XN000022-1975-12-03 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1975

SPEEDY ANALYSES OF SUSPECT FOOD AND BEVERAGES

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ARRANGEMENTS ALREADY EXIST FOR THE EFFICIENT AND SPEEDY CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF FOOD AND BEVERAGES SUSPECTED TO CONTAIN POISONOUS OR HARMFUL SUBSTANCES, DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG WHO HAD ASKED WHETHER A SEPARATE UNIT WOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO CARRY OUT SUCH ANALYSES.

+NORMALLY, SAMPLES OF SUSPECTED FOOD AND BEVERAGES ITEMS ARE TAKEN BY STAFF OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE AND FORWARDED TO THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY FOR ANALYSES,+ DR. CHOA CONTINUED.

THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE LABORATORY THEN UNDERTOOK TO EXAMINE SUCH SAMPLES FOR THE USD AS PART OF THEIR SERVICE FOR THE VARIOUS ''CLIENT' DEPARTMENTS, HE ADDED.

DR. FANG ALSO ASKED WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO CONVERT THE VERANDAH AND LOBBY ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE PHYSIOTHERAPY TRAINING SCHOOL IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL TO PROVIDE MORE SPACE FOR THE SCHOOL.

IN REPLY, DR. CHOA SAID THE QUESTION WAS RAISED A YEAR AGO DURING A UMELCO VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL,

IT WAS THEN CONSIDERED INADVISABLE AND UNECONOMICAL TO GO AHEAD WITH PIECEMEAL ALTERATIONS AND CONVERSIONS OF EXISTING FACILITIES.

A PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG WAS AT THAT TIME BEING PREPARED BY THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH WOULD BE A COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO COVER ALL ASPECTS OF REHABILITATION FOR THE NEXT DECADE, DR. CHOA EXPLAINED.

BESIDES BEING CONSIDERED INADVISABLE AND UNECONOMICAL, THE SUGGESTED CONVERSIONS WOULD LIKELY BE A COSTLY UNDERTAKING WHICH COULD NOT BE SUPPORTED AT THAT TIME, HE SAID.

+THE SITUATION REMAINS THE SAME TO DATE,+ HE ADDED.

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