Press Releases

SFH on excessive lead content in drinking water

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a radio programme this morning (July 18):

Reporter: Can you explain how the Government is going to standardise the safety threshold of lead in blood?

Secretary for Food and Health: During this period, we are very concerned about the health concern of the residents of the public housing estates affected by the lead issue. The Hospital Authority (HA) and the Department of Health have been arranging the vulnerable groups of residents to take precedence and to receive blood test from the Hospital Authority in the following weeks. The result of the first batch of nine blood samples should be available sometime later today. According to the different lead levels in blood that may be found in the residents, the HA experts have already worked out a clinical care plan. There are three levels within the plan, findings within the first level could be considered as normal, and no particular follow-up is required. There is a　level defined as serious in which clinical assessment, or even detoxification treatment, would be arranged. In between is the level in which lead level in blood is considered slightly elevated or elevated, and people of this level would require clinical surveillance and follow-up.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Saturday, July 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:49

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