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The Government today (August 8) continued to clean up the plastic pellets scattered on beaches, at sea and in fish culture zones after the typhoon.
Department Today (as at 4pm)
Location Quantity
Food and Sham Wan, Lamma 1493.1 kg
Environmental Island; Tung Wan,
Hygiene Department Peng Chau; Tung O
(FEHD) Wan, Lamma Island;
Shek Pai Wan, Lamma
Island; Yung Shue Wan
and Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma
Island; Silvermine Bay
and Shap Long San
Tsuen, Chi Ma Wan,
Sam Pak Wan, Nim Shue
Wan, Cheung Sha Lan,
Tung Wan Tsai, Cheung
Chau; Tso Wan, Lantau Island;
Shek Pik Tai Long Wan,
Pak Sha Wan, Stanley;
Po Toi Island
Marine Department Sea surface 1140 kg
Leisure and St Stephen's Beach Small
Cultural Services Hung Shing Yeh Beach amounts
Department Lo So Shing Beach (0.4 kg)
Hoi Mei Wan Beach
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) went to inspect Lo Chau today. However, it could not go ashore because of the weather conditions and changed to conduct clean-up operations on Po Toi Island. If circumstances permit, the FEHD would clean up the accumulated plastic pellets at Lo Chau as soon as possible.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today received reports by four mariculturists that trace amounts of plastic pellets were found at Ma Wan and Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zones. The plastic pellets have been cleaned up. No abnormal death of fish has been reported so far. The AFCD collected eleven live fish samples from Cheung Sha Wan and Ma Wan fish culture zones. 0.3g and 0.5g of the plastic pellets were found in the stomachs of a red drum (weighing 1.2kg) and a cobia (weighing 2.2kg) 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 Government Flying Service (GFS) and Marine Police continue to assist in locating the scattered plastic pellets. The GFS and Marine Department are conducting search for plastic pellets in Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay area this morning. The Marine Police has reported presence of plastic pellets on Tung O Wan, Lamma Island. 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: "We wish to take this opportunity to thank all volunteers (including members of the public and NGOs) for their assistance, participating in clean-up operations, as well as SINOPEC International (Hong Kong) Company Limited for helping out, including making available vacuum cleaners for clean-up operations. Members of the public and volunteer organisations may deposit the collected plastic pellets at nearby temporary collection points. The FEHD will arrange for collection later with a view to facilitating the collection of plastic pellets.
"We hope that the concerted efforts by all can help protect the natural environment of Hong Kong from the effects of the scattered plastic pellets."
Separately, the AFCD advises the public that Sham Wan beach on Lamma Island is designated as a restricted area from June to October every year, and members of the public are not allowed to enter during the period to minimise disturbance to sea turtles, their nests and eggs. For details, please visit
www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_fau/con_fau_sea/con_fau_sea_con/con_fau_sea_con_the.html .
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.
Ends/Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Issued at HKT 22:58
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