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members of the Health Education Select Committee have found out between April and now.
This was addressed to them. I am not a member of that committee.
DR. Woo:- One of your representatives is a member of the Select Committee, and he brought this to the committee.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- Can I ask, Mr. Chairman, what the Health Education Select Committee did about this.
DR. Woo:- No, this was given to me at the meeting, the first meeting of the Committee.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- How long ago was that?
DR. Woo:- April.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- What I was trying to elucidate was, if the Health Education Select Committee took any action on this memorandum which was addressed to them.
DR. Woo:- But we were told that there would be an inter-departmental discussion on the whole question.
CHAIRMAN:- We do not seem to be getting any further on this matter. Perhaps we could pursue it separately after this meeting with the Director.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Since the Vice-Chairman has only recently returned from leave, I think that probably is the best thing.
(6) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:—
It has recently been stated that buses, lorries and other vehicles using diesel engines very often emit pollutants which contain cancer-forming substances, and which represent a serious public health hazard:
(a) Will the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services indicate to what extent this is correct?
(b) To what extent the Traffic Office is aware of and is taking steps to abate this danger to public health?
(c) Has the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services himself taken any steps towards reducing this danger to public health, which is often considered by pedestrians as an out-right nuisance as well?
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The Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services replied as follows:-
It can be said that it is likely that air pollution in general may be related to the incidence of lung cancer but it is very difficult to determine the effects of any single factor contributing to the many sources of air pollution.
It is true that the exhaust gases from diesel engines do contain substances which are potentially cancer-forming. These substances are organic hydrocarbon compounds, especially one known as 3.4 benzpyrene, but fortunately these compounds are not highly stable in air being rapidly altered or destroyed by other air constituents and by sunlight. The extent to which diesel exhaust fumes contribute these substances to the surrounding air is also very small in relation to pollution of the air with the same substances from other sources—particularly exhaust fumes from petrol engines which, though less obviously offensive to sight and smell often contain up to 8 times as much more of these carcinogens than diesel exhaust products.
Regarding the second part of the question the Traffic Branch of the Hong Kong Police Force is, and has been for many years, acutely aware of this problem and is constantly taking action within the existing legislation; that is Regulations 103, 162 and 163(a) of the Road Traffic (Construction and Use) Regulations 1956. It would appear however, that these enforcement measures do not act as a sufficient deterrent to the lazy or indifferent vehicle operator.
The third part of the question seems somewhat personal. I, or my predecessors, have been in regular contact with the Traffic Branch of the Police Force to consider action which might be taken to minimize this nuisance. Apart from this no other action has been taken.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, starting off with the last paragraph in the reply, and this is not a personal question, it is a question to the Vice-Chairman in his official capacity. Has the Vice-Chairman contacted the police since his return, up to the time before he got notice of this question?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- No, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- In other words, it was after receipt of notice of this question. To what extent did discussion take place with the police on this subject.
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