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FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1986
+THROUGHOUT HIS YEARS OF SERVICE, MR FUNG HAS PERFORMED HIS DUTIES WITH COMPLETE DEVOTION AND HIS EFFICIENT SERVICE HAS BEEN MUCH VALUED BY THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.
MR FUNG JOINED THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AS A STOKER IN 1947 TRANSFERRED TO ENGINEER CLASS IN 1952 AND BECAME A SENIOR LAUNCH MECHANIC IN 1974.
CONTROL ON MINERAL WATER TO BE IMPOSED
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CONTROL ON THE MANUFACTURE AND QUALITY OF BOTTLED WATER SOLD AS +MINERAL WATER+ WILL BE IMPOSED BY GOVERNMENT FROM JANUARY 1, 1987 IF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY) IS PASSED INTO LAW.
A MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH SPOKESMAN SAID THE PRESENT DEFINITIONS OF +FOOD+ AND +DRINK+ IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE DID NOT INCLUDE BOTTLED WATER SOLD AS +MINERAL WATER+ OTHER THAN NATURAL SPRING WATER.
+AS A RESULT, SUCH BOTTLED WATER IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT ALTHOUGH THE QUALITY OF ALL IMPORTED AND LOCALLY PRODUCED +MINERAL WATER+ ON SALE IN HONG KONG HAD NOT BEEN FOUND TO BE UNSAFE OR UNHYGIENIC, IT WAS CONSIDERED NECESSARY ON PUBLIC HEALTH GROUND TO PROVIDE STATUTORY CONTROL ON THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH PRODUCTS AS WELL AS TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THEM OTHER RELEVANT CONTROLS AVAILABLE UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.
THE BILL THEREFORE AMENDS THE DEFINITIONS OF +FOOD+ AND +DRINK+ TO BRING INTO THE AMBIT OF THE ORDINANCE BOTTLED WATER FOR SALE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
HE ADDED THAT ALL LOCAL PRODUCERS OF +MINERAL WATER+ HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND HAD NOT EXPRESSED ANY UNFAVOURABLE COMMENTS. MAJOR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TRADE HAD ALSO INDICATED THE IR SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL.
THE BILL WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 30. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE TRADE TO COMPLY WITH LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH WATER, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED WOULD NOT COME INTO EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY 1, 1987.
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