GR 320
UNCLASSIFIED
DESKBY 2611007
FM HONG KONG 261000Z FEB 32
92,
HKCK 345/2
RECEIVED IN·
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 198 OF 26 FEBRUARY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
STRY
REF: MIPT: PQ'S
NO
CRE
913
Ардв
See
QUESTION AND REPLY GIVEN IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 8 JULY 1981
WERE AS FOLLOWS:
QUESTION: IS GOVERNMENT AWARE OF THE LATEST HEALTH HAZARDS POSED
BY THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TO WORKERS? IF SO, WHAT MEASURES WILL GOVERNMENT TAKE TO PROTECT OUR WORKERS FROM SUCH HAZARDS?
REPLY: GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF THE HEALTH HAZARDS POSED BY THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY. THEY ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE HAZARDS POSED
BY OTHER INDUSTRIES WHERE DUST AND FUME ARE PRODUCED AND A
VARIETY OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES ARE IN USE.
THE LEGAL BASIS FOR HEALTH PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE IS CONTAINED
IN THE HYGIENE SECTION OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS
ORDINANCE IN PARTICULAR REGULATION 33 DEALING WITH CONTROL OF QUOTE DUST OR FUME OR OTHER IMPURITY UNQUOTE. AS IN OTHER WORK
SITUATION IT IS ESSENTIALLY THE EMPLOYER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO
ENSURE THAT HEALTH PROTECTION MEASURES ARE TAKEN AND OF COURSE
THE WORKERS SHOULD ALSO FOLLOW SAFE PRACTICE.
INSPECTION BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE HELPS TO MAINTAIN STANDARD AND DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS SOME 387 UNDERTAKINGS WERE
REFERRED TO THE INDUSTRIAL HEALTH DIVISION FOR FURTHER SURVEY. THE MAJORITY OF THESE WERE CONCERNED WITH ASSESSMENT OF VENTILATION
SYSTEMS TO ENSURE MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY. OCCASIONAL CASES OF DERMATITIS OR OTHER ALLERGIC MANIFESTATION MAY BE EXPECTED IN ANY WORK FORCE EXPOSED TO THE PARTICULAR CHEMICALS IN USE, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO UNDUE INCIDENCE OR REPORT OF LEAD POISONING OR OTHER SERIOUS INDUSTRY RELATED DISEASE. ANY REPORT OF SUCH OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS WOULD OF COURSE BE FULLY INVESTIGATED BY THE
INDUSTRIAL HEALTH DIVISION TO DETERMINE CAUSE AND THE MEANS TO PREVENT. THE DIVISION IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO GIVE ADVICE ON ANY HEALTH
PROBLEM WHICH MAY BE SUBMITTED BY EMPLOYER OR EMPLOYEE.
T
MACLEHOSE
MINIMAL
NEWS D
HAAGD
LEGAL ADVISERS
CSCE UNIT
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOUT: OFFICE, LONDON