Concern over 'harmless' bacteria found in ParknShop fish tanks

A microbiologist yesterday raised the alarm over the discovery of a harmless form of cholera in fish tanks at four different ParknShop stores, in addition to the contagious variety found at the Chi Fu Fa Yuen outlet.

Chinese University professor of microbiology John Tam Siu-lun said the discovery, which was announced on Monday, was 'also a cause for concern simply because it reflects that the water or fish still had the cholera bacterium. Even if it is not pathogenic, the implication is that cholera is there'.

The harmless cholera bacteria are common in seawater, Professor Tam said, but not in high numbers. The organism might have come from faecal waste in the water.

He said it was proper for the government to have announced on Wednesday that it would prosecute the licensee of ParknShop's Chi Fu Fa Yuen branch 'because the cholera organism is a potentially infectious bacterium'.

As for the other four stores, he said he was not sure if the government was correct in its decision not to prosecute.

The public relations manager for the Li Ka-shing-owned supermarket chain, Teresa Pang Sau-kwan, said last night her company was the 'licensee' of the Pokfulam store.