TC instructs TIA to take actions on suspected food poisoning incident involving Mainland inbound tour groups
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The Tourism Commission (TC) is highly concerned about reports today (September 10) regarding Mainland inbound tour groups seeking medical attention at hospital owing to suspected food poisoning. The TC has immediately contacted the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) to understand the situation and provide appropriate assistance to the visitors concerned.
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, attaches great importance to the well-being of visitors to Hong Kong. In light of two recent incidents involving suspected food poisoning of visitors, the TC has instructed the TIA to gather information of the current incident and cooperate with the Centre for Food Safety for their investigations. The TC has also directed the TIA to promptly contact the travel agent concerned as well as other travel agents arranging visits by the Mainland inbound tour groups to the relevant restaurants on the same day to understand more about the situation. The TIA noted that the incident reported today involved two Mainland inbound tour groups organised by the same travel agent, both of which visited two restaurants in Kowloon City receiving Mainland tour groups and some members of the tour groups also consumed other food they brought on their own. In addition, the TIA contacted another 68 travel agents which had organised visits by other tour groups to those two restaurants and confirmed that, apart from the 11 individuals from the two tour groups who felt unwell, all other members of the two groups and other tour groups have not exhibited similar symptoms. Should there be incidents breaching any codes and guidelines, the TIA will take actions to safeguard the well-being of visitors.
The TIA has also sent representatives to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to understand the situation and provide assistance to the affected visitors. It has also reminded the relevant travel agents and restaurant operators receiving Mainland inbound tour groups to be vigilant and ensure food and environmental hygiene, and to remind visitors to pay attention to personal, food and environmental hygiene for ensuring safety.