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00The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) raided an illegal slaughterhouse in Yuen Long and seized about 560 kilogrammes of unstamped pig carcasses and raw pork this morning (April 19).
00Acting on information, FEHD officers conducted a blitz operation and took action upon detection of illegal slaughtering activities inside a temporary structure at Pak Sha (near Kung Um Road), Yuen Long.
00During the operation, a man was suspected to have been engaged in illegal slaughtering and was arrested. He will later be charged with operating a slaughterhouse without a licence, illegal slaughtering of food animals for human consumption and possession of prohibited food.
"The department will continue to take stringent enforcement action against illegal slaughtering activities and sale of meat from an unapproved source.
00"Anyone participating in these illegal activities commits an offence and is liable for a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months," a spokesman for the department said.
00"We will closely monitor the supply of meat at the retail level to ensure that the meat has been properly inspected and meets the required hygiene standards.
00"Anyone who has doubts about the origin of meat being sold at a retail outlet should call the department's hotline at 2868 0000."
Ends/Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:44
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