Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ11: Regulation and hygiene conditions of multi-purpose party venues in industrial buildings
Following is a question by the Hon Wilson Or and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council
today (November 8):
Question:
It has been reported that in October last year, there was an outbreak of
norovirus gastroenteritis, in which 11 adults and 13 children were infected, at
a multi-purpose party venue with children play facilities which was located in
an industrial building. In October this year, an outbreak of the same infectious
disease occurred at a venue of the same type located in another industrial
building, in which 11 adults and 10 children were infected. The two cases have
caused public concern about the regulation and hygiene conditions of such type
of venues. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the current number of venues of the
aforesaid type which are located in industrial buildings across the territory;
if so, of the details;
(2) whether the operators of such type of venues are required to apply for a
licence; if so, whether the operators of the two aforesaid venues have obtained
the relevant licences; and
(3) whether it has any mechanism put in place at present to monitor the hygiene
and operation of such type of venues; if so, whether the mechanism includes
regular inspections of such venues by health inspectors; if so, of the details;
if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
In consultation with the bureaux and departments concerned, the consolidated
reply is in the ensuing paragraphs.
The multi-purpose party venues mentioned in the question are not places of
public entertainment. Hence, no application for permission from government
departments is required for carrying out activities in the venues. The
Government does not keep statistics on the number of multi-purpose party venues
which are located in industrial buildings across the territory at present.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is
responsible for the investigation and control of communicable disease outbreaks.
Generally speaking, the CHP will carry out epidemiological investigation
immediately upon receipt of notification of communicable disease outbreaks
related to play facilities. The CHP will also conduct site visits at the play
facilities concerned and provide health advice to the persons responsible for
the venues on necessary infection control and prevention measures against
communicable diseases. Besides, the play facilities and the affected persons
will also be put under medical surveillance. The CHP will inform the Food and
Environmental Hygiene Department of cases for appropriate follow-ups regarding
the environmental hygiene conditions of the venues.
In addition, the CHP has developed relevant public health advice for play
facilities to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in these facilities.
Responsible persons of the play facilities and the public may visit the website
of the CHP for the advice.
The CHP has issued press releases on October 5, 2016 and October 18, 2017
respectively on the cases concerned (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201610/05/P2016100500666.htm?fontSize=1
and
www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201710/18/P2017101800872.htm? fontSize=1).
Ends/Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Issued at HKT 14:30
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