XN000022-1983-04-27 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1983

TIGHT WATCH ON BEACH WATER

***

REGULAR AND SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING IS UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE

THE QUALITY OF THE WATER AT GAZETTED BEACHES IS AT A LEVEL ADEQUATE TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF SWIMMERS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON G.T. BARNES SAID TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR BARNES SAID BEACH WATER POLLUTION CONTROL WAS ACHIEVED MAINLY THROUGH THREE PROCESSES -- MEASURES TAKEN TO PREVENT EFFLUENTS FROM NEW DEVELOPMENTS FOULING BATHING BEACHES AN ON-GOING PROGRAMME TO BUILD SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES AND SPECIFIC CONTROLS ON MARINE AND BEACH LITTERING.

MR BARNES SAID ALL WATER SAMPLES WERE ANALYSED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE CONTROLS HAVE THE DESIRED EFFECT.

SHOULD THE WATER QUALITY AT ANY BEACH BE FOUND TO HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE EXTENT THAT IT COULD NO LONGER MEET THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION STANDARD, PROMPT ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE HEALTH HAZARDS BY MEANS OF WARNING NOTICES POSTED AT THE BEACH, HE ADDED.

+ IN 1981 THIS LED TO TWO OF THE TERRITORY'S 42 GAZETTED BEACHES BEING JUDGED UNSAFE FOR SWIMMING CASTLE PEAK BEKH AT TUEN MUN AND ANGLERS' BEACH NEAR TSUEN WAN. AT THESE BEACHES NOTICES HAVE BEEN POSTED PROMINENTLY, WARNING PEOPLE NOT TO SWIM.

+ THE SITUATION AT THESE AND THE REMAINDER OF OUR GAZETTED BEACHES IS VERY CLOSELY MONITORED. THIS IS ESSENTIAL IN VIEW OF THE RAPID EXPANSION OF THE TERRITORY'S POPULATION AND INDUSTRY, HE SAID.

MR BARNES ADDED THAT THE POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES WERE GENERALLY ADEQUATE TO SAFEGAUARD THE HEALTH OF SWIMMERS.

SWD GATHERING INFORMATION ON PRIVATE HOMES FOR AGED

****

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS OBTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT THE FACILITIES AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY TO DECIDE WHETHER ANY GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IS REQUIRED, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAIN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHAMBERS SAID HE WAS AWARE TH T A NUMBER OF PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED IN RECENT MONTHS.

/+VISITS ALREADY