XN000022-1983-08-30 — Page 6

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AUGUST 30, 1983

+OUR EFFORTS ARE MAKING IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BUY ILLICIT DRUGS OVER THE COUNTER WITHOUT A DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION, HE SAID.

+WE CONSTANTLY MONITOR THE SITUATION AND MAKE RANDOM INSPECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT PRESCRIBED DRUGS ARE NOT SOLD IN THIS WAY, HE ADDED.

WHILE MOST CASES ARISE FROM DIRECT INVESTIGATION BY OFFICERS OF THE SECTION, A FEW ARE AS A RESULT OF COMPLAINTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AND CO-OPERATION WITH THE POLICE AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE.

THE INSPECTION AND LICENSING SECTION ALSO CARRIES OUT CHECKS ON HERBAL MEDICINE TO ENSURE THAT IT IS NOT ADULTERATED WITH WESTERN MEDICINE.

+WE CHECK TO FIND OUT WHETHER SOME HERBAL MEDICINES CONTAIN HEAVY METALS SUCH AS ARSENIC, MERCURY AND LEAD,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, OFFICERS OF THE FORENSIC PHARMACY DIVISION HAVE BEEN UNDERGOING TRAINING IN INVESTIGATION METHODS, WHICH HAVE PROVED HELPFUL IN THEIR WORK.

+WE NOW HAVE MOPE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF INVESTIGATION AND DETECTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+HIGH MORALE WITHIN THE DIVISION IS ANOTHER REASON FOR OUR

GREATER SUCCESS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, HE ADDED.

*THE OFFICERS RECOGNISE THAT THEY HAVE ONE GOAL

TO

PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM THE UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS OF SUB-STANDARD PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET, AS WELL AS ILLEGAL DEALINGS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, HE SAID.

RESIDENTS TOLD OF WORK SITE DANGERS ****

TAI PO RESIDENTS WERE TODAY (TUESDAY) BEING URGED TO STAY AWAY FROM CONSTRUCTION SITES WHICH HAVE BEEN USED BY MANY PEOPLE AS SHORT CUTS FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

THE CALL CAME FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR THOMAS CHAN, WHO SAID THAT PEOPLE ENTERING THESE SITES WOULD FACE SUCH LIKELY DANGERS AS FALLING OBJECTS AND POOLS OF WATER.

+THEY WILL HAVE ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME IN CASE OF ANY MISHAP. ALSO, THEY WILL BE TREATED AS TRESPASSERS, HE SAID.

THERE ARE MANY CONSTRUCTION SITES IN TAI PO AS THE NEW TOWN IS UNDERGOING MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT.

MR CHAN ALSO ADVISED PARENTS TO STOP THEIR CHILDREN FROM SWIMMING IN THE LAM TSUEN RIVER OR IN THE WATER ALONG THE COASTAL AREA BETWEEN SHA TIN AND TAI PO WHERE CONSTRUCTION WORKS ARE UNDER WAY.

HE SAID THE DISTRICT OFFICE HAD ALREADY ADVISED CONTRACTORS TO TAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF CONSTRUCTION SITES.

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