XN000022-1983-07-19 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, JULY 19, 1983

BAN ON HORMONE SALE CONFIRMED

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THE PHARMACY AND POISONS BOARD HAD RECEIVED NO APPEAL AGAINST ITS DECISION TO DEREGISTER STILBENE DERIVATIVES FOR VETERINARY USE WHEN THE STATUTORY PERIOD FOR APPEAL ENDED YESTERDAY.

THE BOARD'S DECISION TO BAN THE SALE AND IMPORTATION OF THESE HORMONES IS NOW CONFIRMED ALTHOUGH, IN PRACTICE, VIRTUALLY ALL LOCAL FARMERS HAD ALREADY STOPPED USING THEM FOR NEARLY TWO MONTHS.

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY ASSURED THE PUBLIC THAT IT SHOULD NOW BE SAFE TO EAT CHICKEN.

+POULTRY FARMERS REACTED RESPONSIBLY TO THE DECISION TO BAN THE USE OF HEXOESTROL AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW VIRTUALLY ALL FARMERS HAVE ABANDONED THE USE OF THE HORMONE SINCE JUNE 8, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED ITS INTENTION TO PROHIBIT ITS USE,+ A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

+CHICKENS IMPLANTED WITH HEXOESTROL BEFORE THAT DATE ARE NOW SAFE TO EAT AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FULLY METABOLISED AND EXCRETED,+ HE ADDED.

HE NOTED THAT THE DEMAND FOR CHICKEN BY THE PUBLIC IS SLOWLY RECOVERING AND PRICES ARE IMPROVING. THE DROP IN THE SALE OF CHICKEN HAS SEVERELY AFFECTED LOCAL POULTRY FARMERS AND THE DEPARTMENT IS ARRANGING LOW-INTEREST LOANS TO HELP THEM. SOME $5 MILLION HAS BEEN PAID.

SO FAR,

BIGGER FLATS FOR LARGER FAMILIES

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LARGE FAMILIES LIVING AT OLDER CHEUNG SHA WAN AND SHEK KIP MEI ESTATES CAN NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE TO BIGGER FLATS IN CENTRAL KOWLOON.

+APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FROM FAMILIES WITH NINE TO 12 PERSONS, WHOSE HOUSEHOLD INCOMES DO NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM LIMIT OF $6 500 A MONTH, FOR THE FLATS AVAILABLE IN TAI HANG TUNG ESTATE, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TODAY.

HE SAID ALL THE FLATS AVAILABLE WERE 52 SQUARE METRES IN SIZE, WITH MONTHLY RENTS INCLUSIVE OF RATES AT $310.

+THESE OFFERS OF BETTER ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING ENVIRONMENTS ARE BEING MADE UNDER A DECANTATION SCHEME TO RELIEVE OVERCROWDING OF FAMILIES LIVING IN OLDER ESTATES.+

SAID.

APPLICATIONS WOULD BE CLOSED ON MONDAY (JULY 25), HE

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