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Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a public function this afternoon (August 11):
Reporter: (On the confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guangdong Province)
Secretary for Food and Health: The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has formally confirmed a positive human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Huizhou, Guangdong Province. With Guangdong Province having a confirmed human case, the threat or challenge to Hong Kong must not be overlooked. We will be stepping up all surveillance measures, as well as control measures against H7N9.
Reporter: (On follow-up actions with the confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guangdong Province)
Secretary for Food and Health: There is an existing understanding between Hong Kong and the Mainland authorities, which is in accordance with recommendations by the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health). That is, if there is any place in the Mainland China with a positive H7N9 infection in poultry established, all poultry farms or processing plants for chilled or frozen meat of poultry within a radius of 13 kilometres from that particular place, we will temporarily suspend the import to Hong Kong.
Reporter: (On whether there is any farm near the affected place this time)
Secretary for Food and Health: The Centre for Food Safety has confirmed that as far as this particular case is concerned, there is no poultry farm supplying live chickens to Hong Kong within a radius of 13 kilometres from the infected point.
Reporter: Are you saying that we should be at ease?
Secretary for Food and Health: No. I think with Guangdong Province formally being involved and having a confirmed human case, the challenge to Hong Kong is very serious. We will step up all surveillance and control measures against H7N9.
I will be leaving for Beijing this evening to discuss (issues under my purview) with the Mainland authorities, namely the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; the CFDA (China Food and Drug Administration); the Ministry of Commerce; as well as the AQSIQ (State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine), which is responsible for the control of biosafety in terms of poultry. I will seek to reflect to the Ministry of Commerce the discussion recently in Hong Kong regarding the price of beef supply, and hope to establish a consensus and move forward towards opening up the market of live cattle supply to Hong Kong. In the discussion with the CFDA and AQSIQ, we will also seek to improve the collaboration in the areas of drug and food safety, as well as the control (measures) against H7N9.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Sunday, August 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 22:14
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