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13
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1993
THE
NEED TO EDUCATE PUBLIC ON USE OF CHINESE HERBS
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GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE THE PRACTICE OP RELEASING THE NAMES OF THE CHINESE HERBS WHICH HAVE CAUSED POISONING, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HOWARD YOUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE SAFE AND PROPER USE OF CHINESE HERBS.
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"THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THROUGH ITS HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES, PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ON THE TOXIC EFFECT OF POTENT HERBS AND ON HOW THEY SHOULD BE HANDLED,' SHE NOTED.
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OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN 23 REPORTED CASES OF POISONING INVOLVING THE USE OF CHINESE HERBS.
OF THESE CASES, 22 WERE CAUSED BY THE IMPROPER USE OF CHUANWU AND CAOWU DUE TO OVERDOSAGE, INCOMPLETE CURING OF THE HERBS OR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON PREPARATION.
THE REMAINING CASE WAS CAUSED BY THE MISTAKEN USE OF NAOYANGHUA INSTEAD OF LINGXIAOHUA.
GAMBLING RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO SHIPS WITHIN HK WATERS
CURRENT RESTRICTIONS ON GAMBLING APPLY TO ACTIVITIES WHICH TAKE PLACE ON BOARD SHIPS PLYING WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN HIS WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHIM PUI-CHUNG, SUEN SAID THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT UNLAWFUL GAMBLING ACTIVITIES WERE TAKING PLACE ON BOARD VESSELS WITHIN THE PORT.
MR
WITH
HOWEVER, MR SUEN SAID THERE WERE PARTICULAR DIFFICULTIES RESPECT TO HONG KONG'S EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OVER ACTIVITIES WHICH TOOK PLACE ON BOARD VESSELS CARYING PASSENGERS FROM HONG KONG TO THE HIGH SEAS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT THE GOVERNMENT POLICY TO ATTEMPT TO CONTROL GAMBLING ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE HONG KONG.
HOWEVER, IN THE CASE OF VESSELS WHICH ARE BASED IN HONG KONG, THE GOVERNMENT'S FIRST PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL THE CREW AND PASSENGERS ABOARD.
THE RECENT FIRE ON THE PANAMA-REGISTERED SHIP "NEW ORIENT PRINCESS" SERVED TO SHOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CORRECT
IN TAKING STEPS TO CONTROL FIRE AND MARINE SAFETY STANDARDS OF THESE VESSELS.
/HE SAID