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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a media session after attending the meeting of Legislative Council Panel on Health Services today (March 14):
Reporter: (about the contingency measures regarding the radiation leak in Japan)
Secretary for Food and Health: We have a contingency plan for any nuclear crisis that will affect Hong Kong. This is based on the Daya Bay nuclear plant. So far the Hong Kong Observatory has not detected any increase in radiation in Hong Kong. We are more concerned about people who are close to the leakage and nuclear plant in the northeastern part of Japan. People who might still be there and have any doubt can always go to the Accident and Emergency Department of public hospitals after returning Hong Kong. We can do a check up on them to see whether they are affected by any radiation.
Reporter: As a doctor yourself, so many tourists are still insisting on going to Japan; would you advise them not to go to Japan at this stage?
Secretary for Food and Health: The Government has issued a black travel alert to (Fukushima Prefecture), so it is not advisable for anyone to go there. For any other part of Japan that is far away from the affected area, of course that depends on whether they have business and urgent responsibilities there, otherwise I would advise the tourists to perhaps postpone their trips until a bit later. For Hong Kong people who are there right now, including some media reporters, they need to look after themselves well, and not get too close to the affected areas.
Reporter: Is it safe for Hong Kong people to purchase Japanese food items? Has the Government been monitoring the situation?
Secretary for Food and Health: As far as radiation is concerned, I think the most at-risk articles are those fresh products, perhaps dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables. As I said, we are monitoring the situation and also doing the checking at the importation venues to ascertain that they have not been affected. In case we detect anything, of course we will ban those products from Hong Kong.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Monday, March 14, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:43
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