HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
18 January 1989 香港立法局—————————— 一九八九年一月十八日
42
Chau reaches capacity. On current projections this will be in the year 2000, if
no further expansion of the facilities is undertaken.
Oral answer to question
Administering of the wrong gas to a patient
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: Dr. LEONG, you have submitted a late question which I have allowed because it concerns an urgent matter of public importance.
13. DR. LEONG asked: I am most grateful to you, Sir, for allowing me to slot in a question at the eleventh hour, the topic of which is obviously of great concern to this Council and to the public. The question is: In the light of the recent tragedy involving a patient believed to have been supplied with a wrong gas during an operation, will the Administration inform this Council of the existing administrative and legislative controls over the supply of medicine, gas and gaseous products for use in public, subvented and private hospitals?
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Sir, before I answer Dr. LEONG's question, I would like to express the Government's deepest sympathy, which I am sure all Members of this Council also feel, to the family of the deceased. I would also like to point out, and I am sure Members will understand, that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the particular facts of the tragic case to which the question refers. The circumstances are being investigated by the police and a report will be submitted to the Coroner for him to consider whether an inquest should be held.
There are legislative controls under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance governing the manufacture, distribution and sale of medicine and pharmaceutical products. In order to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of such products, there are legal requirements covering the registration of products and the licensing of imports, importers, retailers, wholesalers and local manufacturers. Inspections of suppliers' premises and sampling of their products for analysis are carried out on a regular basis. These controls are considered adequate for the purposes of monitoring the quality of medicine supplied to the community.
In respect of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen which are covered by the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, a licence is required under section 6 from the Director of Fire Services for their manufacture, storage, conveyance or use. Such licences need to be renewed annually. Before licences are issued or