XN000022-1975-05-21 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1975

MR. ROBERTS EXPRESSED THE APPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR THE SYMPATHETIC ATTITUDE AND PRACTICAL HELP OF THE CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE AGREED TO ACCEPT REFUGEES.

IN A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION MR. CHEONG-LEEN ASKED WHETHER THERE WAS ANY INDICATION THAT A MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF REFUGEES COULD BE ABSORBED BY THE UNITED STATES.

MR. ROBERTS REPLIED +NATURALLY WE VERY MUCH HOPE THE UNITED STATES WILL BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT VERY MUCH LARGER NUMBERS. AS HONOURABLE MEMBERS KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING VERY LARGE NUMBERS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES DIRECTLY FROM SOUTH VIETNAM AND FROM . OTHER COUNTRIES IN ASIA. CERTAINLY, WE SHALL CONTINUE TO PRESS THEM TO ACCEPT A MUCH LARGER SHARE AND THE NUMBERS WHO ARE STILL WITH US. +

NEW PHARMACY AND POISONS REGULATIONS EXPECTED SOON

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THE REVISED PHARMACY AND POISONS REGUALATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE READY FOR PRESENTATION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BEFORE THE END OF THE COUNCIL'S CURRENT SESSION, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA, SAID TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG, DR. CHOA SAID HE BELIEVED IT WAS TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE TO AMEND THE EXISTING POISONS LIST WITHOUT WAITING FOR THE NEW REGULATIONS TO BE MADE.

HOWEVER, TO AVOID CONFUSION AND IN VIEW THAT THE WHOLE OF THE REGULATIONS WOULD BE PRESENTED SOON, HE PROPOSED TO INTRODUCE THE PHARMACY AND POISONS REGULATIONS AND THE POISONS LIST REGULATIONS AT THE SAME TIME.

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DR. CHOA ALSO POINTED OUT THAT SOME ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS HAD RECENTLY BEEN PROPOSED TO THE POISONS LIST AND IT WAS HOPED THAT THESE COULD BE INCLUDED IN THE LIST WHEN PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+IF THIS CANNOT BE DONE, THE LIST WILL BE PRESENTED AS AT PRESENT AMENDED AND FURTHER AMENDED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THEREAFTER,+ HE SAID.