal health certificates to the authorities, or documents such as invoices showing the places of origin of their birds, or the names and addresses of their suppliers. The sale of birds from unknown sources is prohibited. Bird traders must keep up-to- date records of their transactions and the number of birds in their possession.

Live poultry are allowed to be sold at retail level. All live poultry in public market stalls and fresh provision shops must be slaughtered by 8pm every day. Live poultry are not allowed in these

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