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The Government today (August 10) continued to clean up the plastic pellets scattered on beaches, in fish culture zones and at sea after the typhoon.
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) (as at 4pm today)
Location: Silvermine Bay, Chi Ma Wan, Shap Long, Kau Shat Wan, Wang Tong and Yi Long Wan, Lantau Island; Tung Wan, Peng Chau; Sam Pak Wan, Nim Shue Wan and Cheung Sha Lan, Discovery Bay; Tung Wan Tsai, Cheung Chau; Yung Shue Wan, Sok Kwu Wan, Tung O Wan, Shek Pai Wan and Sham Wan, Lamma Island; and Tso Wan, Lantau.
Quantity: 413 kilograms
Marine Department (as at 4pm today)
Location: Near Tung O Wan and Shum Wan, Lamma Island
Quantity: 240kg
Leisure and Cultural Services Department (as at 4pm today)
Location: Lo So Shing Beach
Quantity: Small amounts (0.05kg)
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today received a report from a mariculturist that trace amounts of plastic pellets were found at Ma Wan fish culture zone. The pellets have been cleaned up. The AFCD collected 10 live fish samples from Po Toi and Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zones. 0.3 grams and 0.1g of plastic pellets were found in the stomach of a red drum (weighing 1.6kg) and a cobia (weighing 2.35kg) respectively. Members of the public should wash fish thoroughly and remove the internal organs before cooking. The food safety risk is believed to be low. The AFCD did not receive reports of abnormal fish death at fish culture zones from mariculturists today.
The Government Flying Service and the Marine Police continue to assist in locating the scattered plastic pellets. The GFS conducted a search for plastic pellets on the beaches and inshore waters to the south-east of Hong Kong Island and Waglan Island. A J41 Jetstream aircraft searched the waters south and east of Hong Kong to a distance of 7 miles from the coast looking for two missing containers but nothing was found. The Marine Police has reported the presence of plastic pellets on Lamma Island (Tung O Wan and Shum Wan) and Peng Chau (Tung Wan). The relevant departments have deployed manpower for the necessary clean-up action, and will continue to closely monitor the distribution of plastic pellets.
The Centre for Food Safety tested 40 marine fish samples today, and revealed that no plastic pellets were detected.
A Government spokesman said that the Government will continue its inter-departmental monitoring operations. Clean-up action will be carried out as soon as plastic pellets are detected so as to minimise the impact of the incident on the environment, food safety and human health.
The Government spokesman would also like to remind members of the public who intend to carry out plastic pellet collecting work tomorrow or the day after to pay attention to changing weather conditions and make relevant preparations.
Ends/Friday, August 10, 2012
Issued at HKT 21:02
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