Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after inspecting the Government Vaccination Programme 2016/17 at Ha Kwai Chung General Out-patient Clinic today (November 4):

Reporter: As the scheme is being carried out, do you think that it is a good start? Are you worried that there would not be enough jabs and people are not aware that the flu season is coming?

Secretary for Food and Health: As we all know, the peak of seasonal influenza will arrive sometime between now and January. In fact, in these few days, the ambient temperature is starting to drop to below 20 degrees Celsius. It is important for us to remind all eligible citizens to take the opportunity of receiving seasonal influenza vaccination either through the Government Vaccination Scheme or the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme. The Vaccination Subsidy Scheme has already been started two weeks ago. Up to today, more than 50 000 people have received vaccination. The Chairman of the Hospital Authority has just said that the Government Vaccination Scheme, which only started yesterday, recorded over 10 000 vaccinations. 

Reporter: What is the next step the (Food and Environmental Hygiene) Department will take after meeting the (hairy crab) trade?

Secretary for Food and Health: I am very concerned about the claims of some importers that there were different types of operational arrangements in terms of the import of hairy crabs. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) this morning met some of these importers in order to obtain details of the operation arrangements. Depending on the result, the CFS will consider necessary and appropriate law and enforcement actions. 

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Friday, November 4, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:50

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