XN000022-1983-02-02 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1983

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CHINESE PATENT MEDICINES TESTED FOR DRUGS

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FORENSIC PHARMACISTS OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN CHECKING CHINESE PATENT MEDICINES FOR THE PRESENCE OF SCHEDULED DRUGS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE DIRECTOR OF

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRY HU,

DR THONG POINTED OUT THAT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, 147 SAMPLES OF CHINESE PATENT MEDICINAL PRODUCTS HAD BEEN TESTED. OF THESE, 12 PRODUCTS WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN SCHEDULED DRUGS

IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE.

AS A RESULT OF THESE ACTIONS, FIVE PROSECUTIONS WERE UNDERTAKEN WITH ANOTHER ONE PENDING.

REFERRING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON WONG LAM, DR THONG SAID THE NUMBER OF TERMINATIONS OF PREGNANCIES PERFORMED UNDER THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ORDINANCE FOR GIRLS UNDER THE AGE OF 16 WAS 35 ANNUALLY BOTH FOR 1980 AND 1982.

CLINICS PROVIDED IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES

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MEDICAL CLINICS ARE PROVIDED IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AS A STANDARD FEATURE. GENERALLY, PROVISION IS MADE ON THE BASIS OF ONE CLINIC FOR EVERY 7 500 - 10 000 POPULATION, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER C. WONG, HE SAID THERE ARE AT PRESENT A TOTAL OF 220 MEDICAL CLINICS IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, OF WHICH 76 ARE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+IT IS EXPECTED THAT OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS SOME 50 ADDITIONAL CLINICS WILL BE PROVIDED, INCLUDING 40 IN THE NEW TOWNS,+ HE SAID.

MR LIAO EXPLAINED THAT SINCE 1967, DOCTORS HAVE BEEN NOMINATED BY THE ESTATE DOCTORS ASSOCIATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ASSOCIATION'S BY-LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

+CONDITIONS OF THE TENANCIES, USUALLY FOR THREE YEARS, ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE FOR SHOPS EXCEPT WITH THE PROVISION THAT THE CLINICS SHOULD BE IN OPERATION FOR AT LEAST SIX HOURS A DAY.

+A DOCTOR CANNOT HOLD MORE THAN ONE CLINIC IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES PLUS ONE CLINIC IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR,+ HE SAID.

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