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A man in possession of some 500 kilogrammes of pork from an unapproved source was arrested during a pre-dawn blitz operation in Sha Tin this (August 12) morning.
Acting on information, officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department laid ambush outside a fresh provision shop at Kwong Yuen Estate Market, Sha Tin last night. They saw a lorry arriving at the scene shortly after mid-night. A man from the lorry was later seen unloading eight cartons of meat and delivering the meat to the shop.
The officers swung into action at about 6 am, stormed the shop and opened the carton boxes for inspection.
Upon examination by the officers, the cartons were found to have contained pork from an unapproved source. The man was unable to produce any supporting document at the scene.
The man, aged 43, was arrested and later released on bail pending further investigation.
Sha Tin District Environmental Hygiene Superintendent Mr So Wai-yin urged all meat retailers to abide by the law and not to possess meat from doubtful sources.
He warned: "Meat retailers convicted of selling pork from an unapproved source will have their fresh provision shop licences cancelled or market stall tenancies terminated."
He also advised members of the public to patronise reputable retail shops when buying pork and offals.
He stressed that the department would continue taking stringent enforcement actions against such illegal activities.
The FEHD will closely monitor the supply of meat at the retail level to ensure that all pork sold for human consumption has been properly inspected and is up to the required hygiene standard.
Mr So reiterated that similar blitz operations will be conducted from time to time to deter unscrupulous traders from selling smuggled meat.
Anyone who has doubt about the origin of meat being sold at any retail outlet should call the department's hotline 2868 0000.
According to section 29 of the Food Business Regulation, any person possessing meat for sale from an unlawful origin will be liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months, plus a daily fine of $900.
End/Tuesday, August 12, 2003
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