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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986
ALSO SPEAKING DURING THE DEBATE ON THE BILL, THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN URGED THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE TO PROVIDE THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY THE INFORMATION WHICH SHOWED THAT THE U.S. SURGEON GENERAL SUPPORTED A BAN BEING IMPOSED HERE.
HE SAID A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY CALLED TO SEE HIM YESTERDAY IN CONNECTION WITH A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY WHICH MENTIONED THAT THE U.S. SURGEON GENERAL WAS ON RECORD+ SUPPORTING THE BAN.
HOWEVER THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD MR CHEONG-LEEN THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD NOT PROVIDED HIM WITH THE RELEVANT INFORMATION.
+ IF THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT YET BEEN SUPPLIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, I WOULD URGE THAT IT BE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, HE SAID.
+1 AM CONCERNED THAT IF GOVERNMENT DOES NOT FULLY CLARIFY THIS POINT IN PARTICULAR, THERE MIGHT BE UNNECESSARY MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL COULD BE MI SCONSTRUED AS AN ANTI-U.S. IMPORT RESTRICTION, AS I AM INFORMED, SUGGESTED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE, AND WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE TO BE THE CASE, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID.
+CERTAINLY HONG KONG BELIEVES IN AND CONSISTENTLY PRACTISES FREE TRADE PRINCIPLES, AND WE IN HONG KONG HAVE NO INTENTION AT ALL TO DEPART FROM SUCH PRINCIPLES, HE ADDED.
CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICALS BANNED
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REGULATIONS SEEKING TO PROHIBIT THE MANUFACTURE OR USE OF CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES IN ANY INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING WERE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE RESOLUTION SEEKING APPROVAL OF THE FACTORIES
AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES) REGULATIONS, 1986, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, SAID FOUR CHEMICALS KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM BEING MANUFACTURED OR USED IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS.
HE ADDED THAT EXEMPTION FROM THE PROHIBITION WAS PROVIDED FOR UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH AS WHERE SUCH SUBSTANCES WERE MANUFACTURED OR USED FOR RESEARCH, TESTING OR INVESTIGATION.
/AS FOR