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TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1994

BAKERY PRODUCTS SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION

THE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ASSURES THE PUBLIC THAT BAKERY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE AT THE MARKET ARE SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH RECENT INTERNATIONAL TREND OF PHASING OUT THE USE OF POTASSIUM BROMATE AS A FLOUR ADDITIVE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS OBTAINED THE CO-OPERATION OF THE LOCAL FLOUR INDUSTRY THAT THEY WOULD TAKE ACTION TO REPLACE, BY FEBRUARY 1, 1994, THE USE OF POTASSIUM BROMATE IN FLOUR AT A MEETING THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID BOTH SIDES SHARED THE VIEW THAT THEY SHOULD WORK TOGETHER ΤΟ SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.

HE SAID THE LOCAL FLOUR INDUSTRY WAS A RESPONSIBLE ONE AND HAD ALL ALONG FOLLOWED THE STATE OF THE ART PRACTICE ΤΟ ENSURE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS.

0

THE

EXCO ACCEPTS TWO HEALTH CARE REFORM OPTIONS * * * * * *

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE THE INTRODUCTION OF SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND A CO- ORDINATED VOLUNTARY INSURANCE SCHEME SO AS TO OFFER MORE CONSUMER CHOICE IN THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN HONG KONG.

THESE TWO OPTIONS IN THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT "TOWARDS BETTER HEALTH" PUBLISHED LAST YEAR, HAVE RECEIVED CLEAR COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

.

AS AN IMMEDIATE STEP TO GO AHEAD WITH THE TWO APPROVED OPTIONS, AN IN-HOUSE ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE WILL BE SET UP SHORTLY.

"THE COMMITTEE, TO BE CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH WELFARE, WILL COMPRISE THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY FOR TREASURY,' THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SHE

AND

OF

THE

WONG,

SAID ITS TASK WOULD BE TO REFINE AND FORMULATE DETAILED PROPOSALS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND A CO-ORDINATED VOLUNTARY INSURANCE SCHEME, INCLUDING PROPOSALS FROM THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY.

THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO STUDY THE FEE STRUCTURE FOR GENERAL WARDS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS, HAVING REGARD TO PUBLIC MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE PERCENTAGE SUBSIDY APPROACH, AND HAVING REGARD TO THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THE PRINCIPLE OF COST AWARENESS AND THE PRICE MECHANISM IN THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES.

CONCEPT OF

/"AS REGARDS

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