Press Releases

Transcript of Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food

Following is a transcript of the remarks made by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, at a media session after visiting a number of farmers taking part in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's Organic Farming Conversion Scheme today (February 10):

Reporter: Concerning the problem of pneumonia in the Mainland, is there any possibility that the disease can be transmitted to Hong Kong?

Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food: In general, I think we should be aware that in this present day of globalisation and frequent travels, there is bound to be infectious diseases that will be transmitted from place to place. It is not just the infection coming to Hong Kong but we have many Hong Kong citizens going aboard every day and every year to different countries in the world. So there is always a chance of getting some communicable diseases and infectious diseases when you travel to different places. Some of the infectious diseases are common to all places. The common run of day -- influenza, different types of bacteria infections -- they occur all over the world. So there is no question of spread from place to place because it is really prevalent in the community. But there are certain infections that only occur in specific countries like malaria is more prevalent in Africa and in some Asian countries where you have to be very careful. Dengue fever is also very prevalent in many Southeast Asian countries. So when Hong Kong people travel aboard, they should take the necessary precautions. When they come back, if there are signs and symptoms of fever infections that do not abate and they are unusual, then they should be alerted. They should tell the doctors their positions, that they have been aboard and visited certain countries so that the physicians will have the alertness to look for certain of these unusual infections. That's for the individual. The other danger is of course to bring infections in and then spread through the community. In the instances of dengue fever because it is very prevalent in Southeast Asia, if someone is infected by dengue fever and then the infection is transmitted to the local mosquitoes, then it can spread very quickly. So there are obviously two things that we need to be aware of. One is the infection of the individual, and the second the infection that goes into the community. These are the things we have to look out for. The Department of Health has a very good communicable disease surveillance system so that we are on the alert. We look for trends in the infections in the community. There is a network of reporting sources both from the public and from the private sector. If there are unusual patterns of infections, then we are alerted that something is happening which is unusual and it may be a new communicable disease in Hong Kong that we need to be aware of. We also have communication channels with the authorities in (Mainland) China and Macau so that if there are any infections that may spread to Hong Kong, we are alerted to this. The Department of Health has already contacted the authorities in Guangdong to understand what infection that is prevalent there and to see whether there is any particular risk of that infection coming to Hong Kong. So we do not have the information yet but the Department of Health has been in contact with the authorities there. The message to the citizens here should be that you should not be unduly concerned. We'll certainly be doing our part as the health authorities but for the individuals, you should always take the precautions when you travel aboard.

Reporter: On organic farming, how can the Government promote organic farming?

Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food: As you know, the main objective of organic farming is not to use chemicals as fertilisers and also not to use pesticides. So it is from the environmental perspective that it is a very good way to farm because it protects the environment. In terms of taste, the farmers here say they taste (the vegetables) better but I guess this is something that the consumer must decide for himself or herself. Certainly, if you ask me if I have tasted some of the products I have. I think it is from the environment perspective that it has been promoted. I think certainly vegetables are healthy and even normal vegetables if you carefully wash off the pesticides, there should be no health risk. But there are individuals who prefer to have products from organic farming. This certainly provides a choice and there is a much greater demand now in society for products which are done by organic farming.

Reporter: But how can the Government actually actively promote it?

SHWF: We are already actively promoting it. I think the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has been in fact very actively promoting it with the farmers. They have done a lot of research, they have provided them with technical and professional support. They have also helped them market their products. I think it is a question of building up the capacity because as we heard from Mr Ko (the farm owner), you really need to produce a whole variety of vegetables and they must be available and people must know where to purchase them because if you do not have the volumes, then there is no need for promoting it. So it is sometimes the cart and the horse. I think it is really a question of getting sufficient volumes and then get it marketed, and for people to know where it is available and that it is going to be available regularly and dependably. Because unless you do that people will just take it a day and then perhaps if it is not available tomorrow, then they go back to the old products. So they lose the original tactic. I guess this is something that the department is working on.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)

End/Monday, February 10, 2003
NNNN