WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1994
ON THE QUESTION OF RAT POPULATION, MRS WONG SAID A RAT CENSUS WAS TECHNICALLY A VERY TEDIOUS AND COSTLY UNDERTAKING AND PRONE TO WIDE MARGINS OF STATISTICAL ERROR.
"THE GENERAL LEVEL OF RODENT INFESTATION IS DETERMINED BY ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE STANDARDS WHICH, IN TURN, DICTATE THE RAT HOLDING CAPACITY IN ANY GIVEN AREA, SHE ADDED.
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AS REGARDS RAT CONTROL, MRS WONG NOTED THAT RODENT CONTROL STAFF OF THE TWO MUNICIPAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS CONDUCTED REGULAR RAT INFESTATION SURVEYS COVERING THE ENTIRE TERRITORY TO MONITOR HYGIENE CONDITIONS AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANY ABNORMAL INCREASES IN THE RAT POPULATION.
RAT POISONING PROGRAMMES ARE THEN DRAWN UP DEPENDING ON THE DEGREE OF INFESTATION,
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STAFF ALSO DISSEMINATE ADVICE ON RAT PROOFING AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE TO RESIDENTS.
IN ADDITION, THE TWO DEPARTMENTS CONDUCT AN ANTI-RAT CAMPAIGN IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER EACH YEAR TO PUBLICISE THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANLINESS, HENCE REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD OF RODENT INFESTATION.
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT PROTECTED AGAINST ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE
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THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF DISTURBANCE TO THE FUNCTIONING OF ELECTRONIC MEDICAL EQUIPMENT BY THE USAGE OF MOBILE TELEPHONES INSIDE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WAS AWARE OF THE POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE WITH MEDICAL EQUIPMENT CAUSED BY MOBILE TELEPHONE, PARTICULARLY IF OPERATED WITHIN A CLOSE RANGE OF THE EQUIPMENT.
"IT IS CURRENTLY EXAMINING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH A VIEW TO GIVING APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE TO PUBLIC HOSPITALS, SHE SAID.
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MRS WONG ASSURED THAT MOST MEDICAL EQUIPMENT WERE DESIGNED TO PROTECT AGAINST ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE AND SO FAR THERE HAD BEEN NO RECORDED INCIDENT OF THIS KIND IN HONG KONG.
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