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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (December 29) warned all fresh provision shop and market stall operators not to sell chilled meat as fresh meat, or they would risk having their licences/tenancy agreements cancelled or terminated.
During a blitz operation which ended early this morning, FEHD officers found a fresh provision shop at Tsing Ho Square in Tuen Mun selling chilled pork as fresh pork.
"Our officers followed a vehicle which was found to have delivered from the airport imported chilled pork to the concerned fresh provision shop late last night.
"Early this morning, a female worker took out the chilled pork. The meat was later displayed on the meat table and sold as fresh pork," a spokesman for the department said.
A total of 420 kilogrammes of imported chilled pork contained in 15 foam boxes was found in the shop, he added.
"We will consider cancelling the licence of the meat shop concerned as the operator has breached the licensing condition that prohibits the sale of chilled meat as fresh meat.
"The department will continue to monitor the sale of meat at the retail level and take stringent enforcement action to safeguard food safety and public health.
"Anyone who has doubts about meat being sold at retail outlets should call the department's hotline at 2868 0000," he said.
Ends/Thursday, December 29, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:38
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