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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1980
AFTER THE REVIEW, THE DEPARTMENT WAS LIKELY TO PROPOSE INCREASES IN SOME OF THE PENALTIES AFTER THIS YEAR.
WITH REGARD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COMMISSIONER ASSURED DR HO THAT HIS DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN PURSUING A VIGOROUS POLICY TO ENSURE THAT BOTH MANAGEMENT AND LABOUR WERE PROPERLY OBSERVING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS.
LAST YEAR THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE CONDUCTED 38 851 VISITS AND INSPECTIONS TO INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS AND CARRIED OUT 3 784 INVESTIGATIONS AND FOLLOW-UP VISITS IN CONNECTION WITH INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS. THESE RESULTED IN 3 397 PROSECUTIONS.
PLANS WERE BEING IMPLEMENTED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FACTORY INSPECTORS FROM 140 AT PRESENT TO 250 BY 1984, HE SAID.
STEPS TO MINIMISE EFFECTS OF POPULATION PRESSURE ON MEDICAL SERVICE
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THE SUDDEN AND DRAMATIC INCREASE IN POPULATION DURING 1979 HAS HAD A CRUCIAL IMPACT ON THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES, PARTICULARLY MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH MAY NECESSITATE THE RESETTING OF DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND TARGETS.
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG SAID THIS AT THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL 1980 AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, GOOD PROGRESS HAS BEEN MAINTAINED IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN SPITE OF THIS UNFAVOURABLE FACTOR.
DR THONG POINTED OUT THAT THE INCREASE IN POPULATION HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT AROUND 80 000 PER ANNUM FOR ALMOST A WHOLE DECADE FROM 1970 TO 1978, BUT IN 1979 IT JUMPED TO 300 000 THE NORMAL POPULATION GROWTH.
FOUR TIMES
THIS WAS REFLECTED DIRECTLY IN THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF 13 PER CENT IN HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AS COMPARED TO 5.6 PER CENT IN 1978, HE SAID.
+SUCH POPULATION INCREASE,+ SAID DR THONG, +MUST BE UNSETTLING TO ANY PLANNERS FOR SERVICES AND FACILITIES.+
+THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BY NATURE OF ITS WORK, IS AMONG THOSE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE FOREFRONT IN BEARING THE BRUNT OF THIS SUDDEN AND MASSIVE POPULATION ONSLAUGHT, + HE ADDED.
DR THONG ASSURED THAT STEPS HAVE BEEN AND ARE BEING TAKEN TO MINIMISE THE EFFECTS OF SUCH ACUTE POPULATION PRESSURE ON THE SERVICE.
/+Ii. .