Bernard Chan to lead committee on reducing salt, sugar in Hongkongers’ diets
Exco member feels passionate about the job, noting his health problems force him to cut back
Executive Council member Bernard Chan has a new mission - weaning Hongkongers off their love of sugar and salt.
The businessman is to chair the government's new committee on the reduction of salt and sugar in food, which will make recommendations to food and health minister Dr Ko Wing-man.
Salt in particular is a big problem; the typical Hongkonger eats twice the internationally recommended five grams of salt per day, according to experts who advised the government on the problem last year. Some 30 per cent eat too much sugar.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National People's Congress in Beijing, Chan told the South China Morning Post of his passion for his latest public service role.
"[Cutting salt and sugar] is a global trend; actually this can affect many enterprises, restaurants and manufacturers. New York has banned [high levels of some additives] and affected McDonald's and other companies, and we need to respond to this global trend," Chan said.
"We need to find out what our next steps are. As salt and sugar are big factors that affect our health, what should be done? Would there be some kind of voluntary [schemes]?"