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Following is a question by the Hon Martin Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (January 31):
Question:
Regarding the local consumption of Nostoc flagelliforme, i.e. hair moss, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it knows, in each of the past five years, the quantity of Nostoc flagelliforme imported into Hong Kong, from where Nostoc flagelliforme is imported for sale in the market, and of the quantity of illegally imported Nostoc flagelliforme seized by the Government in the territory;
(b) whether it has conducted sampling tests on Nostoc flagelliforme for sale in the local market in the past five years; if so, of the quantity of fake Nostoc flagelliforme found; and
(c) whether it has studied, from the environmental protection perspective, introducing legislation to prohibit the import of Nostoc flagelliforme; if it has, of the study results; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) According to the records of the Census and Statistics Department, the quantity of Nostoc flagelliforme (Black Moss) imported into Hong Kong in the past five years is as follows:
Year Weight (kg)
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2002 383
2003 110
2004 70
2005 467
2006 0
Nostoc flagelliforme was imported from the Mainland China, Singapore, Canada and the United States, etc. The Customs and Excise Department did not seize any illegally imported Nostoc flagelliforme in the past five years.
(b) In the past five years, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department conducted chemical tests on 17 samples of Nostoc flagelliforme, including colouring, heavy metals, preservatives and pesticides from the perspective of food safety. All the test results were satisfactory.
(c) Nostoc flagelliforme is not an endangered species. It is not listed as a controlled species in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance currently in force in Hong Kong was enacted according to the control measures stipulated in CITES. Therefore, we do not prohibit the import of Nostoc flagelliforme.
Ends/Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:58
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