XN000022-1980-06-03 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1980

ACTIONS ON NOXIOUS GAS REPORT

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CLASSES WILL BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED TOMORROW AND UNTIL THE END OF THIS WEEK IN 13 BI-SESSIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS IN THE LAM TIN AND SAU MAU PING ESTATES IN THE KWUN TONG AREA.

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION IN ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY SAID THAT HE HAD TAKEN THE DECISION IN CONSULTATION WITH SUPERVISORS OF THESE SCHOOLS FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE CHILDREN.

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE HAS ALSO ADVISED THE SUPERVISORS OF CHILD CARE CENTRES IN THE AREA TO CLOSE FOR THE SAME PERIOD.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN THE MEANTIME INVESTIGATIONS ARE TO BE INTENSIFIED TO TRY TO TRACE THE SOURCE OF THE GAS WHICH CAUSED SICKNESS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE AREA.

HE ADDED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM THE GOVERNMENT WAS NATURALLY ANXIOUS TO ESTABLISH THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IF POSSIBLE.

A TEAM COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT, GOVERNMENT CHEMIST, THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT THE HEALTH INSPECTORATE OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW TO WORK IN THE AREA TO TRY TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM.

THE SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS AFFECTED ARE:

LAM TIN ESTATE

KINDERGARTENS

LAM TIN KINDERGARTEN, BLOCK 11

PUI SKING KINDERGARTEN, BLOCK 11

KAM KONG MEMORIAL CHURCH KINDERGARTEN, BLOCK 21

LAM TIN METHODIST KINDERGARTEN, BLOCK 23

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/PRIMARY SCHOOLS