Press Releases
SFH on seasonal influenza and hairy crabs (with photos)
Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary
for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after inspecting the
Government Vaccination Programme 2016/17 at Ha Kwai Chung
General Out-patient Clinic today (November 4):
Reporter: As the scheme is being carried out, do you think
that it is a good start? Are you worried that there would
not be enough jabs and people are not aware that the flu
season is coming?
Secretary for Food and Health: As we all know, the peak of
seasonal influenza will arrive sometime between now and
January. In fact, in these few days, the ambient temperature
is starting to drop to below 20 degrees Celsius. It is
important for us to remind all eligible citizens to take the
opportunity of receiving seasonal influenza vaccination
either through the Government Vaccination Scheme or the
Vaccination Subsidy Scheme. The Vaccination Subsidy Scheme
has already been started two weeks ago. Up to today, more
than 50 000 people have received vaccination. The Chairman
of the Hospital Authority has just said that the Government
Vaccination Scheme, which only started yesterday, recorded
over 10 000 vaccinations.
Reporter: What is the next step the (Food and Environmental
Hygiene) Department will take after meeting the (hairy crab)
trade?
Secretary for Food and Health: I am very concerned about the
claims of some importers that there were different types of
operational arrangements in terms of the import of hairy
crabs. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) this morning met
some of these importers in order to obtain details of the
operation arrangements. Depending on the result, the CFS
will consider necessary and appropriate law and enforcement
actions.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, November 4, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:50
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