26 -
"We provide eye-sight screening tests for Primary One pupils under the Combined Screening Programme. When they fail to pass the tests, we give parents' options for:
1)
ophthalmic diagnosis at eye clinics of the Hospital Authority,
2)
optometric assessment at the General Eye and Low Vision Clinic of the Hong Kong Society for the Blind, and
3)
ophthalmic diagnosis by ophthalmologists in private practice.
"Parents are entirely free to make their own choice.
"We are aware that certain private optometrists claim to have had referrals from our department. We are looking into the matter and considering the appropriate action to be taken."
End
1996/97 figures on court insolvency cases released
Reviewing the work of the Official Receiver's Office in 1996/97, the Official Receiver, Mr Robin Hearder, said that the total number of new court insolvencies had increased rom 1,013 in 1995/96 to 1,119 in 1996/97. He added that it was low in comparisonwith other overseas jurisdictions in view of the huge volume of economic activities in fong Kong.
There wre 557 new compulsory company liquidations in 1996/97, representing less than one pe cent of the total number of new companies incorporated during the
y... (58,010). The corresponding figure(s) in 1995/96 were 514 and 1.5
Γα
per cent,
number of new compulsory company liquidations was only around 0.1 per cent of the to... number of companies (490,000). Major causes of failure were a decline in business, sh tow problems and poor management,
Mr. Hearder said that 996/97 was the first year since 1988/89 with the number of new bankruptcies exceeding he number of new compulsory company liquidations. Whereas new bankruptcies resuring rom self-petitions increased from 10 in 1995/96 to 23 in 1996/97, the total number of new bankruptcies increased from 499 in 1995/96 to 562 in 1996/97. The major causes of failure were inability to meet liabilities arising from personal guarantees, a decline in business and excessive use of personal credit facilities.