Page 458 of 606
ΟΙ 606
602
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Part 4 of the question is about the work done by the Council and the Department on education and publicity. Apart from distribution of the DH's information leaflet on the disease to operators of swimming pools, places of public entertainment and places of amusement, the Department's Health Education Section, in conjunction with the DH, will organize a health talk on prevention of the disease on 14 June 1994 for licensees and staff of private swimming pools, places of public entertainment and places of amusement, as well as departmental staff from the Leisure Services Branch responsible for management of recreation venues.
The Department, working in close liaison with the DH, will regularly review the situation and take appropriate improvement measures as recommended by the Working Group. The Department's latest review and meeting with the DH was held on 26 May.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese):-I thank the Chairman of the PH SIC very much for his detailed reply. Because of the effects of EV71, the public are deeply concerned about this virus. In response to the reply given just now by Mr. CHAN, I have 6 follow-up questions which I hope Mr. CHAN will answer. First, have the Council and the Department considered requiring private playrooms in the Council Area to keep a stock of balls in reserve so that when the balls are contaminated, the children can, as in the Council's playrooms, play with the balls reserved while those contaminated balls are being cleaned? Besides, in these privately run venues, are there staff responsible for visual inspection of the balls? This is the first question.
Second, has the Chairman of the PH SIC noted a recent media report that a private playroom in North Point requires children to wear socks when playing in the ball pool. If children playing in the ball pool are barefooted, others can see more clearly whether they are suffering from Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. But if they wear socks, the condition of their feet cannot be observed easily. Does this playroom's requirement that children must wear socks when playing go against the measures of the Council and the Department to effectively prevent the spread of EV71? If yes, what follow-up action has the Department taken? Have departmental staff inspected the venue and discussed with people in charge of it to work out a solution?
Third, there are drinking fountains in many public venues, including PUC and non-PUC venues. But according to our observation, some people do not drink water from these fountains in a hygienic manner. Some children even have their mouths contact the taps when drinking. Under these circumstances, drinking fountains may very likely become a transmission agent for EV71. Have the Council and the Department taken note of this? If yes, will they put up warning notices telling people how to properly use the drinking fountains? If no, what measures will be taken?
Page 458 of