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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 today (September 12):
Reporter: (About the progress of investigation into a food poisoning incident.)
Secretary for Food and Health: I am very concerned about the food poisoning incident in a school. The Centre for Health Protection and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) have already conducted a joint operation. This included collecting environmental samples from the school and the food factory. The result of the investigation is still pending. At the same time, the CFS has instructed the food factory to conduct thorough disinfection of its premises.
Reporter: (About the source of contamination.)
Secretary for Food and Health: We have to wait for the investigation results. Most importantly, we need to find out whether the source of contamination is from the food factory or not. I think, within a few days, the test result of environmental samples collected from the school and the food factory will be available. This will guide our further action.
Reporter: (About the blood test programme in connection with drinking water tainted with lead.)
Secretary for Food and Health: There are five private hospitals joining the blood taking programme this weekend. Public and private hospitals together provide a quota of more than 900 for the people concerned. Starting next week, we have to reserve some quota for schools with water test results exceeding World Health Organization's reference.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, September 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:15
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