To ensure fish tank hygiene, laws are being drafted to ban seafood wholesalers and retailers from taking seawater from polluted areas.

Food & Environmental Hygiene Department Consultant Dr Ho Yuk-yin said on a radio talkshow today the move will be tabled at the Legislative Council next year.

He said vibrio cholerae can be found in water but cannot survive high temperatures. It can be killed by thorough cooking.

The department takes fish tank samples for testing every two months, and will step up inspections as food-borne diseases are common in summer, Dr Ho said, calling on people to cook food thoroughly.

For more precautions against cholera, click here.

On the discovery of vibrio cholerae at a Tai Kok Tsui restaurant Thursday, Dr Ho said investigations are on-going, and samples from a related fish stall in Sham Shui Po were collected yesterday for testing.

The restaurant remains closed until disinfection is completed to the satisfaction of the department.