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The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau (HWFB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) and the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau today (January 20) jointly held the "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Workshop on Inspection and Quarantine" to enhance professional exchange among food safety and quarantine experts of the two places.
The workshop also facilitated the two places in enhancing understanding and upgrading technological standard of quarantine and food safety.
Items for in-depth discussion at the workshop were: prevention and control of avian influenza, prevention and control of red imported fire ants and food safety control.
Speaking at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mrs Carrie Yau, said the topics of discussion were closely related to animals, plants and food for supply to Hong Kong and hence affected the successful implementation of inspection and quarantine work of the two places.
"The workshop provides a platform for the inspection and quarantine staff of the two places to exchange views, which is very conducive to enhancing each other's understanding in inspection and quarantine system, standard and technical requirements. This in turns will help enhance co-operation and raise work efficiency," she said.
Noting the proximity and high visitor flow between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, Mrs Yau said any major health, animal and plant, as well as food incident in Shenzhen and the contingency measures taken by municipal government would arouse widespread concern in Hong Kong.
"The Shenzhen Municipal Government and the HWFB have been discussing actively the setting up of 'ShenzhenˇVHong Kong communication mechanism on emerging incidents of food and public health' to facilitate the timely exchange of information on food safety and public health to protect public health of the two places," she added.
Inspection and quarantine authorities of the two sides agreed to work closely, especially on frontline work, by devoting more resources to support the inspection and quarantine work on import and export of animals, plant consignments and food to safeguard the food safety and public health of the two places with the approach of the Lunar New Year.
On prevention and control of red imported fire ants, the HKSARG has enhanced communication with the Mainland authorities and stepped up inspection at border checkpoints to guard against the insect.
Other representatives of the HKSARG included the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mr Gregory Leung; Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Dr Mak Sin-ping; Assistant Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Dr Thomas Chung; Principal Assistant Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mr Wallace Lau; and Senior Agricultural Officer of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Ms Wendy Ko.
Among the Mainland representatives at the workshop were the Director-General of the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Mr Liu Shengli, and Deputy Secretary-general of Guangdong Provincial People's Government, Mr Liu Youjun.
Ends/Friday, January 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:48
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