XN000022-1977-02-02 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1977

ADEQUATE HEALTH STAFF AT AIRPORT

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SOME HEALTH STAFF, WHO PREVIOUSLY CHECKED DOCUMENTS AT THE RECEPTION DESK AT THE AIRPORT, HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN AS THE NUMBER OF HEALTH DOCUMENTS REQUIRING TO BE CHECKED IS MINIMAL, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DR. THE HON. K.L. THONG, SAID TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE POINTED OUT THAT NOT ALL PORT HEALTH STAFF WERE WITHDRAWN.

DR. THONG EMPHASISED THAT AN ADEQUATE STAFF OF DOCTORS, NURSES AND HEALTH INSPECTORS HAD BEEN RETAINED AT THE AIRPORT TO CARRY OUT HONG KONG'S HEALTH RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO DEAL WITH SICK EMERGENCIES ARRIVING ON INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS AT THE AIRPORT ON A 24-HOUR BASIS.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THERE WERE ONLY FOUR DISEASES SUBJECT TO THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS, NAMELY SMALLPOX, PLAGUE, CHOLERA AND YELLOW FEVER.

ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, HE WENT ON, HONG KONG NOW REQUIRED VALID CERTIFICATES OF INOCULATION AGAINST SMALLPOX ONLY FROM TRAVELLERS WHO HAD BEEN IN AN AFFECTED AREA WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 14 DAYS AND SOMALIA WAS THE ONLY REMAINING INFECTED AREA IN THE WORLD TODAY.

DR. THONG ADDED THAT NO INOCULATION CERTIFICATES WERE REQUIRED FOR PLAGUE, CHOLERA OR YELLOW FEVER.

+THE NUMBER OF HEALTH DOCUMENTS THEREFORE NOW REQUIRING TO BE CHECKED IS MINIMAL, MAINLY BEING THE COMPLETED DECLARATION OF HEALTH SUPPLIED BY EVERY AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, HE SAID.

+ IMMIGRATION OFFICERS CHECKING PASSPORTS WILL ALERT PORT HEALTH OFFICERS AT THE AIRPORT IN REGARD TO TRAVELLERS FROM SMALLPOX INFECTED AREAS AND IT HAS BEEN THEREFORE POSSIBLE TO WITHDRAW SOME HEALTH STAFF WHO PREVIOUSLY CHECKED DOCUMENTS AT RECEPTION DESK, HE ADDED.

BILLS PASSED

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FOUR BILLS PASSED THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THEY WERE THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977- THE BANKRUPTCY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977- THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977 AND THE GAMBLING BILL 1977.

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