XN000022-1983-03-06 — Page 4

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 1903

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+THE MISSION WAS A SUCCESS. IT GAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS INTERESTED IN SECURING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO MEET FACE TO FACE WITH POTENTIAL JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS AND STUDY THE IR FACILITIES, SO THAT THEY CAN GAIN FIRST-HAND INFORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE TYPE OF OPERATIONS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT,+ DR CHUANG SAID.

+THESE COMPANIES INCLUDE MANUFACTURERS OF MINI-COMPUTERS, COMPUTER PERIPHERALS AS WELL AS TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT WHICH HAVE GREAT DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL IN HONG KONG,+ DR CHUANG ADDED.

SAFETY MEASURES IN SCHOOL LABORATORIES

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SUPERVISORS, SCHOOL HEADS, SCIENCE TEACHERS AND LABORATORY TECHNICIANS ARE URGED TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SAFETY IN SCHOOL LABORATORIES.

IF A SCIENCE LABORATORY IS USED AS A CLASSROOM FOR NON-SCIENCE LESSONS DUE TO FLOATING CLASS ARRANGEMENTS, THE TEACHER INVOLVED SHOULD SEE TO IT THAT THE STUDENTS DO NOT ENTER THE LABORATORY UNLESS HE IS PRESENT AND THAT THEY DO NOT DISTURB OR REMOVE ANY OF THE SCIENCE MATERIALS IN THE LABORATORY.

EVERY LABORATORY SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH AT LEAST ONE APPROPRIATE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE, A FIRE BLANKET AND A BUCKET OF SAND, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

+WHENEVER A LABORATORY IS NOT IN USE, ITS GAS AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES SHOULD BE SWITCHED OFF AT THE MAINS, HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO SAID THAT STUDENTS SHOULD BE TAUGHT HOW TO EVACUATE A LABORATORY IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE MANNER IN THE EVENT OF FIRE. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ANY SUCH EVACUATION SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN AN ORDERLY, CONTROLLED MANNER, AND THAT EVERYTHING BE DONE TO AVOID PANIC AMONGST STUDENTS,+ HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED SCHOOLS TO KEEP ONE OF THE TWO EXIT DOORS OF THE LABORATORY UNLOCKED WHILE PRACTICAL LESSONS ARE IN PROGRESS. +FURTHERMORE, SCHOOLS ARE REMINDED THAT THE PASSAGES FOR THE LABORATORY EXITS SHOULD ALWAYS BE KEPT CLEAR OF OBSTACLES.+

THE ATTENTION OF SCIENCE TEACHERS AND LABORATORY TECHNICIANS IS DRAWN TO THE STORAGE OF POTASSIUM AND SODIUM METALS IN THEIR LABORATORIES. +THESE METALS SHOULD BE COVERED WITH PARAFFIN IN WELL-SEALED GLASS BOTTLES IN METAL CONTAINER AND STORED DRY,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IN THIS CONNECTION, SCIENCE TEACHERS AND LABORATORY TECHNICIANS WERE ASKED TO TAKE NOTE OF THE SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY+ PAMPHLET WHICH WAS PUBLISHED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOLS PREVIOUSLY.

ENQUIRIES ON LABORATORY SAFETY AND REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY+ PAMPHLET CAN BE MADE TO THE SCIENCE SUBJECT SECTION, ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG (TEL. 5-8392463 OR 5-8392469).

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