Press Releases

First meeting of Expert Group on Melamine Incident convened (with photo)

The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, today (September 26) convened the first meeting of the Expert Group on Melamine Incident to follow up matters arising from the incident.

Dr Chow said that the Expert Group brought together different academics, clinical, public health and food safety experts, from both the public and private sectors, to assess the health and food safety effects of melamine exposure in the medium to longer term and make recommendations on the appropriate follow up and surveillance of those who have been affected.

The terms of reference of the Expert Group includes:
1. To ensure that the manpower and supporting facilities of the public healthcare system can provide appropriate medical assessment and treatment for those citizens affected by the melamine incident, to formulate effective procedures and methods for medical assessment and treatment and to propose follow-up measures on medical and health services;

2. To assess the impact of the incident and ensure effective monitoring and inspection on dairy products and related food in order to protect the health of citizens;

3. To make proposals on the practical and expeditious means to legislate to prohibit import and sale, and order recall of problem food;

4. To consider the most effective method, timing and content, etc to disseminate information to the public; and

5. To closely monitor the situation and development of the incident, including the situation regarding Hong Kong children residing in the Mainland coming to Hong Kong to seek medical services, and to put in place effective response measures at schools, border control points and private medical service organizations, etc.

Three sub-groups are formed under the Expert Group to look into different issues, namely the Health Services Sub-group, the Treatment Sub-group and the Food Safety, Supply and Control Sub-group.

The Health Services Sub-group will study and assess the impact of melamine contaminated dairy products and related food on citizens, particularly children including Hong Kong children residing in the Mainland, and other high-risk groups; and ensure that the manpower and related supporting facilities of the public healthcare system can provide appropriate medical assessment and treatment for affected citizens. It will conduct regular review of the situation and service demand;

The Treatment Sub-group is responsible for formulating effective procedures and methods for medical assessment and treatment, and proposing follow-up measures on medical and health services; making reference to the treatment experience in the Mainland and overseas, and conducting medical research on local cases.

The Food Safety, Supply and Control Sub-group will work out the strategy for effective monitoring and inspection of dairy products and food contaminated by melamine; study the problem of the contamination of food by melamine in Hong Kong, and conduct risk assessment in regard to the impact of the incident on general food safety.

At a media session after the meeting, Dr Chow said: "We have already contacted the Mainland Ministry of Health to arrange for experts from Hospital Authority (HA) to visit the Mainland very shortly to learn from their experience and to exchange clinical views in treating affected children.

"I hope a preliminary report can be completed in two to three weeks for submission to the Chief Secretary for Administration.

"In addition, starting from tomorrow, the Centre for Food Safety and the Hospital Authority will release health information everyday. Information will include test results on food and updates on the services of the HA designated clinics and special assessment centres."

The membership list of the Expert Group on Melamine Incident is as follows:

Chairman: Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow

Vice Chairman: Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Ms Sandra Lee

Non-official members:
Dean of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Professor Fok Tai-fai

Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, The University of Hong Kong
Professor Tam Kwong-hang, Paul

Paediatric Surgery & Paediatric Urology Division
Director of Minimally Invasive Centre, Union Hospital
Dr Yeung Chung-kwong

Chief of Service / Consultant
Department of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Princess Margaret Hospital
Dr Chiu Man-chun

Deputy Chief of Service / Consultant Urologist
Department of Surgery, Tuen Mun Hospital
Dr Man Chi-wai

Consultant, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Princess Margaret Hospital
Dr Chow Chun-bong

Consultant (Quality & Risk Management), Hospital Authority
Dr Lui Siu-fai

Chairman of Advisory Council on Food and Environmental Hygiene
Professor Yuen Kwok-yung

Member of Advisory Council on Food and Environmental Hygiene
Dr Lo Chi-kin

Chairman of Expert Committee on Food Safety
Professor Kwan Hoi-shan

Member of Expert Committee on Food Safety
Professor Chan Yan-keung, Thomas

President of Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades
Mr Wong Ka-wo, Simon

Member of Expert Committee on Food Safety
Mr Allen Ho

Representatives of Hospital Authority
Representatives of Consumer Council

Government representatives:
Representatives of Food and Health Bureau
Representatives of Department of Justice
Representatives of Education Bureau
Representatives of Security Bureau
Representatives of Department of Health
Representatives of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
Representatives of Government Laboratory
Representatives of Immigration Department
Representatives of Information Services Department
(Representatives of other bureaux and departments will attend as necessary.)


Ends/Friday, September 26, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:54

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(Photo)