XN000022-1982-03-31 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1982

- 2.

*HONG KONG IS STRONG AND PROSPEROUS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ITS FUTURE IS UNDERSTOOD IN PEKING AND LONDON. I AM SURE THAT IN THE PRESENT SITUATION THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK FOR TWO OBJECTIVES. FIRSTLY IT MUST CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, ITS FREE PORT, ITS WORLD-WIDE COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL CONNECTIONS AND THE VALUE OF ITS CURRENCY, AND IN THIS WAY THE WELLBEING OF ITS FIVE MILLION RESIDENTS. SECONDLY IT MUST DEVELOP EVER CLOSER COOPERATION BETWEEN HONG KONG AND OTHER REGIONS OF CHINA. THESE OBJECTIVES ARE INTERCONNECTED BECAUSE EITHER WILL FAIL WITHOUT THE OTHER. I BELIEVE THAT IF WE FOLLOW FAITHFULLY THESE TWIN OBJECTIVES, THE PROBLEM OF OUR FUTURE WILL BE MORE EASILY SOLVED.

+IN CONCLUSION I SHOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A TOAST TO THE HEALTH OF OUR HOSTS, TO CONTINUED COOPERATION BETWEEN US, AND TO THE PROSPERITY AND WELLBEING OF HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE.+

REGULAR CHECKS KEPT ON CHINESE MEDICINES

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WHILE CONTROL BY LEGISLATION OF CHINESE MEDICINES IS NOT FEASIBLE AT PRESENT, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO SAMPLE CHINESE MEDICINES AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION WHERE PUBLIC HEALTH IS CONSIDERED TO BE AT RISK.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES (MEDICAL), DR S.F. LAM, AT A MEETING OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY THIS AFTERNOON.

HE SAID UP TILL THE END OF FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, 60 CHINESE HERBAL PREPARATIONS ON THE MARKET HAD BEEN CHECKED AND TESTED BY THE FORENSIC PHARMACY DIVISION TO SEE IF THEY CONTAINED WESTERN MEDICINE AND TO MONITOR THE LEVEL OF TOXIC METALS.

DR LAM SAID THE QUESTION OF WHETHER CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO LEGISLATIVE CONTROL HAS CAUSED SOME CONCERN AMONG LOCAL MANUFACTURERS.

UNDER THE PRESENT LAW, ALL PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICINES ARE SUBJECT TO CONTROL UNDER THE PHARMACY AND POISONS REGULATIONS AND ARE REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE PHARMACY AND POISONS BOARD.

HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES LISTED IN THE CHINESE HERBAL MATERIA MEDICA OR WHICH ARE MADE FROM HERBS CUSTOMARILY USED BY THE CHINESE.

DR LAM WARNED THAT IF CHINESE MEDICINES ARE FOUND TO BE ADULTERATED WITH WESTERN DRUGS THAT PROVE TO BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN, AND WILL TAKE ACTION.

HE SAID THAT FROM THE PROFESSIONAL POINT OF VIEW, ALL DRUGS SHOULD BE CONTROLLED FOR MAXIMUM PROTECTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

*THIS CONTROL IS FEASIBLE IN THE CASE OF WESTERN DRUGS ALTHOUGH IT IS TAKING ABOUT FIVE YEARS TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION OF ALL PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET, HE SAID.

/+THIS IS