Press Releases
Government urges vegetable traders to stay calm
In response to media enquiries on the proposed slow drive protest by the
vegetable traders, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau tonight
(January 5) called on the traders to stay calm and not to cause obstruction
to traffic.
In fact, the Government understood clearly the position of the traders and
had held seven meetings with the traders between March 2007 and December
2008 to discuss the supply of vegetables to Hong Kong with a view to
protecting public health. Recently, the Under-Secretary for Food and Health
met with Legislative Council member, Mr Wong Yung-kan and the vegetable
traders on November 27, 2008 on the subject and discussed with them the
issues of their concern.
Vegetable traders suggested that all vegetables imported into Hong Kong be
distributed through the wholesale markets in Hong Kong; and that the
Mainland authorities should not accept new applications for registration as
vegetable processing plants for supply to Hong Kong. The Government was of
the view that these proposals could not enhance the protection of vegetable
safety and supply.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has all along been monitoring imported
vegetables at Man Kam To Control Point, and together with the Customs
Department had held a briefing for the media this evening at Man Kam To on
their work in this regard. From 2007 to end of November 2008, the CFS had
inspected some 55,500 vegetable trucks at the Man Kam To Control Point. The
department did not find any cases in which the source of vegetables is at
variance with the documents. The passing rate of test results of over 37,000
vegetable samples collected by the department at various levels from 2007 up
till now was 99.9 per cent.
On the allegation of faked vegetable certificates, the Government had all
along been in contact with the Mainland authorities. Should the traders have
any evidence, they are welcome to provide information for follow up.
Live poultry and livestock are required to go through wholesale markets for
public health reasons and the need to prevent zoonotic diseases such as
avian influenza and Streptococcus suis. There is no such need in regard to
vegetables.
Ends/Monday, January 5, 2009
Issued at HKT 22:32
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