Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, at a media session after meeting with live pig trade and meat trade representatives at the Central Government Offices today (June 1):
Reporter: What has been discussed in the meeting?
Secretary for Food and Health: We had a meeting with our traders. I would describe the meeting as very frank and the atmosphere is very good. We have discussed the trade operation and how we can work together in order to shorten the time of those live pigs staying in the slaughterhouse, because that would effectively prevent the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF). The traders have agreed to look into the entire chain of operation so as to shorten the time of those live pigs staying in the slaughterhouse. This is a very important point given that there is an incubation period of the ASF. The Mainland authority has already done a lot in terms of sending us healthy pigs. There are a lot of improvements and strengthened surveillance before the pigs entering the slaughterhouse. We will continue to look into how best to further improve the situation. The trade has also agreed that we would work together. On the Tsuen Wan Slaughterhouse, it will continue to assume normal slaughtering operation.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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