XN000022-1981-08-26 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1981

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WAS HAPPY TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST THE KUK'S WORK WITH THE GRANTING OF A SITE AND SUPPORT FOR THE NECESSARY CAPITAL AND RECURRENT SUBSIDIES.

*THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE KUK AND THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO MUCH TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE FACILITIES AND RESOURCES ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THIS PROJECT, HE SAID.

+ IN THE LAST ANALYSIS, HOWEVER, IT WILL BE THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE STAFF MEMBERS THEMSELVES WHICH WILL BE MOST VITAL AND WE MUST SUPPORT THEM IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.+

REFERRING TO THE NUMBER OF SEVERELY MENTALLY-HANDICAPPED PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, MR ALLEYNE SAID THE OVERSEAS INCIDENCE RATES SUGGESTED THAT ON AVERAGE 0.1 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION WOULD BE SEVERELY MENTALLY-HANDICAPPED.

ON THIS BASIS, THERE WOULD BE SOME 2 000 SEVERELY MENTALLY- HANDICAPPED ADULTS IN HONG KONG.

WARNING ON SPOTLIGHTS THAT CAN KILL

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY REITERATED A WARNING TO WORKERS THAT SPOTLIGHTS, COMMONLY USED IN CONSTRUCTION SITES, CAN KILL IF THEY ARE DEFECTIVE.

THE WARNING FOLLOWED A FATAL ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 24 WHEN A CONSTRUCTION WORKER WAS ELECTROCUTED BY A DEFECTIVE SPOTLIGHT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID THAT INVESTIGATIONS INTO THIS ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE CABLE INSULATION OF THE SPOTLIGHT INVOLVED WAS DAMAGED BY THE SHARP EDGES INSIDE THE LAMPHOLDER. FURTHERMORE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO EARTHING CONNECTION PROVIDED FOR THE SPOTLIGHT.

HE ADDED THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS ISSUING WARNING NOTICES TO ALL CONSTRUCTION SITES IN ORDER TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF CONTRACTORS TO THE POSSIBLE DEFECTS IN THIS TYPE OF SPOTLIGHTS.

CONTRACTORS ARE ALSO ADVISED OF THE NEED TO CHECK THE CABLE INSULATION AND EARTHING CONNECTION BEFORE PUTTING THE LIGHTS INTO USE.

INDUSTRIAL USERS SHOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT PROPER MAINTENANCE IS GIVEN TO SPOTLIGHTS AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTS.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK ADVICE FROM THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IF THEY ARE IN DOUBT.

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