XN000022-1983-02-02 — Page 11

MR S.L. CHENI

S FOR LAND WI

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1983

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SIR, PRESUMABLY THE EQUIPMENT WAS SUPPLIED BY A RÉPUTABLE MANUFACTURER AND IS STILL UNDER GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY. THAT BEING THE CASE, IS THE MANUFACTURER UNDER CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO RECTIFY ALL THE FAULTS AND DEFECTS?

SIR, THE QUESTION SEEMS TO INFER NON-COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS, BUT AS THE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE INVESTIGATION TEAM COVER ENGINEERING SAFETY AND FUNCTION ASPECTS ONLY, THE PROBE DOES NOT DEAL WITH THE QUESTION OF COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS AND I CAN'T COMMENT ON THIS MATTER.

FUNDS FOR PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT APPROVED

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SPEND $700 000 TO RECTIFY FAULTS DISCOVERED IN SOME OF THE DENTAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AT THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL.

EXPENDITURE OF THE MONEY WAS APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION BY A TEAM OF GOVERNMENT EXPERTS INTO SAFETY AND FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF THE EQUIPMENT REQUESTED BY THE HOSPITAL'S BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING ON THE REMEDIAL WORK BECAUSE THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS HAD ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HOSPITAL ONLY AFTER IT HAD BEEN COMMISSIONED WITH THE NEW EQUIPMENT ALREADY INSTALLED.

+WORK WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY TO BRING THE EQUIPMENT UP

TO FULLY ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS.

+THE WORK INVOLVES ONLY A FEW OF THE MANY ITEMS OF THE HOSPITAL'S MODERN AND SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT.

+THE EQUIPMENT WAS SUPPLIED TO THE HOSPITAL AT A COST OF $20 MILLION. THE COST OF REMEDIAL WORK REPRESENTS ABOUT 3.5 PER CENT OF THIS SUM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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