Press Releases
SFH on earthquake in Japan
Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a media session after
attending a public function this morning (March 13):
Reporter: (about Government's response to earthquake in Japan)
Secretary for Food and Health: As the Secretary for Security had mentioned
yesterday, we are monitoring the situation and also communicating with
Japanese Government on a regular basis to see what types of assistance we
need to give them, and also assist our Hong Kong citizens now staying in
Japan, either as tourists or workers. We have issued the travel alert to
Japan, advising people who are tourists may be at this point of time try to
refrain from travelling unnecessarily to the parts that are affected. On the
other hand, we are also concerned about the possibility of the nuclear plant
leaking of radiation as that will affect both Japan as well as the
neighbouring region. Hong Kong is at a far distance from Japan and so at the
moment, we have not detected any radiation hazard. But we will be monitoring
the situation and also monitoring the announcements from the Japanese
Government.
Reporter: (on monitoring of food from Japan and whether to offer medical
assistance to Japan)
Secretary for Food and Health: The Centre for Food Safety will be checking
all the particular fresh products from Japan to see whether they are
carrying any radiation hazard. It is usually not a difficult procedure to
do. That is something that we will be starting. On the other hand, Hong Kong
is not largely depending on Japanese food supply. So I think food supply is
not really a concern. Regarding whether we would offer any assistance to
Japan, all depends on whether they need some of our expertise and equipments
and so on. I believe the Japanese Government and the Japanese community all
have very detailed contingency plan regarding earthquake. They have been
responding extremely well so far in surprisingly good order in handling this
type of scale of disaster. We will be communicating with the Japanese
Government through the Consulate-General to see whether they need anything.
We are always ready to help.
Reporter: (on advice to Hong Kong people worrying being affected by
radiation leak)
Secretary for Food and Health: Hong Kong people should remain calm and
rational when they decide whether they would go to Japan or return from
Japan, and also keep track of all the announcements by both the Japanese
Government as well as Hong Kong Government. If we detect anything that we
need to increase their alert, we will of course announce it.
Reporter: (on Hong Kong travellers in Japan who might be affected by
radiation leak)
Secretary for Food and Health: The advice should give is we should try to
avoid going to the affected area in the northeast part of Honshu. At the
same time, if they are not doing anything essential, like business, they
should consider postponing their holidays or whatever.
Reporter: (on those Hong Kong people who were there during the leakage)
Secretary for Food and Health: I think the Japanese Government would check
all the people that are in the neighbourhood of the nuclear plant to see
whether they are affected. Whether Japanese or non-Japanese, they will be
treated the same. In case there are Hong Kong people being affected, we will
be liaising with the government to see whether we can assist them, either we
have them being treated there or treat them and then send them back here for
further treatment.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Sunday, March 13, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:02
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