14
WEDNESDAY, JUZ 7,
HE REVEALED THAT CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO STEP UP A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN INFORMING THE PUBLIC HOW THEY COULD HELP TO WIPE OUT RATS AND OTHER VERMIN.
MR. JONES AGAIN EMPHASISED THAT IT IS LARGELY UP TO THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS IN ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM OF RATS.
COMMENTING ON THE EFFICIENCY OF THE METHODS USED BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR. JONES SAID THE PEST CONTROL UNIT OF THE DEPARTMENT WAS IN CONTINUOUS CONTACT WITH WORLDWIDE AUTHORITIES IN THIS FIELD, AND IT ADHERED TO THE ADVICE OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION ON THE BEST METHODS OF CONTROLLING VERMIN.
CONCERNING THE TYPE OF POISON WHICH IS USED, MR. JONES POINTED OUT THAT IT HAD BEEN EFFECTIVELY USED IN HONG KONG FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS AND THERE HAD BEEN NO EVIDENCE SO FAR OF RATS ACQUIRING IMMUNITY TO IT.
BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WERE ALIVE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING DOWN RODENTS AND THAT EFFORTS TO THIS END ARE SPREAD OVER A BROAD FRONT, MR. JONES ADDED.
HE MENTIONED THAT ADVICE WAS GIVEN TO ARCHITECTS ON THE NECESSARY DESIGN FEATURES IN BUILDINGS WHICH WOULD DETER THE HARBOURAGE OF VARIOUS TYPES OF VERMINS AND THAT IN SUCH AREAS AS GENERAL CLEANSING ACTIVITIES, DISTRICT HYGIENE MEASURES, HEALTH EDUCATION AND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RESTAURANT LICENSING, THE NEED TO CONTROL VERMIN WAS TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT.
REFERRING TO REWARDS FOR EVERY RAT KILLED OR CAPTURED AND BROUGHT IN, MR. JONES SAID THIS SCHEME WAS DROPPED BOTH BECAUSE IT TENDED TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO EMPLOY UNSAFE METHODS HARMFUL TO CHILDREN AND ALSO BECAUSE AN INCENTIVE OF THIS KIND COULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BREED RATS FOR REWARD.
AS FOR THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF THE RATS AT KWAI SHING WAI, MR. JONES SAID THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WOULD CLEAR THE WHOLE RAT-INFESTED AREA BY AUGUST 11.
LAW AGAINST DISCLOSURE OF NAMES IN RAPE CASES
****
THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENACT LEGISLATION TO PREVENT THE DISCLOSURE OF THE NAMES AND PAST SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF PERSONS WHI HAD BEEN RAPED, THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. GARTH THORNTON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG, MR. THOR *, SAID, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL INTENDS TO SUBMIT DRAFT LEGISLATION TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL SHORTLY AND, IF APPROVED, IT WOULD BE INTRODUCED TO THE COUNCIL EARLY IN THE NEXT SESSION.