WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1988
10
SCHOOL CHILDREN SAFE FROM NOXIOUS EMISSIONS
* * * * *
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS RESPONDED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS TO 1,499 INCIDENTS INVOLVING ALLEGED NOXIOUS EMISSIONS OR FUMES.
THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), IN A WRITTEN TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON MIRIAM LAU.
SAID REPLY
MR BARNES SAID NEARLY ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS
INVOLVED LEAKAGE
OF GAS.
IN 18 OF THE INCIDENTS, OFFICERS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE TO CO-ORDINATE THE INVESTIGATION. FOURTEEN OF THESE 18 INCIDENTS AFFECTED SCHOOL CHILDREN.
MR BARNES SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ESTABLISHED RESPONSE PROCEDURES CONCERNING SUCH INCIDENTS TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE MEASURES WERE TAKEN TO PROTECT LIFE, HEALTH AND PROPERTY.
AT THE SAME TIME CARE WAS TAKEN TO MINIMISE DISRUPTION то EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITES, AVOID UNNECESSARY MOBILISATION OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND LIMIT THE POSSIBILITY OF MASS HYSTERIA.
"THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES WHICH ARE ADOPTED BY SCHOOLS ΤΟ ENSURE THAT AFFECTED CHILDREN ARE GIVEN ADEQUATE ATTENTION, THAT THE ALLEGED GAS OR SOURCE OF EMISSIONS 15 ESTABLISHED AND THAT THE EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE NOTIFIED WHERE NECESSARY," HE SAID.
"WE BELIEVE THAT THESE PROCEDURES ARE WORKING EFFECTIVELY BECAUSE, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, SO FAR NO PERSON ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL FOLLOWING SUCH AN INCIDENT HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE SUFFERING FROM ANY ILL EFFECTS."
MR BARNES ALSO SAID THAT IN ONLY THREE OF THE 18 INCIDENTS INVESTIGATED BY THE EPD WAS IT POSSIBLE TO CONFIRM THE SOURCE OF THE NOXIOUS EMISSIONS OR FUMES. THUS IT WAS DIFFICULT то PREVENT THE RECURRENCE OF SUCH INCIDENTS.
ACTION
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"HOWEVER, WHERE STATUTORY MEASURES ARE AVAILABLE, WE DO TAKE AS IN THE CASE OF AN INCIDENT INVOLVING A SECONDARY SCHOOL IN KWAI CHUNG IN SEPTEMBER 1988, WHEN A NEARBY FACTORY WAS ORDERED SHUT DOWN A MALFUNCTIONING OIL-FIRED HEATER UNDER THE PROVISIONS THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE," HE SAID.
"THE FACTORY COMPLIED."
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