SEE's opening remarks on food safety and environmental hygiene at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting
Following is the English translation of the opening remarks by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, on food safety and environmental hygiene at the special meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee today (April 9):
Thank you Chairman and Honourable Members.
The Environment and Ecology Bureau is committed to ensuring food safety and environmental hygiene as well as promoting the sustainable development of the local agriculture and fisheries industries.
In the 2025-26 Estimates, about $12.32 billion is earmarked for recurrent expenditure in the policy portfolio of Environment and Food, representing an increase of about $50 million (0.4 per cent) over the previous year and accounting for about 2.1 per cent of the recurrent expenditure of the Government.
Continuous improvement in environmental hygiene
To improve environmental hygiene more effectively, we conducted a comprehensive review of environmental hygiene-related legislation and put forward relevant amendments. First, we raised the fixed penalty levels for offences such as littering and shopfront extensions to enhance the deterrent effect in 2023. In the year that followed, the number of fixed penalty notices issued against shopfront extensions was 90 per cent less than that in the previous year. In 2024, we further introduced the second-stage legislative amendments to enhance enforcement effectiveness. The amendments, if passed by the LegCo, can take effect in the third quarter of this year. Departments will then be able to handle shopfront extensions more efficiently and expedite investigations into public health nuisances such as water seepage in buildings, water dripping from air-conditioners and "garbage apartments".
As regards environmental hygiene services, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has actively stepped up cleansing and enforcement at about 240 hygiene blackspots under its purview. The conditions of most of the blackspots have been markedly improved, and follow-up work will be carried out on an ongoing basis. In addition, the FEHD has enhanced its anti-rodent work. Using various tools and methods such as new design snap traps and T-shaped bait boxes, the FEHD captured 89 600 live rodents in 2024, representing an increase of about 165 per cent as compared with 2021. In the same year, the FEHD made full use of technology by adopting thermal imaging cameras and artificial intelligence technology in conducting rodent activity surveys, to track rodent activities in a more precise manner and carry out targeted work. Among the 90 locations with active rodent activities identified in the first half of 2024, nearly 90 per cent of the conditions have been improved. We have also continued to implement the Cross-sectoral Territory-wide Anti-rodent Action to co-ordinate anti-rodent efforts among different sectors in the community, including property management companies, market/hawker stalls, the catering industry, the construction sector and the pest control trade. In 2024, we launched the Anti-rodent Charter for private residential buildings to bolster anti-rodent efforts, with 607 applications received in just two and a half months. We will continue to work hand in hand with stakeholders to create a rodent-free environment.
As regards food business licences, the FEHD launched a series of facilitating measures for the trade. For example, we expanded the scope of the Professional Certification System to cover general restaurants, so that applicants may choose a "licence first, inspection later" approach and obtain a licence about 14 days earlier. Besides, we introduced the "Composite Permit" which covers multiple restricted foods, to spare shop operators the effort to apply for a separate permit for each food item. The new measure is well received, with about 100 applications received in the first quarter. We will continue to keep a close watch on the needs of the trade and proactively improve the regime.
New public markets and Market Modernisation Programme (MMP)
In 2024, the FEHD took forward the stall enhancement project in the Queen Street Cooked Food Market under the MMP to improve its operating environment through repair and beautification works. The Queen Street Cooked Food Market resumed operation in September 2024, with footfall increased by about 20 per cent as compared with that before the works. Stall tenants indicated that the enhancement works have improved the operating environment. Many members of the public have also expressed that the enhanced cooked food market offers a contemporary feel and a clean and comfortable dining environment. The FEHD will identify other suitable venues for similar works. In addition, the FEHD continues to take forward the new market projects in Tin Shui Wai, Area 67 of Tseung Kwan O and Kwu Tung North New Development Area, with expected completion dates ranging from end-2027 to end-2028.
Agriculture and fisheries development
The Government attaches great importance to the local agriculture and fisheries industries, and is committed to promoting their modernisation and sustainable development. We support the sectors in terms of application of advanced technology and intensification of production, as well as helping it seize the opportunities arising from the Greater Bay Area development. We are actively implementing the measures set out in the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries.
On the fisheries front, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has designated four new fish culture zones (FCZs) with a total sea area of about 590 hectares, which is three times the total area of the existing FCZs. The AFCD plans to issue the first batch of marine fish culture licences at Wong Chuk Kok Hoi and Mirs Bay in the middle of the year and will set up five units of modern deep-sea cages in phases for rental to fisheries organisations to lower the start-up cost for fishermen. Local mariculture production is expected to double by 2027 as compared to 2022. As for leisure fisheries, the AFCD rolled out enhancement measures to facilitate the development of leisure fisheries on fish rafts by the trade in January 2025.
On the agriculture front, the Government has reserved land in Sheung Shui for the construction of Hong Kong's first multi-storey modernised and environment-friendly livestock farm by the trade, the site formation works for which are expected to be completed within 2026. The AFCD will invite open applications for the construction and operation of the concerned livestock farm shortly so that interested agricultural associations/enterprises may apply. The selected organisation may apply for financial support from the Sustainable Agricultural Development Fund. Moreover, to promote the development of leisure farming, the AFCD launched the Agri enJoy Scheme in June 2024 to facilitate farms engaged in commercial agricultural production to offer leisure farming activities as ancillary businesses. As at February 2025, 83 eligible farmers have joined this scheme.
Furthermore, the AFCD strives to set up a unified new brand for local agricultural and fisheries products and establish production standards, farming methods, as well as a certification and traceability system in the upcoming financial year (2025-26), with a view to promoting local agricultural and fisheries products and enhancing their brand value and competitiveness in the market.
Chairman, my colleagues and I are happy to answer questions from Members.
