Food safety and mosquito prevention measures ready for equestrian events
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has done its preparatory work on food safety and mosquito control for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events.
Speaking at a press conference today (August 1), the Controller of the Centre for Food Safety of the FEHD, Dr Constance Chan, said the department was committed to meeting the target of "zero incident in food poisoning" set by the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).
"To cope with the hot and humid summer in Hong Kong, we have
formulated a specific strategy to ensure food safety during the Equestrian Events," Dr Chan said.
"The FEHD has established a Food Safety Advisory Team to work closely with the designated caterer for event venues and hotels for athletes and guests to assist them in developing safe menus and implementing an effective food safety management system.
"The team also provides professional advice and training for the
catering staff on food safety and conducts regular site inspections and auditing."
The department had also stepped up inspections of the food premises at event venues and tourist areas and enhanced food surveillance by conducting a targeted programme, Dr Chan said.
Some 1,500 food samples were taken between January and July from
relevant caterers, hotels, suppliers and food premises in the vicinity of
event venues and tourist areas for microbiological and chemical tests. All test results were satisfactory.
Seminars and workshops were also organised during the past months for catering managers and food handlers to remind them of the key steps, including hygiene practices and proper temperature for storage, in maintaining food safety.
"During the events, the FEHD will deploy staff to supervise at the
event venues and hotels to monitor the storage, preparation and delivery of food," Dr Chan said.
The FEHD will continue to closely monitor local and overseas food
incidents and maintain close liaison with relevant authorities.
"We attach great importance to food safety for the successful
co-hosting of the Equestrian Events in Hong Kong. Through concerted efforts by the Government, the Equestrian Company, the trade and the public, we are confident that food safety during the events can be ensured," Dr Chan said.
On mosquito control, the Assistant Director (Operations) of the FEHD, Ms Chu Lan-ying, said the department had stepped up anti-mosquito efforts in the event venues in Sha Tin and Beas River and their surrounding areas, as well as in the vicinity of hotels for athletes and guests.
The department deploys a total of 15 roving teams to strengthen
inspections and enhance mosquito control measures, including applying larvicides, clearing drains to prevent blockage, filling up defective ground surfaces, removing rubbish and stagnant water, etc.
The FEHD has liaised closely with the Equestrian Company to enhance anti-mosquito measures at the venues, providing mosquito prevention services such as elimination of potential mosquito breeding places and carrying out mosquito control operations.
"The department will continue to carry out anti-mosquito measures in
the equestrian venues and their surrounding areas," Ms Chu said.
As mosquitoes and insects thrive in a hot and humid environment, Ms
Chu advised spectators at the events to wear light-coloured, long-sleeved clothes and trousers and to put on anti-mosquito ointment on exposed parts of the body to avoid being bitten. During event days, mosquito trapping machines will be installed at the competition venues.
Apart from the designated teams, about 470 FEHD health inspectorate and professional staff have assisted in the preparatory work on food safety and mosquito control for the Equestrian Events.
Press briefing on Observatory's weather forecasting
for Equestrian Events
The Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory (Forecasting and Warning Services), Mr Wai Hon-gor, and representatives of the Equestrian Company, will hold a press briefing on Sunday (August 3) on the Observatory's initiatives to support the Equestrian Events and competition arrangements during inclement weather.
You are invited to attend the briefing which will be held at 11am at
the Information Services Department press conference room, 7/F Floor, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central.
Hong Kong volunteers headed for Beijing for 2008 Olympic Games
About 100 people from Hong Kong who will be serving as volunteers in
the 2008 Olympic Games, left for Beijing this afternoon (August 1) by
train. They are expected to arrive at Beijing West Station tomorrow
afternoon.
Seeing the volunteers off at the MTR Hunghom Station today were the
Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Li Gang;@the Permanent
Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Carrie Yau; and Operations Director of the
MTR Corporation Mr Andrew McCusker.
Mrs Yau appreciated the endeavours of the Liaison Office of the
Central People's Government, which would provide logistical support to the
volunteers at Beijing during the Games. She also thanked the MTR
Corporation for arranging priority bookings and seating as well as offering
tickets to the volunteers at a concessionary rate.
"I believe the volunteers will surely take pride in serving in the
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and will do their best to help make the first
Olympic Games on Chinese soil successful," Mrs Yau said.
Apart from the 100-plus volunteers, another 140 volunteers, including
22 para-medical members from the Hong Kong St John Ambulance and 15
physiotherapists from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University had arrived or
would arrive in Beijing soon. More than 7,000 applicants in Hong Kong
applied to serve in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and went through a
vigorous process involving elaborate written tests and group interviews.
Most of these volunteers are aged between 18 and 30. On average, a
volunteer from Hong Kong will serve in the Olympic Games for three weeks.
