XN000022-1978-03-03 — Page 4

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1978

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PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF BCG VACCINATION, THERE WERE BETWEEN 1,300 AND 2,000 DEATHS IN YOUNG CHILDREN EVERY YEAR, BUT THIS FELL TO ONLY FOUR IN THE UNDER FIVE AGE GROUP IN 1976, HE ADDED.

+NEVERTHELESS, THERE WERE STILL OVER 7,000 NEW CASES WITH 500 DEATHS REPORTED IN 1977, WHICH INDICATE THAT WHEREAS PROGRESS IS BEING MADE THERE MUST BE NO SLACKENING IN THE DRIVE AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

FIGURES FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION SHOW THAT

TUBERCULOSIS REMAINS A MAJOR MENACE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT EIGHT MILLION CASES IN ALL WITH ABOUT ONE MILLION NEW CASES NOTIFIED EVERY YEAR.

TUBERCULOSIS STILL KILLS SOME 400,000 PEOPLE A YEAR THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF DEATHS OCCURRING IN SOUTH EAST ASIA.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PRESENT TREATMENT FOR TUBERCULOSIS HAS PROVED TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE AND IS IMPROVING ALL THE TIME, AND IS COMPLETELY FREE. THE LIKELIHOOD OF COMPLETE CURE WITHIN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD IS VERY HIGH INDEED.

THERE ARE AT PRESENT THREE FULL-TIME CHEST CLINICS ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND FIVE IN KOWLOON IN ADDITION TO PART-TIME CLICS

IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

DEVELOPMENTS ON LANTAU ISLAND *****

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY OUTLINED THE DEVELOPMENTS ON LANTAU ISLAND AND SAID THE NEXT FE.. YEARS MOULD SEE A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN THE USE CF SCUTH LA TAU FOR RECREATION, HOLIDAY LIVING AND ENJOYMENT.

ADDRESSING A LUNCHECH NEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUE OF KOWLOC" HORTH, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID NORTH LANTAU, HOWEVER, REMAINED HORG KONG'S LARGEST UNDEVELOPED LAND RESCURCE.

HE SAID THE AREA WAS NOT EASILY DEVELOPED AND BECAUSE IT AS SUCH A LARGE LAND RESOURCE, AL IKVESTIGATION HAD STARTED TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOP IPE THE NORTH LANTAU COAST.

+AT THE SAME TIME, CONSULTANTS ARE TO BE APPOINTED TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE FEASIBILITY COF CONSTRUCTING EITHER LONG-SPAN BRIDGE, WITH A HIGH CLEARANCE FROM TSING YI AND MA WAN TO LANTAU, OR AL INTERSED TUBE TUNNEL, + KE 3. 12.

AS THE GOVERNOR SAID IN LONDON LAST AUTUMN, HE POINTED OUT, A DECISION ON WHETHER TO GO AHEAD .ITH A FIXED CROSSING IS LIELY TO BE MADE IN EARLY 1979.

REFEREENIG

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