Press Releases
SFH on loss of dead baby at Eastern Hospital and safety of vegetables
Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session in
the Legislative Council Building today (January 7):
Reporter: How frustrated are you about the missing baby case?
Secretary for Food and Health: I would not make a judgement on the
individual case at the moment. But I think the whole incident shows that
despite all the measures we have taken in the last few years, including
updating the electronic system of the mortuary system, the case still
happened. The details need to be investigated and documented before we can
make any judgement. I think it is important that we should try our very best
to find out the possible whereabouts of this baby body so that we can
actually try every means to locate it at the moment. At the same time, we
also hope the Hospital Authority would look into the details of the
management and also the staff involved so that they can seriously handle
this case.
Reporter: How frustrated?
Secretary for Food and Health: I have to say that I am very much
disappointed and in a way very sad about the whole situation. Despite all
the efforts we have made over the years and all the resources we have put
into the mortuary system and mortuary management system. Certainly, I would
personally ensure that the Hospital Authority and the mortuary management of
other public mortuaries as well would learn from this particular incident to
ensure that nothing like this would happen again.
Reporter: How to assist the concerned family?
Secretary for Food and Health: The hospital has already approached the
family yesterday to explain the situation to them. I am sure they would also
follow up with any new information with them and arrange relevant
counselling and follow up action, including assistance if they need to take
legal action against the Hospital Authority.
Reporter: Judging from information we have now, can we say that the workers
ignored the guidelines?
Secretary for Food and Health: I would not make a judgement at this moment
but as far as the system goes, it is better than any in the world. It is
only the staff who handled the procedure that might actually have breached
some of those guidelines and end up with this unfortunate incident.
Reporter: Are you suggesting that the vegetable traders in Hong Kong are
making false accusation regarding smuggling of vegetables?
Secretary for Food and Health: No, what I am saying is, if they make any
accusation, they need to produce evidence, so that we can follow up and
prove it. And since the accusation is also related to Shenzhen authorities,
I think we can always direct those accusations and evidence to the relevant
authorities so that they could investigate. There is no point just to cry
out that there are problems but do not produce any evidence.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:36
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