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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1982
+APPROPRIATE EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS WILL SHORTLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL, FOR PRESENTATION TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL. ALL EXISTING KCR STAFF WILL BE OFFERED APPOINTMENT BY THE NEW CORPORATION,+ HE SAID.
COMMENDING THE STAFF FOR THEIR LOYALTY, DEVOTION AND EFFICIENCY, MR SCOTT SAID HE WAS SURE THE CORPORATION WOULD RECOGNISE THEM AS ITS +MOST VALUABLE ASSETS+.
DEBATE WAS ADJOURNED AFTER THE BILL WAS READ A SECOND TIME.
BATTLE AGAINST RATS IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL
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A NUMBER OF MEASURES ARE USED AGAINST RAT INFESTATION AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON ERIC HO, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.
THESE MEASURES INCLUDE THE SEALING OF PIPE DUCTS, THE FITTING OF SCREEN MESHES TO DOORS AND WALL APERTURES, PROMINENT DISPLAY OF NOTICES DISCOURAGING VISITORS FROM BRINGING FOOD AS WELL AS RAT TRAPPING AND SYSTEMATIC POISONING PROGRAMMES.
MR HO SAID THAT AS RATS ARE FOUND IN MOST OF THE WORLD WHERE THERE IS HUMAN SETTLEMENT, IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO ATTRIBUTE THE PRESENCE OF RATS AT THE HOSPITAL WHOLLY OR EVEN LARGELY TO DESIGN FAULTS, ALTHOUGH TECHNICAL STANDARDS HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED SINCE
ITS COMPLETION 20 YEARS AGO.
THE EXISTENCE OF FALSE CEILINGS, AIR DUCTS AND CONCEALED PIPING MEANS THAT CONSTANT VIGILANCE IS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THESE POTENTIAL SHELTERS FOR RATS REMAIN SEALED OFF, MR HO SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON THE ISSUE FROM THE HON LYDIA DUNN.
ANOTHER MAIN CONTRIBUTOR TO RAT INFESTATION IS FOOD LEFT BY VISITING RELATIVES. HERE IT MUST BE BORNE IN MIND THAT DURING DAILY VISITING HOURS, QEH RECEIVES UP TO 5 000 VISITORS, HE POINTED OUT.
HE SAID THAT IN THIS CONNECTION, HOSPITAL STAFF ALSO ENSURE THAT UNCONSUMED FOOD IS NOT LEFT AROUND AT NIGHT.
THE SHEER PRESSURE ON THE HOSPITAL IS ALSO CITED AS A CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS.
ORIGINALLY PLANNED FOR 1 300 BEDS, THE HOSPITAL NOW HAS NEARLY 2 000 BEDS, MR HO EXPLAINED.
NEW TREATMENT METHODS ALSO GENERATE EXTRA WASTE MATERIALS, RESULTING IN OVERFLOWS FROM THE REFUSE HOLDING CENTRF.
HOWEVER, THE POSITION HERE SHOULD IMPROVE WHEN THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS ABLE TO INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF ITS REFUSE AND JUNK COLLECTIONS, MR HO ADDED.
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