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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1975
MORE POSTS FOR FORENSIC LABORATORY
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THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, THE HON. GERALD CHOA, WILL SEEK APPROVAL FOR THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL POSTS FOR THE NEW FORENSIC LABORATORY STAFF TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AS REQUIRED BY THE COURTS AND TO MEET THEIR MANY OTHER COMMITMENTS.
REPLYING TO THE HON. MRS. JOYCE SYMONS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, HE DESCRIBED THE PRESENT SITUATION AS +EXCEPTIONAL+ AND SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS +NOT JUST ONE OF INSUFFICIENT STAFF FOR THE NARCOTICS SECTION BUT ONE OF INSUFFICIENT STAFF FOR THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY.+
DR. CHOA SAID THE SECTION WAS NORMALLY CAPABLE OF HANDLING ROUTINE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE WORK INVOLVED WHEN A CLANDESTINE FACTORY WAS UNCOVERED. BUT, HE SAID, IT CANNOT COPE WHEN SEVERAL CASES OCCUR TOGETHER.+
TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF SITUATION, STAFF WAS PREVIOUSLY BORROWED FROM OTHER SECTIONS OF THE LABORATORY. +AS OTHER SECTIONS ARE NOW MORE THAN FULLY OCCUPIED NO STAFF CAN BE DEPLOYED,+ DR. CHOA SAID.
THE DIRECTOR SAID IN JULY THIS YEAR, HE ASKED FOR THE CREATION OF FIVE ADDITIONAL POSTS AND THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY WAS NOW PREPARING A PAPER FOR SUBMISSION TO FINANCE COMMITTEE.
HE SAID IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN SUITABLE STAFF AND THESE ADDITIONAL POSTS WOULD THEREFORE MAKE LITTLE IMPACT IN THE SHORT TERM.
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HE GAVE A WARNING THAT THERE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE +DELAYS IN PROVIDING SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IF THE NUMBER OF CASES REQUIRING SUCH EVIDENCE CONTINUES AT THE PRESENT HIGH LEVEL.+
REPORT ON TEACHERS: POINTS TO BE FURTHER EXAMINED
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SEVERAL POINTS IN THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSION ON CERTIFICATED MASTERS ARE NOW BEING FURTHER EXAMINED, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. LI FOOK-KOW, SAID TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON. LI FOOK-WO WHO HAD ASKED WHEN THE - REPORT WOULD BE PUBLISHED.
THE SECRETARY SAID THE REPORT WAS CONSIDERED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL LAST MONTH, FOLLOWING WHICH SEVERAL POINTS WERE ORDERED TO BE FURTHER EXAMINED.
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