XN000022-1981-07-08 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1981

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SERVICES NOT COMPARABLE+

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IT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE TO COMPARE THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE, WHICH IS PART OF THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES CORPS, WITH THE ST. JOHN'S COUNCIL FOR HONG KONG, WHICH IS A VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION, SAID DR THE HON. K.L. THONG, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THIS WAS BECAUSE OF THE BASIC DIFFERENCES IN THE IR ORGANISATION AND ROLES, AS WELL AS THE SCOPE AND MAGNITUDE OF THE IR SERVICES, AS REFLECTED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE METHODS OF FUNDING, HE SAID.

IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG, DR THONG POINTED OUT THAT AMS MEMBERS ARE OBLIGED TO TURN OUT FOR ACTIVE SERVICE WHEN REQUIRED, OR FACE A FINE OF $1 000 OR IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS, WHEREAS MEMBERS OF THE ST. JOHN'S COUNCIL SERVE VOLUNTARILY AND ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY ESSENTIAL SERVICES REGULATIONS.

+BOTH ORGANISATIONS, WITHIN THE RESOURCES BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM FOR APPROVED ACTIVITIES, HAVE EACH IN THEIR OWN WAY MADE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

CLOSE WATCH KEPT ON OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

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THERE HAS BEEN NO UNDUE INCIDENCE OR REPORT OF LEAD POISONING OR OTHER SERIOUS INDUSTRY RELATED DISEASE, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. J.N. HENDERSON, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON. HENRY HU.

MR HENDERSON SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF THE HEALTH HAZARDS POSED BY THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, WHICH WERE SIMILAR TO THE HAZARDS POSED BY OTHER INDUSTRIES WHERE DUST AND FUME ARE PRODUCED AND A VARIETY OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES ARE USED.

THE LEGAL BASIS FOR HEALTH PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE IS CONTAINED IN THE HYGIENE SECTION OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAK INGS ORDINANCE IN PARTICULAR REGULATION 33 DEALING WITH CONTROL OF +DUST OR FUME OR OTHER IMPURITY+.

INSPECTION BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE HELPED TO MAINTAIN STANDARDS, AND IN THE PAST TWO YEARS SOME 387 UNDERTAKINGS HAD BEEN REFERRED TO THE INDUSTRIAL HEALTH DIVISION FOR FURTHER SURVEY.

THE MAJORITY OF THESE WERE CONCERNED WITH ASSESSMENT OF VENTILATION SYSTEMS TO ENSURE MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY.

THE DIVISION WOULD INVESTIGATE ANY REPORT OF OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS AND GIVE ADVICE ON HEALTH PROBLEMS TO EMPLOYER OR EMPLOYEE IF REQUIRED, SAID MR HENDERSON.

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