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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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