**********************************************
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will strengthen management control of the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market to combat illegal landing of freshwater fish at the market, a spokesman for the department said today (May 12).
Starting from Monday (May 15), all visitors and vehicles will be required to register with the management staff before entering the market and more security staff will be deployed to enforce the registration rules.
The spokesman said the AFCD had been discussing the issue with the tenants and they also agreed that it was necessary to strengthen management control at the market. Having considered their views and set out priorities, the department had decided to implement the new measures at the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market first.
"We have the responsibility to maintain proper control of the market and protect legitimate trading and help ensure that imported food is accompanied by proper documentation where appropriate," the spokesman said.
According to the rental agreement of the market, all tenants are required to abide by the AFCD's "Administrative Rules for Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market", which forms part of their tenancy agreement with the department.
The Administrative Rules sets out the following rules governing the entry to and conduct of business at the market:
* Only market tenants, their authorised employees or legal representatives should conduct business at the market;
* Only people having a bona fide interest in the business of the market are allowed to enter the market; and
* The AFCD may introduce a registration scheme for people intending to purchase fresh foodstuffs in the market and that only registered people may be allowed to enter the market.
The department will deploy additional security staff to assist traders in the market to comply with the enhanced security control measures. Traders, their workers and regular users of the market can also apply for entry cards beforehand to reduce the time needed for registration when entering the market.
Ends/Friday, May 12, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:38
NNNN
