SFH to visit Beijing
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     The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, will depart for Beijing tomorrow morning (September 12) for a two-day visit. During his visit, he will sign a collaboration agreement with the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), on the inspection and quarantine of Hong Kong racing horses which will be transported between Hong Kong and Guangzhou. He will also call on the Ministry of Agriculture to discuss matters of mutual concern.

     In the afternoon on September 12, Dr Ko will meet the Vice Minister of the AQSIQ, Mr Wei Chuanzhong, to forge closer co-operation and exchange between the two places in food safety as well as inspection and quarantine. The Food and Health Bureau will sign with the AQSIQ the "Collaboration Agreement on Equine Inspection and Quarantine associated with the Use of Equestrian Venue after the Guangzhou Asian Games" on the same day.

     Dr Ko will call on the Vice Minister of Agriculture, Mr Yu Kangzhen, on September 13 to keep himself abreast of the latest prevention and control measures against the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus among poultry on the Mainland.

     Accompanying Dr Ko on the visit will be the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Food), Mrs Marion Lai; the Controller of the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Dr Gloria Tam; the Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Inspection and Quarantine), Dr Thomas Sit; and the Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Fisheries), Dr So Ping-man.

     Dr Ko will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on September 13.

Ends/Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:01

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