XN000022-1979-05-09 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1979

DEEP BAY OYSTERS BASICALLY NOT DANGEROUS FOR

HUMAN CONSUMPTION *****

THE LEVEL OF CADMIUM AND OTHER TOXIC SUBSTANCES FOUND IN OYSTERS IN DEEP BAY IS BASICALLY NOT DANGEROUS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON, HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR. JONES SAID CADMIUM CAN BUILD UP IN THE HUMAN BODY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND, IN SEVERE CASES, THIS CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE KIDNEYS AND NERVOUS SYSTEM.

NO CASES OF THIS SORT HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN HONG KONG THAT CAN BE RELATED TO THE CONSUMPTION OF OYSTERS, EVEN THOUGH THE CADMIUM LEVEL OF SOME OYSTERS SOLD IN THE DEEP BAY AREA HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT HIGHER THAN NORMAL.

+MANY FOODS CONTAIN SMALL QUANTITIES OF CADMIUM AND FURTHER SMALL AMOUNTS CAN ENTER THE BODY FROM THE AIR WE BREATHE AND BY, FOR INSTANCE, CIGARETTE SMOKING, HE SAID.

+WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THE TOTAL INTAKE, AND OYSTER CONSUMPTION WOULD NEED TO BE VERY HEAVY TO EFFECT THIS SIGNIFICANTLY, + MR. JONES STRESSED.

HE ALSO SAID THAT THE RESULTS SO FAR OF A WORKING PARTY SET UP LAST YEAR TO INVESTIGATE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF CADMIUM IN VARIOUS TYPES OF DIET COMMON IN HONG KONG HAVE GIVEN NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.

+AS REGARDS OTHER POSSIBLE TOXIC SUBSTANCES, WE HAVE NOT YET IDENTIFIED ANY SIGNIFICANT HAZARDS IN OYSTERS AT DEEP BAY OTHER THAN BACTERIA, AND THESE ARE MADE HARMLESS BY THOROUGH COOKING.+

EXTRA BUS SERVICES TO BEACHES AND COUNTRY PARKS

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PRESSURE WILL BE TAKEN OFF THE FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES IN SOME MAJOR URBAN CORRIDORS ONCE THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY GOES INTO FULL OPERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THIS WILL ENABLE THE COMPANIES TO FURTHER IMPROVE SERVICES TO BEACHES AND COUNTRY PARKS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR. JONES SAID THE BUS COMPANIES WERE ALREADY DEPLOYING EXTRA BUSES ON FINE WEATHER SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR TRANSPORT TO POPULAR BEACHES AND COUNTRY PARKS.

/+EXTRA

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