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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, today (October 20) endorsed the observations and recommendations of the Expert Group on Melamine Incident (Expert Group) chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow. He pledged the Government would soon introduce legislative measures to prohibit and recall unsafe food products from the market as a bid to further enhance food safety in Hong Kong.
The report submitted by the Expert Group reviews the work of concerned organisations and government departments in past weeks, including the comprehensive and systematic tests on milk and dairy products, telephone hotline service, surveillance of cases, health screening for eligible children, and timely dissemination of information. It also recommends follow-up actions required for health services, medical treatment and food safety control.
Mr Tang said the concerted efforts so far had helped allay the anxiety of worried consumers and parents. He was pleased to note that the public health services had been able to cope with the demand for various services and that the attendance rate of children for the screening service at the designated clinics and special assessment centres was now on a decreasing trend.
He wished an early recovery for children diagnosed to have renal stones caused by melamine.
Meanwhile, the report recommends that special arrangements to cope with the melamine incident - including hotline service, screening service, food testing, notification and public announcement - will remain in force as appropriate.
Mr Tang appreciated the efforts of both official and non-official members of the Expert Group and its sub-groups and their valuable contribution to the work of the Expert Group. He also praised all the staff members working on food safety and health fronts for their prompt action and hard work in containing the problem of tainted milk within a short period of time.
"The Government accords top priority to ensuring the safety of milk and dairy products supplied to the community. We will remain highly vigilant by closely monitoring developments of the melamine incident and adopting all necessary measures to protect our citizens from the unwanted chemical. I look forward to being apprised of the Expert Group's follow-up actions and receiving updates from the Secretary for Food and Health," Mr Tang said.
On September 23, subsidiary legislation was made to impose stringent limits on melamine contained in food.
"To further enhance our food safety system, we will soon introduce legislative amendments to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to empower the authorities to recall and prohibit the import and sale of food products unfit for public consumption. This amendment legislation will enable us to establish a robust preventive system to protect public health," Mr Tang said.
On September 23, the Chief Executive announced that the Secretary for Food and Health would set up an expert group to follow up the melamine incident. The Chief Secretary for Administration would oversee the work. The Expert Group convened the first meeting on September 26 to follow up the incident. Three sub-groups are formed under the Expert Group to look into different issues - the Health Services Sub-group, the Treatment Sub-group and the Food Safety, Supply and Control Sub-group.
Ends/Monday, October 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:06
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