XN000022-1982-11-24 — Page 30

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1982

NEONATAL SCREENING SERVICE EXPECTED

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THE TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS FOR PROVIDING A NEONATAL SCREENING SERVICE FOR CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM ARE CURRENTLY BEING EXAMINED, DR THE HON K.L. THONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE SERVICE SHOULD BE IN OPERATION

BY THE END OF 1983.

DR THONG WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP.

SUPPORT FOR HIGH FOOD STANDARDS ******

TWO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1982 WHICH WENT THROUGH ITS FINAL READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DR THE HON HARRY FANG SAID THE BILL, WHICH ESTABLISHES A MECHANISM FOR THE SPEEDY UPDATING OF REGULATIONS IN THE LIGHT OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS IN THE CONTROL OF HARMFUL INGREDIENTS IN FOOD, WAS AN IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENT IN THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUOUS EFFORTS TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH.

HE SAID HONG KONG COULD NOT ALLOW ITS FOOD STANDARD TO FALL BELOW THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, OTHERWISE IT COULD WELL BECOME THE DUMPING GROUND OF MANY UNSUITABLE FOOD ITEMS.

DR FANG SAID THAT IT WAS UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO DISCOVER FOR THEMSELVES WHICH FOOD WAS SUITABLE FOR CONSUMPTION AND WHICH WAS NOT,

+LEGISLATIVE CONTROL AND GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION ARE THEREFORE NECESSARY, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT WHILE SPEEDY ACTIONS IN THE CONTROL OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN FOOD WERE NECESSARY, THEY SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AT THE EXPENSE OF A CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF ALL THE POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS TO WHICH THEY MAY LEAD.

FOR EXAMPLE, DR FANG SAID, HE UNDERSTOOD THAT ALTHOUGH THE INTENTION TO CONTROL THE LEVEL OF AFLATOXIN AND ERUCIC ACID IN FOOD WAS FIRST INITIATED IN 1977, NO FORMAL ARRANGEMENT HAD BEEN ENTERED INTO WITH TRADERS CONCERNED REGARDING DETAILS OF HOW THE CONTROL WAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

*THIS STATE OF UNCERTAINTY HAD RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF FOOD TRADERS APPROACHING THE UMELCO RECENTLY FOR AN ASSURANCE THAT THEY WOULD BE CONSULTED BEFORE GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO IMPOSE SPECIFIC LIMITS ON THE PRESENCE OF SUBSTANCE CONSIDERED HARMFUL IN FOOD, HE SAID.

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