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6. BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO EVIDENCE OF CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES BEING USED IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG IT IS NOT MANDATORY FOR WORKERS WHO MAY BE EXPOSED TO CARCINOGENIC CHEMICALS
TO BE MEDICALLY EXAMINED, OTHER THAN THOSE EXPOSED TO RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES. HOWEVER, ANY MEDICAL PRACTITIONER WHO BELIEVES THAT A
PERSON IS SUFFERING FROM ANY OF THE NOTIFIABLE OCCUPATIONAL
DISEASES SPECIFIED IN THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS
(NOTIFICATION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES) REGULATIONS MUST NOTIFY THE
DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES. SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN
VERY FEW CASES OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES REPORTED CONCERNING WORKERS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY. MEDICAL OFFICERS OF THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH DIVISION ALSO CARRY OUT MEDICAL CHECKS ON WORKERS SUSPECTED OF SUFFERING FROM ANY COCUPATIONAL DISEASE. THE RADIATION (CONTROL OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES) REGULATIONS CONTROL NOT JUST INDUSTRIAL BUT ALL USES OF RADICACTIVE SUBSTANCES.
7. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO DO MORE IN
THE FIELD OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES GENERALLY. SINCE THE APPOINT- MENT OF THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CONSULTANT IN 1983, THE OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH DIVISION HAS BEEN EXPANDED AND WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE. HOWEVER, TIME IS NEEDED TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN
THE NECESSARY STAFF.
8. IF THE ASIA MONITOR CENTRE OR ANY OTHER INTERESTED GROUP CAN PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF THE USE OF THESE SUBSTANCES OR OTHER HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN THE ELECTROMICS INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG WE WILL BE VERY
WILLING TO INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION.
9. FOR YOUR BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND NOT FOR USE IN REPLY TO MR. PARRY YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE CONFIRMED
CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES IN INDUSTRY THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF
SUSPECTED CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES IN USE IN ALL TYPES OF INDUSTRY
WHICH SO FAR AS WE KNOW HAVE NOT CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS. AN AUTHORITIVE
LIST OF THESE CONFIRMED AND SUSPECTED CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES IS
AVAILABLE IN A GUIDANCE NOTE PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE U.K.
HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE.
MACLEHOSE MINIMAL
HKAD
NEWS D
LEGAL ADVISERS
CSCE UNIT
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOUT: OFFICE
LONDON
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