XN000022-1983-08-07 — Page 5

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 1983

TABLE 3 CHANGES COMPARING MAY 1983 WITH MAY 1982

RE-EXPORT VALUE

RE-EXPORT UNIT VALUE

RE-EXPORT

VOLUME

END-USE CATEGORY

FOODSTUFFS

+ 5%

+ 8%

2%

CONSUMER GOODS

+20%

+12%

+ 7%

RAW MATERIALS AND

+ 9%

+ 5%

+ 496

SEMI-MANUFACTURES

FUELS

+75%

+ 8%%

+62%

CAPITAL GOODS

+ 8%

+12%

4%

ALL COMMODITIES

+13%

+ 9%

+ 4%

PUBLIC URGED NOT TO GAMBLE WITH EYESIGHT

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STATISTICS SHOW THAT AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE A WEEK SMASH HEAD FIRST THROUGH A VEHICLE WINDSCREEN IN HONG KONG BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WEARING SEAT BELTS.

AND ACCORDING TO MEDICAL EXPERIENCE, ONE WILL BE BLINDED AND THE OTHER WILL NEVER REGAIN FULL SIGHT.

+TRAFFIC INJURIES ARE MANY AND VARIED AND THE USE OF SEAT BELTS CAN PREVENT A SIZEABLE NUMBER OF THEM, INJURY TO THE EYES IS ONE OF THESE PREVENTABLE ACCIDENTS, THE CONSULTANT OPTHAMOLOGIST OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DR T.K.C. LIU, SAID.

DR LIU HAS HAD EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH SUCH EYE INJURIES.

WHEN A PERSON'S HEAD GOES THROUGH A WINDSCREEN, THE CHANCES ARE THAT RAZOR-SHARP SHARDS OF GLASS WILL PUNCTURE THE EYEBALL LEADING TO A VIRTUAL EXPLOSION OF ITS CONTENTS, SPRAYING

INTER-OCCULAR TISSUE OUTWARDS.

+A LOT OF TISSUE JUST GOES OUT THE OPEN WINDOW. IF THIS IS LOST THEN ALL YOU CAN DO IS CLEAN UP THE SOCKETS AND PREPARE FOR THE INSERTION OF GLASS EYES FOR PURELY COSMETIC REASONS. THE PERSON IS BLIND+, HE SAID.

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WHERE INTER-OCCULAR TISSUE IS NOT LOST. THE 'LUCKY' PATIENT HAS SOME CHANCE OF REGAINING SOME SIGHT - BUT AT GREAT COST TO THE COMMUNITY GENERALLY.

/IMMEDIATE