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The following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the meet-the-media session after visiting Yau Ma Tei Jockey Club General Outpatient Clinic today (September 23):
Chief Executive: I just came here to visit one of our clinics who look after the parents and the babies who feel that they might be affected by the milk products contaminated by melamine. As you know we have now instituted urgent regulations prohibiting the sale of any milk or milk-related products contaminated by melamine. At the same time we have established 18 general clinics to look after these patients. In addition, we also have 7 specialist clinics who are doing thorough work arising from the general inspections carried out by the general clinics. The number of Hong Kong babies using Mainland-manufactured infant formula should be relatively fewer and we should be able to contain the present problem using the regulations we have instituted and also the procedures and the facilities that we have provided. But there are longer term implications. These include the range of products that might be contaminated by melamine and this sort of information must be obtained through Mainland authorities with whom we are now maintaining close contact.
There are also downstream products, other products, food products that may be contaminated, and we have to assess to what extent these products are being retailed and on sale in Hong Kong. And we have to look at our own facilities in terms of hardware, our hospitals, our clinics, our laboratories. Will they be able to cater for this type of work? And we have to look at our other resources including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and so on. We also have to think about those Hong Kong babies whose parents are Mainland people who might come to Hong Kong and seek help, and we must have a strategy in respond to that need. Then there will be other age groups that we have to follow up too. These include elderly people who may be consuming milk products regularly.
So all these factors will have to be taken into account and tackled. Our Secretary, York Chow, will set up a task force comprising experts in these fields that will look at this matter. He will also outline all this to you later on. But I can assure Hong Kong people that we will leave no stone unturned. We will not spare any resources to make sure our babies will be healthy. And those who are unfortunately affected by this contamination will be treated, well inspected and then taken care of. And we are going to activate this through a comprehensive plan to tackle this problem in its entirety.
Thank you very much.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:05
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