Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ12: Shellfish and fisheries products from aquaculture farms

Following is a question by the Dr Hon Joseph Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (January 11):

Question:

Regarding matters relating to the production of fish and shellfish in local mariculture farms, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether regular water samplings are conducted in local mariculture farms for analyses of water quality and oxygen level; if so, of the frequency and outcome of the samplings conducted each year;

(b) whether a surveillance system is currently in place under which metal concentrations in fish and shellfish produced by local mariculture farms are checked against the international safety standards; if so, of the types of such metals and the safety standards concerned;

(c) whether projects such as that of laying submarine gas pipelines are underway in the vicinities of the seabed of the mariculture farms in the territory in the past year; if so, whether the water quality and metal concentration levels nearby as well as the life process of fish and shellfish in the mariculture farms concerned are monitored by the relevant authorities; if so, of the monitoring results; and

(d) as the wholesaling of fish and shellfish produced by local mariculture farms does not need to be transacted through wholesale markets managed by the Fish Marketing Organisation, whether the relevant authorities have drawn up any controlling measures to prevent contaminated marine products from entering the local market, so as to reduce the risk of excessive intake of harmful substances by the public through consumption of marine products?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) regularly monitors the water quality of fish culture zones. On average, the AFCD conducts water samplings every two weeks in six fish culture zones located in different parts of the territory (i.e. Yim Tin Tsai West fish culture zone, Tap Mun fish culture zone, Kau Sai fish culture zone, O Pui Tong fish culture zone, Lo Tik Wan fish culture zone and Ma Wan fish culture zone) and every six months in other fish culture zones. Results of water quality analysis conducted over the years indicated that although red tides and stagnation caused short term oxygen depletion in some fish culture zones, the water quality and oxygen level of all fish culture zones are normal in general.

(b) At present, there is no international safety standard for metal contents in shellfish and fisheries products from aquaculture farms. The metal concentrations in shellfish and fish sold in Hong Kong must conform with the standards stipulated in Schedule 2 to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap 132V). They must not contain arsenic, antimony, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and tin in greater concentration than is specified in the Schedule. We make reference to the standards of other areas / countries and review our statutory requirements from time to time. If necessary, we will amend the legislation to protect public health. Furthermore, the AFCD has introduced a voluntary Accredited Fish Farm Scheme in June 2005 to improve the environmental hygiene of fish farms and enhance the quality of cultured fish. Fish farms participating in the scheme must adopt "Good Aquaculture Practices". All cultured fishes from these farms must undergo pre-market quality assurance tests to determine, among others, the concentration of drug residue and heavy metal, to ensure compliance with food safety standards. The limits for heavy metal concentrations of the scheme are set according to those specified in the aforesaid legislation.

(c) The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (HKCG) is now laying a set of submarine natural gas pipelines in Tolo Harbour, Tai Po, which will connect the Cheng Tou Jiao Liquefied Natural Gas Receiving Terminal, Shenzhen, to the Towngas Gas Production Plant located in the Tai Po Industrial Estate. The alignment of the pipelines is about 1,050 metres away from the nearest fish culture zone (in Yim Tin Tsai East). Since the commencement of the works in early 2005, HKCG and its contractor have installed silt curtains and have been controlling the progress of the construction works in accordance with the requirements as set out in the environmental permit. Water quality monitoring is being carried out on a regular basis and the data collected have been submitted to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) upon verification by an independent environmental checker. As shown by the data, the works has not caused any exceedance of water quality limit levels as specified in the environmental permit.

Regarding the natural gas pipelines laying works in Tolo Harbour, the EPD have so far carried out two airborne monitoring by helicopters and 17 marine water quality monitoring exercises, 16 of which involved taking of water samples for testing. Neither the airborne or marine monitoring suggested any sign of adverse impact on the water quality in Tolo Harbour.

Under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, environmental impact assessment will be conducted for works classified as designated projects prior to commencement. If the projects involve marine works and the sites are in close proximity to fish rafts, mitigation measures will be taken in accordance with the recommendations made in the environmental impact assessment report. Water quality monitoring procedures will also be carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigation measures.

Water monitoring normally involves setting up a certain number of monitoring stations in the waters surrounding the works area and the fish rafts to collect water samples on a regular basis. Data on the suspended solid, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and temperature of the water samples will be analysed to determine whether the works project has caused any exceedance of water quality criteria in the vicinity of the works area. Water monitoring mainly aims to evaluate the impact of works project on water quality, rather than monitor the hygiene condition or safety of seafood. Normally, water monitoring exercise carried out for marine works does not cover metal concentrations.

Mitigation measures generally include installing silt curtains outside the marine works area and keeping track the progress of the works. The recommendations made in the environmental impact assessment report on mitigation measures and water quality monitoring will be implemented in accordance with the requirements specified in the environmental permit issued by the EPD. Should the results of the water quality monitoring suggest any exceedance of water quality criteria, the departments concerned will immediately conduct investigations to determine if it is associated with the works project and consider if further mitigation measures are necessary.

As for large-scale works projects, a 24-hour hotline will be set up. On receiving phone-calls from fishermen, the departments concerned will arrange for the clerk of works, the environmental monitoring personnel and staff of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the EPD to observe the conditions of the fishes in the fish rafts concerned and collect fish samples as and when necessary.

(d) Under the regular Food Surveillance Programme implemented by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), samples of shellfish and fish are collected at import, wholesale and retail levels by the department for testing to ensure that they are safe and fit for human consumption. The FEHD announces test results regularly to communicate to the public the risk involved in consuming such food items. The department also makes use of its website to educate the public on the proper procedures of purchasing and handling aquatic products to reduce the risk of food poisoning and publicise the importance of a balanced diet in preventing excessive intake of certain harmful substances.

Meanwhile, the Administration is considering putting in place a comprehensive regulatory mechanism for marine produce upon the inception of the new Centre for Food Safety to tighten regulation of marine produce.


Ends/Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Issued at HKT 13:25

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