XN000022-1979-09-05 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1979

H.K. DECLARED CHOLERA FREE

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY DECLARED THAT HONG KONG IS NO LONGER A CHOLERA INFECTED AREA.

THE DECLARATION, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, FOLLOWED REPORTS OF NO FURTHER CASES OF CHOLERA SINCE THE CONFIRMATION OF THE LAST CASE ON AUGUST 24.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION REGULATIONS WHICH APPLY TO ALL MEMBER COUNTRIES.

THE REGULATIONS STIPULATE THAT AN INFECTED AREA IS CONSIDERED FREE FROM INFECTION WHEN THERE IS NO FURTHER CASE REPORTED DURING A PERIOD WHICH IS EQUAL TO AT LEAST TWICE THE INCUBATION PERIOD OF THE DISEASE SINCE THE LAST CASE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.

*THE INCUBATION PERIOD FOR CHOLERA IS FIVE DAYS AND, THEREFORE A TERRITORY MAY BE DECLARED FREE IF A PERIOD OF 10 DAYS HAS ELAPSED SINCE THE CONFIRMATION OF THE LAST CASE, HE ADDED.

HONG KONG WAS DECLARED A CHOLERA INFECTED AREA 13 DAYS AGO WHEN A SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM TUEN MUN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS ADMITTED TO PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL SUFFERING FROM CHOLERA.

THE SPOKESMAN URGED THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE OBSERVING THE RULES OF PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE, WHICH HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY WHO EXPERTS AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF CHOLERA AND OTHER GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES.

HE WARNED THAT IN VIEW OF THE CONTINUING PRESENCE OF CHOLERA IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGIONS THE RISK OF THE DISEASE RE-APPEARING IN HONG KONG REMAINS.

+THE PUBLIC IS STRONGLY ADVISED NOT TO RELAX THEIR PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES, PARTICULARLY IN THE CHOICE OF FOOD AND DRINK AND IN THE PREPARATION OF FOOD, HE SAID.

PROTECTIONISM - A GAME FOR SHORT-SIGHTED PEOPLE

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THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR. DAVID JORDAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHILST THE EFFECTS ON THE COUNTRIES AGAINST WHICH PROTECTIONISM IS PRACTISED ARE OBVIOUS, ITS ILL EFFECTS ON THE COUNTRIES THAT PRACTISE IT ARE LESS WELL RECOGNISED, BUT JUST AS REAL,

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT THE FURAMA HOTEL, MR. JORDAN SAID: I AM NOT AGAINST PROTECTIONISM JUST BECAUSE IT CAN DAMAGE HONG KONG, BUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT A MORE ENLIGHTENED ATTITUDE WOULD IN THE LONG RUN BENEFIT EVERYBODY, IN THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AND THE DEVELOPING, WHEREAS PROTECTIONISM BENEFITS ONLY A MINORITY EVEN IN THE COUNTRIES THAT PRACTISE IT.

/+IT IS