Press Releases
Progress of cleaning up plastic pellets scattered on beaches, at sea and in fish culture zones
The Government today (August 18) continued to clean up the plastic pellets
scattered on beaches, in fish culture zones and at sea after the typhoon.
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) (as at 4pm today)
Location: Chi Ma Wan, Tai Long Wan, Shap Long San Tsuen, Cheung Sha Wan,
Wang Tong, Ngau Kwu Wan, Silvermine Bay, Tso Wan, Discovery Bay and Sam Pak
Wan, Lantau Island; Tung Wan and Nam Wan, Peng Chau; Tung Wan Tsai, Cheung
Chau; Tung O Wan, Shek Pai Wan, Sham Wan, Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan,
Lamma Island; and Stanley Bay.
Quantity: 122.1 kg
Marine Department (as at 4pm today)
Location: Tung O Wan, Lamma Island and Peng Chau
Quantity: 25 kg
Leisure and Cultural Services Department (as at 4pm today)
Location: Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Lo So Shing
Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach.
Quantity: 20.44 kg
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) tested 30 marine fish samples today, and
revealed that no plastic pellets were detected. Since August 6, CFS has
tested 470 marine fish samples in the wholesale and retail markets of Hong
Kong and no plastic pellets were detected. Tests conducted so far suggested
that the pellet incident did not cause adverse impact on food safety.
Although the food safety risk remains low, members of the public should
check and clean fish thoroughly and remove all internal organs before
cooking. CFS will continue to closely monitor marine fish sold on the market
to ensure food safety.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today received
reports by mariculturists that trace amounts of plastic pellets were found
at Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zone. The pellets have been cleaned up. The
AFCD did not receive report of abnormal fish death at fish culture zones
today.
The Marine Police has reported presence of plastic pellets on Shek Pai Wan
on Lamma Island. Marine Police collected a total of 7 bags of plastic
pellets weighing 25 kg each near Ngau Kwu Wan and Shap Long on Lantau
Island. The relevant departments have cleaned up the scattered pellets in
the vicinity, and will continue to monitor the accumulation of pellets in
various locations.
A Government spokesman said that the Government will continue its
inter-departmental monitoring operations. Clean-up action will be carried
out as soon as plastic pellets are detected so as to minimise the impact of
the incident on the environment, food safety and human health.
Ends/Saturday, August 18, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:28
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