Press Releases
SHWF visits poultry retail outlet and restaurant
The Government would put in appropriate measures together with the appropriate level of risk management to ensure that the risk of another avian flu outbreak is mitigated to a very low level, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, said after inspecting a poultry retail outlet in Wan Chai this (August 2) afternoon.
The inspection was part of his series of visits to learn more about the work of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). Dr Yeoh was briefed on the avian flu control measures being implemented at poultry retail outlets by Senior Health Inspector of FEHD, Ms Rita Yeung Yuk-ip.
He learnt that all fresh provision shops selling live poultry were subject to a weekly inspection by health inspectors and that operators had to observe stringent measures as laid down by FEHD to lower the risk of avian flu.
Noting that the consultation on the recommendations by an investigation team on the avian flu incident in 2002 would close in end-August, Dr Yeoh invited retail operators to give their views to the Administration.
"Based on the views collected, we shall come up with recommendations to effectively address the public health issues, which would reflect a balance of the consumers' interest, the concern of the trade and the economic impact."
"As long as we have live poultry come to Hong Kong, there will always be a risk of avian flu. Depending on the local volume of live fowl determined by the consumers' choice, the Government has to adopt the appropriate measures to minimise the risk," he said.
Dr Yeoh then visited a western style licensed general restaurant at Jardine's Crescent where he talked to the patrons and sought their views on the general sanitary condition of the premises.
He noted that FEHD would introduce a new classification system for monitoring the hygiene conditions of food establishments according to their risk potential.
The new system will classify food establishments into three risks groups namely, "high", "medium" and "low". High-risk food establishments will be inspected once every four weeks, and for medium and low risk groups, once every eight weeks and 12 weeks respectively.
Dr Yeoh also observed hawker control staff's work routine on licensed hawking activities at the Jardine's Crescent Hawker Bazaar and Russell Street. He was briefed by Senior Health Inspector, Mr Hui Wai-ki, on the policies and procedures in dealing with illegal hawking activities, illegal shop extension and on-street promotional activities.
Earlier, Dr Yeoh met with the department's senior management at its Queensway headquarters and then toured the Wan Chai District Office (Environmental Hygiene) at Lockhart Road Complex. He was accompanied by the acting Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mrs Marion Lai Chan Chi-kuen, in the visit.
Friday, August 2, 2002
Dr Yeoh is briefed by health inspector on the avian flu control measures implemented at poultry retail outlet.
Dr Yeoh observes hawker control work staff at work at Russell Street.
Dr Yeoh inspects the general sanitary condition of a general restaurant.