Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ20: Regulation of ice-making plants
Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (December 4):
Question:
In reply to a question on the regulation of ice-making plants raised in this Council on the 6th of last month, the Government advised that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department ("FEHD") had been taking samples of edible ice cubes from restaurants and other food premises for bacteriological examination and was reviewing the regulatory framework, including the need to introduce legislative amendments for regulating ice-making plants. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the current total number of plants that manufacture edible ice in Hong Kong;
(b) whether the samples of ice cubes taken by FEHD for testing come directly from the containers for ice cubes in the restaurants or food premises; if not, when the test results show that the level of bacteria in the samples exceeds the statutory limit, how FEHD determines that the results are not caused by cross-contamination; and
(c) of the anticipated timing for completing the review of the regulatory framework?
Reply:
(a) According to a recent survey conducted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), there is only one ice-making plant in Hong Kong that manufactures ice intended for human consumption.
(b) The ice-cube samples collected by FEHD from food business premises for bacteriological examination are taken directly from containers for ice cubes.
(c) The regulatory review for ice-making plants that produce edible ice will take some nine months to complete. In the process, FEHD will gather information on the operation of ice-making plants and consult health experts and the catering trade.
End/Wednesday, December 4, 2002
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