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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1978
NO CHANGE IN URBCO FRANCHISE AND MEMBERSHIP
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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, SAID TODAY THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO PLANS TO ENLARGE EITHER THE FRANCHISE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL OR THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL.
HE WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR. THE HON. HENRY HU.
DR. HU HAD ASKED FOR A GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON WHETHER THE FRANCHISE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL BE ENLARGED AND THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MEMBERS IN THE COUNCIL INCREASED.
AMBULANCE SIRENS NECESSARY EVEN AT NIGHT
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THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. E.P. HO, SAID TODAY THAT IT WOULD BE INADVISABLE FOR AMBULANCE TO GO ABOUT THE IR ERRANDS WITHOUT USING SIRENS IN ORDER TO REDUCE NOISE AND DISTURBANCES AFTER 11 P.M.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. HO SAID THE REASON WAS THAT TRAFFIC HAZARDS WERE POSSIBLY GREATER DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE, MOTORISTS MIGHT BE INCLINED TO TAKE LIBERTIES BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF TRAFFIC.
HE ADDED THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES HAS ASSURED THAT AMBULANCE SIRENS WERE ONLY USED WHEN RESPONDING TO EMERGENCY CALLS AND WHEN IT WAS APPARENT THAT TIME WAS A CRITICAL FACTOR IN GETTING A PATIENT TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.
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