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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 stand-up session in the Legislative Council Building today (March 16):
Reporter: (on safety of food imported to Hong Kong from Japan)
Secretary for Food and Health: If you understand the Japanese food safety system, it is not just the Government that is responsible for providing the tests and reassurance of safety. The trade itself, the producers themselves, and also the farmers and so on also have the responsibility. As far as we are concerned, it is our responsibility to ensure that those batches of food supplied to Hong Kong be tested. So far, every consignment of food coming from Japan would be tested for radioactivity.
Reporter: (on safety of Japanese infant formula)
Secretary for Food and Health: As far as baby formula and milk powder is concerned, the Japanese supply accounts for less than 25% of the local market and the majority of our supply does not come from Japan. With the increase in demand and buyers in the last few months, we have already communicated with a number of suppliers to ensure that they have adequate supply. Hong Kong parents can contact the suppliers direct so that the latter can deliver the milk powder to different households in Hong Kong. This has actually been done in the last few weeks and so far, some of the supplies are adequate. As far as the supply of Japanese infant formula is concerned, we also notice that in the last few days, there are a lot of people trying to buy as much as they can so that there is a depletion of supply at the moment. We will be contacting the Japanese suppliers to ask whether they can continue their supply to Hong Kong in the near future. Noting that the supply of food in Japan as a whole might be affected by the earthquake and the tsunami, we can expect that there might be some shortage of certain products in the coming weeks or might be even months. The consumers might have to consider whether they need to switch to different types of supply from other countries.
Reporter: (on stock up of iodine pills)
Secretary for Food and Health: I need to clarify this because this is very important that iodide pills are only for people who are very close to the source of radiation and get exposure particularly in a very large dose. It is usually for people who actually work close to the source of the leakage, particularly those who work in the nuclear plants and those who come for rescue within the area of nuclear plants. It is not for the general public to consume such medicine. It is also not without any side effects. I think it is important for anybody who wants to get hold of this medicine to consult his doctor before he actually takes any of this medicine. There are certain problems associated with taking iodide. First of all, it is not that effective for people at the old-age group, above the age of 40. Also, if you take excessive iodide, you will also have side effects like goitres and thyrotoxicosis, like excessive secretion of the thyroid glands. All these things can actually result in more side effects. Another thing I need to clarify to the public is that there is no need to use any of the iodine solution or anything to cover your face or your neck whatever. It is totally ineffective.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:56
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