WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
23
PREVENTIVE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO REMAIN FREE AND THESE INCLUDE FAMILY HEALTH CENTRES WHICH PROVIDE ANTE- NATAL AND POST-NATAL EXAMINATIONS, IMMUNISATION AND ROUTINE DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR CHILDREN; TUBERCULOSIS AND CHEST CLINICS; SOCIAL HYGIENE CLINICS; LEPROSY CLINICS; FLOATING CLINICS AND TRAVELLING DISPENSARIES AND ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IN MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.
HOWEVER, IN LINE WITH THE INCREASE IN SPECIALISTS OUTPATIENT CLINICS, CHARGES FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ARE TO BE BROUGHT UP TO THE SAME LEVEL I.E. FROM THE PRESENT $3 PER TREATMENT TO $6. INJECTIONS AND DRESSINGS AT A GENERAL CLINIC WILL BE INCREASED FROM $1 TO $2.
MUCH PROGRESS MADE IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
*****
ACHIEVING THE RIGHT BALANCE IN PRIORITIES HAS BEEN THE CONSTANT BATTLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THE COMMISSIONER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ADDRESSING THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST, DR REED SAID THE EPA MUST ALSO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE IN ALLOCATING LIMITED RESOURCES TO DEALING WITH THE BACKLOG OF EXISTING PROBLEMS AND TO SAFEGUARDING AGAINST THE CREATION OF NEW AND POTENTIALLY BIGGER PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.
AT THE SAME TIME, HE POINTED OUT, THERE WAS THE SUBSTANTIAL TASK OF SETTING UP A NEW DEPARTMENT INVOLVING THE RECRUITMENT OF STAFF IN MANY DISCIPLINES, AND THE SELECTION, PURCHASE AND COMMISSIONING OF COMPLEX EQUIPMENT.
HE SAID, HOWEVER, THAT THE AGENCY HAD MADE GOOD PROGRESS ON MANY FRONTS SINCE ITS FORMAL ESTABLISHMENT JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO.
HE POINTED TO THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK, WITH A WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AND WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE ALREADY INTRODUCED, AN AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL CURRENTLY BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND A NOISE CONTROL BILL UNDER PREPARATION.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS CITED BY DR REED WERE:
* THE INTRODUCTION OF CONTROLS ON A NUMBER OF LARGE NEW
DEVELOPMENTS WHICH COULD OTHERWISE CAUSE WIDE-SPREAD AND SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE AND HAVE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS:
* THE INTRODUCTION OF COST EFFECTIVE MONITORING NETWORKS
AND SURVEY PROGRAMMES TO PROVIDE OBJECTIVE DATA ON LOCAL POLLUTION LEVELS SO THAT CONTROL MEASURES COULD BE ADOPTED FOR LOCAL NEEDS; AND
* MUCH IMPROVED COORDINATION WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT IN
DEALING WITH THE DISPOSAL OF TOXIC WASTES AND ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES GENERALLY.
/+I I.