HK appoints Controller of Center for Food Safety

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced Tuesday the appointment of Deputy Director (Food and Public Health) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Dr Mak Sin-ping as Controller of Center for Food Safety of Hong Kong with effect from Tuesday.

Commenting on Dr Mak's appointment, Hong Kong Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow said Dr Mak had proven leadership and administrative skills, as well as profound professional knowledge in food safety and public health issues.

"With her extensive experience, I am confident that she will be able to lead the Center for Food Safety (CFS) in enhancing food safety in Hong Kong and meeting the challenges ahead," said Chow.

Chow also said that with the appointment of the Controller of CFS, the Food Surveillance and Control Division and the Risk Assessment and Communication Division of the Hong Kong Health, Welfare and Food Department will be subsumed under the CFS on the same day.

"We will start taking steps to recruit new staff, including food safety experts, to strengthen various work areas, including enhancing food surveillance and sampling, handling the increasing number of food complaints, increasing liaison with the Mainland and overseas authorities, reviewing and updating food standards, and enhancing risk assessment and communication," said Chow.

On April 7, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong approved the creation of the new Controller post to head the CFS to be set up within the department.

Dr Mak Sin-ping, aged 54, joined the Hong Kong Civil Service as a Medical and Health Officer in 1978. She became Deputy Director ( Food and Public Health) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in 2001, responsible for planning and directing the implementation of policies on food safety control, veterinary public health and pest control, and overseeing risk assessment programs on food safety.

Source: Xinhua