Pellet clean-up to expand

August 05, 2012

The Government will deploy more manpower to expedite the clean-up of plastic pellets scattered at sea and on beaches, contracting out the work as the operation may take several months.
 
Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man said today the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department will boost patrols at beaches, and liaise with green groups and the local community to continue the clean-up.
 
Dr Ko noted public concern about the pellets, blown from a container ship during Typhoon Vicente last month, pledging the Government will strengthen its mechanism in releasing information to the public.
 
The pellets are not toxic and will not react with other products, he said, however, small fish may choke and die after consuming them, and he does not rule out the possibility some fish may be affected as the pellets can absorb toxins.
 
According to a Centre for Food Safety risk assessment, an increased food hazard is unlikely to be significant as wild fish locally caught only constitute a very small part of the Hong Kong diet. The centre will closely monitor the situation and urges the public, fishmongers, and fishermen to read the food risk assessment.
 
Meanwhile, Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing inspected Nim Shue Wan in Discovery Bay and nearby beaches today to inspect the clean-up of the pellets.
 
He said the Government has conducted inter-departmental co-ordination work and deployed additional manpower to follow up on the incident. It will closely monitor the situation.