Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ13: FEHD combats illegal meat roasting workshops
Following is a question by the Hon.Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment and Food, Mrs Lily Yam, in the Legislative Council meeting today (March 13):
Question
It has been reported that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department seized a total of over 1,100 kilograms of raw and cooked meat from two illegal meat roasting workshops which were cracked down in two raids in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island in mid-January. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:
(a) The number of illegal meat roasting workshops cracked down as well as the number of such workshops in the urban area, in each of the past five years;
(b) The penalties imposed by the court on convicted persons in charge of such workshops during the past five years and whether it has assessed the deterrent effect of the penalties on operators of such illegal workshops; and
(c) The measures to prevent the illegal roast meat products from reaching the market and causing health hazards to the public?
Answer
(a) The number of illegal meat roasting workshops closed down by the former Urban Services Department/Regional Services Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) from 1997 onwards is as follows:
The number of illegal meat roasting workshops |
1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 (As at Feb) |
Urban Area | 2 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 33 | 4 |
New Territories | 2 | 2 | 4 | 34 | 34 | 3 |
Total | 4 | 7 | 9 | 45 | 67 | 7 |
(b) Persons in charge of illegal meat roasting workshops, once prosecuted and convicted, are liable to a maximum penalty of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment. According to records, the average penalty imposed was about $10,000. The seized meat and tools would also be confiscated.
The number of illegal meat roasting workshops discovered each year in the past two years was greater than that before 2000. This is probably due to FEHD setting up a special task force and strengthening actions against these illegal workshops. The statistics earlier this year indicate that operation of illegal meat roasting workshops has diminished, and that the current level of penalty should carry sufficient deterrent effect.
(c) The most effective measure to prevent illegal meat products from reaching the market is to cut off the supply of these products at source. FEHD will continue to rigorously combat against illegal meat roasting workshops. At the retail level, FEHD Health Inspectors will regularly inspect shops and food premises selling "siu mei" and 'lo mei". While examining the hygienic condition of the food, the inspectors will also check whether the food provided is by legal suppliers to ensure that the "siu mei" and "lo mei" supplied to the public are safe and hygienic.
Moreover, the Public Health and Municipal Services (Amendment) Bill 2001 was passed by the Legco early this year. The objective of the Bill is to streamline the legal procedures to close unlicensed food establishments, and empower the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene to close unhygienic food establishments that pose an immediate health hazard to the public. We are now drafting the relevant subsidiary legislation. Once the legislative provisions come into force, Government's ability to combat unlicensed and unhygienic food premises and preventing food safety incidents would be very much enhanced.
Wednesday, March 13, 2001