XN000022-1977-01-19 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1977

CAMERA-SHY PRISONERS PROTECTED BY PRISON RULE

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THERE IS IN REALITY LITTLE THAT CAN PROPERLY OR PRACTICABLY BE DONE TO PREVENT A PRISONER FROM COVERING HIS FACE WHEN FACING REPORTERS AND TV CAMERAS,

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SOLICITOR GENERAL, THE HON. D.R. BOY, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR. THE HON. S.Y, CHUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+ANY PHYSICAL ACTION ON THE PART OF THE POLICE OR PRISONS OFFICERS TO RESTRAIN A PRISONER'S EFFORTS TO COVER HIS FACE OR IN SOME OTHER WAY TO HIDE HIS FACE, WOULD TECHNICALLY CONSTITUTE AN ASSAULT, HE EXPLAINED.

IT WOULD ALSO BE LIKELY TO CONSTITUTE AN UGLY SPECTACLE, HE ADDED.

MR. BOY QUOTED PRISON RULE 20 WHICH PROVIDES THAT WHEN PRISONERS ARE BEING REMOVED TO OR FROM PRISON, THEY SHALL BE EXPOSED TO PUBLIC VIEW AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, AND PROPER SAFEGUARDS SHALL BE ADOPTED TO PROTECT THEM FROM INSULTOR CURIOSITY.+

IN ANSWER TO ANOTHER QUESTION, MR. BOY SAID THAT WHILE IT WAS UNDOUBTEDLY TRUE THAT CERTAINTY OF DETECTION AND PUBLIC SHAME WERE THE GREATEST DETERRENTS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THE FURTHER EXPOSURE INVOLVED IN PREVENTING A CRIMINAL FROM COVER ING HIS FACE WOULD ADD SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE DETERRENT ELEMENT.+

PROPER MAINTENANCE OF GAS APPLIANCES

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THE PROBLEM OF DEATHS CAUSED BY SUFFOCATION FROM LACK OF OXYGEN IN POORLY VENTILATED PLACES IS DIFFICULT TO COMBAT BECAUSE IT HAPPENS IN THE PRIVACY OF PEOPLES' HOMES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. MISS KO SIU WAH, HE POINTED OUT THAT DEATHS OF THE SORT REFERRED TO BY MISS KO WERE NOT CAUSED BY GAS POISONING AS SUCH BUT BY SUFFOCATION FROM LACK OF OXYGEN TOGETHER WITH AN ACCUMULATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE DUE TO FAULTY MAINTENANCE OF THE GAS HEATING APPLIANCE.

HOWEVER, MR. JONES SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS EXAMINING THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THESE DEATHS TO SEE IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF SIMILAR OCCURRENCES IN THE FUTURE.

+MEANWHILE, THE BEST ADVICE THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC IS TO MAKE SURE, AT ALL TIMES WHEN GAS HEATERS ARE TURNED ON, THAT THERE IS SOME FORM OF VENTILATION IN THE ROOM, SUCH AS A WINDOW OR AN OPEN DOOR- AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT ALL GAS APPLIANCES ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED, + HE SAID.