XN000022-1980-02-13 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1980

HE SAID THAT, APART FROM THESE, AN ADDITIONAL 1 700 BEDS FOR PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS ARE BEING PLANNED AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OR EXTENSION PROGRAMMES FOR FIVE NEW GENERAL HOSPITALS AND THREE EXISTING HOSPITALS BY THE END OF THIS DECADE.

THE EXISTING CAPACITY OF 180 PLACES IN DAY CENTRES WILL NEARLY BE TRIPLED WHEN ANOTHER 300 PLACES ARE MADE AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS, HE ADDED.

DR THONG SAID PLANS FOR MORE OUT-PATIENTS CLINICS ARE ALSO IN THE PIPELINE. IN ADDITION TO THE SEVEN EXISTING PSYCHIATRIC OUT-PATIENTS CLINICS. ANOTHER SIX SUCH CLINICS WILL ALSO BE BUILT IN THE NEXT SIX TO SEVEN YEARS, HE ADDED.

BILL TO STRENGTHEN CONTROL OVER BILL POSTING AMENDED

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THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL DESIGNED TO CONSOLIDATE AND STRENGTHEN THE CONTROL OVER THE POSTING OF BILLS WAS AMENDED ON THE SUGGESTION OF THE HON. PETER C. WONG.

THE AMENDMENT PROVIDES THAT AN OFFENDER UNDER THE NEW SECTION 104B, WHICH REQUIRES THAT A BILL OR POSTER SHALL BE MAINTAINED IN A CLEAN AND TIDY CONDITION TO THE REASONABLE SATISFACTION OF THE AUTHORITY, WILL BE GIVEN A NOTICE IN WRITING ON THE CONDITION OF THE POSTER AND ADEQUATE TIME TO REMOVE IT BEFORE PROSECUTION IS CONTEMPLATED.

SPEAKING AT RESUMED DEBATE OF THE BILL, MR WONG SAID IT WAS FELT THAT THE DUTY IMPOSED BY THE NEW SECTION ON THE PERSON DISPLAYING THE POSTER WAS UNREASONABLY ONEROUS BECAUSE THE POSTER MIGHT BECOME DIRTY AND UNTIDY DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER OR ACTS OF VANDALISM.

+UNLESS THE PERSON DISPLAYING THE POSTERS KEEPS A CONTINUOUS WATCH, HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CARRY THE DUTY

IMPOSED UPON HIM, HE SAID.

THE AMENDMENT WILL HAVE THE DUAL ADVANTAGE OF REMOVING THE ONEROUS DUTY IMPOSED AND REDUCING THE NEED TO INSTITUTE PROCEEDINGS, WHICH ARE OFTEN TIME CONSUMING, HE ADDED.

THE BILL WAS PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS INTO LAW TODAY.

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