Press Releases
HK & Shenzhen have constructive exchange on notification mechanism on incidents of food safety and public health
The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau (HWFB) of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) and the Shenzhen Municipal Government
had a constructive exchange on the notification mechanism between the two places
on incidents of food safety and public health at a meeting today (November 16).
The meeting was to follow up the consensus reached on September 5 at the Hong
Kong/Shenzhen cooperation meeting between the Chief Secretary of HKSARG, Mr
Rafael Hui, and the Shenzhen Mayor, Mr Xu Zongheng, to expedite the setting up
of a notification and communication system in respect of major food safety
incidents in the two places.
Speaking after today's meeting, a bureau spokesman said both sides had
deliberated on the objective, workings and implementation details of the
notification mechanism.
On communication, both sides agreed to exchange information on major food recall
actions; implementation, revision and updating of major food policies; and
routine or individual food safety surveys of the city or region. Both sides also
agreed that more in-depth discussions should be held on these matters at the
earliest possible convenience.
The spokesman added that both sides agreed that the General Office of the
People's Government of Shenzhen Municipality and the HWFB would be the
designated parties for the notification mechanism.
Hong Kong officials attending today's meeting were the Deputy Secretary for
Health, Welfare and Food, Mr Eddy Chan; the Director of Food and Environmental
Hygiene, Mr Gregory Leung and his deputy director, Dr Mak Sin-ping; and the
acting Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Inspection
and Quarantine), Dr Thomas Sit.
Representing the Shenzhen Municipal Government at the meeting were the Secretary
General of Shenzhen Municipal Government, Tang Jie; Vice Director of the
Shenzhen Administration of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, Liang Junqian;
Vice Director General of the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine
Bureau, Lin Miao; Vice Director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the
Shenzhen Municipal Government, Wang Zongwei; Head of Food Division of Shenzhen
Food and Drug Administration, Li Hong; and Vice Director of Office of Public
Health Emergency Response of Shenzhen Health Bureau, Tian Yongzhang.
Ends/Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Issued at HKT 21:04
NNNN