ENG-2019 — Page 208

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Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

permits; 2,822 licences for places of public entertainment; 37 licences for other trades; 1,133 liquor and club liquor licences; and 14 permits for karaoke establishments in licensed

restaurants.

Food Safety and Labelling

The Centre for Food Safety safeguards food sold in Hong Kong. It took about 66,000 samples of food at import, wholesale and retail levels for chemical, microbiological and radiological testing in 2019. The overall satisfaction rate of these tests was 99.8 per cent. The Government Laboratory is responsible for most of the testing of food samples.

During the year, the Animal Inspection Station at Man Kam To inspected 23,423 vehicles carrying live food animals including pigs, cattle and goats, and examined 860,311 live food animals.

The bureau and the centre, making reference to the food safety standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other economies, and taking into account local dietary practices and risk assessment results, update Hong Kong's food safety standards and regulatory arrangements in a timely way based on scientific evidence. The Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) (Amendment) Regulation 2018, which stipulates updated standards for metallic contamination in food, came into force for fresh food with a shorter shelf life on 1 November. The amendments aim to enhance regulatory control, better protect public health and align Hong Kong with international standards.

In general, pre-packaged food, unless exempted, has to carry a nutrition label giving information about energy and seven specified nutrients.

Public Markets and Cooked Food Markets

The FEHD operates 97 public markets, including 23 free-standing cooked food markets, and carries out promotional activities to boost the vibrancy of the premises. There are some 14,000 stalls selling fresh provisions, cooked food, light refreshments and household items as well as providing service trades.

As at end-2019, the overall occupancy rate at these markets was 87 per cent. The department is implementing a 10-year Market Modernisation Programme to improve the markets' operating environment through a major overhaul for some and minor improvement works at others. The department is also conducting a comprehensive review of its public markets and will formulate specific improvement measures for both the facilities and their management.

The department is planning for new public markets in Tin Shui Wai, Tung Chung Town Centre, Tseung Kwan O, the Kwu Tung North and Hung Shui Kiu new development areas, and Tung Chung New Town Extension. New approaches to the design, construction and operation of such projects are under consideration. The department is also preparing to set up a temporary market in Tin Shui Wai.

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