XN000022-1983-07-27 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1983

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NEW 'SUPER STAR INTERCOM SYSTEM OFFERED

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THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY IS NOW ABLE TO OFFER, FOR SALE OR RENT, A NEW EXCHANGE CONNECTED INTERCOMMUNICATION SYSTÉM, KNOWN AS THE 'SUPER STAR' SYSTEM, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVÍCES, THE HON K.Y. YEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS SPEAKING ON THE MOTION TO ADD TO PART THREE OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE THE CHARGES PROPOSED BY THE COMPANY FOR THE INSTALLATION, RENTING, MAINTENANCE AND REMOVAL OF THE SYSTEM AND ITS ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

THE CHARGES WERE CONSIDERED REASONABLE BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR YEUNG SAID.

THE NEW SYSTEM, HE EXPLAINED, IS AN IMPROVEMENT ON, AND HAS THREE ADVANTAGES OVER, THE SYSTEMS AVAILABLE,

FIRST, IT IS QUICKER TO INSTALL, IS MORE RELIABLE AND REQUIRES LESS ROOM- SECOND, IT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THREE CAPACITIES WITH UP TO 60 EXTENSIONS, AND THIRD, IT WILL BE ABLE TO PERFORM A NUMBER OF TELEPHONIC TASKS, SUCH AS LAST NUMBER RE-DIAL AND ABBREVIATED DIALLING, THAT WERE BEYOND THE SCOPE OF EARLIER SYSTEMS, HE SAID.

QUICK ACTION NEEDED FOR SEIZURE CHING ****

THE SMOKING (PUBLIC HEALTH) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 IS TO EMPOWER THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION WHERE THERE ARE CLEAR BREACHES OF THE LAW CONCERNING HEALTH WARNINGS ON PACKETS OF CIGARETTES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN MOVING THE BILL THROUGH ITS SECOND READING, MR CHING SAID THAT ITS PURPOSE WAS SIMPLY TO EMPOWER THE SERVICE TO SEIZE, AND TO DETAIN AS EXHIBITS, PACKETS OF CIGARETTES, INCLUDING THE CIGARETTES IN THEM, WHICH DO NOT CARRY THE HEALTH WARNINGS AND TAR GROUPS RATINGS,

THE LAW WHICH MAKES THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL COME INTO FORCE FROM AUGUST 15 THIS YEAR.

+EXISTING LEGISLATION DOES NOT GIVE THIS POWER TO THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, AND THE DIFFICULTY IS THAT BY THE TIME THE ASSISTANCE OF THE POLICE HAS BEEN OBTAINED, THE OFFENDING GOODS MAY HAVE BEEN REMOVED, MR CHING EXPLAINED.

THE BILL, IF ENACTED, WILL ALSO ENABLE THE SERVICE TO APPLY TO A MAGISTRATE FOR THE FORFEITURE OF PACKETS OF CIGARETTES WHICH DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS, HE ADDED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TILL AUGUST 10.