Press Releases
Progress of cleaning up plastic pellets scattered on beaches, at sea and in fish culture zones
The Government today (August 22) continued to clean up the plastic pellets
scattered on beaches, at sea and in fish culture zones after the typhoon.
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (as at 4pm today)
Location: Chi Ma Wan, Shap Long San Tsuen, Wang Tong, Silvermine Bay, Mong
Tung Wan, Tai Long Wan, Cheung Sha Wan, Shui Tseng Wan, Tso Wan and Sam Pak
Wan, Nim Shue Wan, Cheung Sha Lan, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island; Tung Wan
and Nam Wan, Peng Chau; Tung Wan Tsai, Cheung Chau; Tung O Wan, Lamma
Island; Stanley Bay; Sunshine Island and Kau Yi Chau.
Quantity: 11.1 kilograms
Marine Department (as at 4pm today)
Location: Peng Chau
Quantity: Small amounts (0.5kg)
Leisure and Cultural Services Department (as at 4pm today)
Location: Silver Mine Bay Beach, Hung Shing Yeh Beach and Lo So Shing Beach.
Quantity: Small amounts (0.3kg)
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) tested 20 marine fish samples today, and
revealed that no plastic pellets were detected. Since the August 6, CFS has
tested 560 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. The 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 AFCD collected four live fish samples from Cheung Sha Wan fish
culture zone today and no plastic pellets were detected.
The Marine Police has reported the presence of plastic pellets on Tung O Wan
and Shek Pai Wan, Lamma Island. The relevant departments have deployed
manpower for the necessary clean-up action, and will continue to closely
monitor the distribution of plastic pellets.
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/Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:37
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