XN000022-1982-02-19 — Page 6

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1982

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ONE OF THE NEW PROVISIONS IN THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1981 IS THAT A LEGAL ABORTION MAY BE CARRIED OUT WHEN TWO DOCTORS ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF THE FOETUS BEING ABNORMAL.

ALSO, IN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO TERMINATE A PREGNANCY, THE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS MAY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT THE PREGNANT WOMAN IS UNDER THE AGE OF 16.

ANOTHER SITUATION IN WHICH A LEGAL ABORTION MAY BE PERFORMED IS IN CASES WHERE THE PREGNANCY IS A RESULT OF INCEST, RAPE, OR RAPE-RELATED OFFENCES PROVIDED THAT THE WOMAN CONCERNED HAS MADE A REPORT TO THE POLICE THAT SHE WAS A VICTIM OF INCEST OR RAPE WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE ALLEGED OFFENCE.

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, NO ABORTION SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT WHERE THE PREGNANCY IS MORE THAN 24 WEEKS DURATION EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO DO SO TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER.

GAS SAFETY STAFF TO BE SELECTED *****

THE CREATION OF A GAS STANDARDS ORGANISATION WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT WILL COME ONE STEP CLOSER NEXT WEEK, WHEN INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD WITH CANDIDATES FOR THE THREE KEY POSTS. THESE ARE A GAS ADVISER AND TWO SUPPORTING POSTS OF CHIEF ENGINEER.

AN INTERVIEW BOARD HEADED BY MR GRAHAM OSBORNE, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER WHO

IS ACTING AS TEMPORARY GAS ADVISER, WILL LEAVE FOR LONDON TONIGHT (FRIDAY).

THE CANDIDATES ARE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY AND NEW ZEALAND.

THE SETTING UP OF A NEW ORGANISATION TO IMPLEMENT THE UPGRADING OF GAS SAFETY STANDARDS WAS RECOMMENDED BY CONSULTANTS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF ALL SAFETY ASPECTS OF TOWNGAS AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM. GAS OPERATIONS IN HONG KONG.

FOLLOWING THE RECEIPT OF THE CONSULTANTS' PRELIMINARY REPORT THE GOVERNMENT BEGAN AN INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT EXERCISE FOR GAS ENGINEERS LAST SEPTEMBER BY PLACING ADVERTISEMENTS IN RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE RESPONSE WAS ENCOURAGING AND THE APPLICANTS WERE SHORTLISTED TO SOME 20 FOR INTERVIEW AND FINAL SELECTION,

ALL EXCEPT ONE OF THE INTERVIEWS WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON, AND THE THREE POSTS WERE EXPECTED TO BE FILLED BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.