XN000022-1984-05-16 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1984

SCREENING PROGRAMME FOR BABIES

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD EARLY THIS YEAR STARTED A NEO-NATAL SCREENING PROGRAMME FOR CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM TO FACILITATE EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND MEDICAL TREATMENT OF INFANTS WHO MAY OTHERWISE SUFFER MENTAL RETARDATION.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED TODAY BY DR THE HON K.L. THONG, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THIS PHASE OF THE PROGRAMME INITIALLY DESIGNED TO COVER ALL NEW-BORNS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND MATERNITY HOMES, IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY JULY THIS YEAR.

THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROGRAMME WOULD START SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, AND THE DEPARTMENT INTENDED TO INVITE SUBVENTED AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND MATERNITY HOMES TO PARTICIPATE IN IT, HE SAID.

WITH THIS CO-OPERATION, THE PROGRAMME SHOULD THEN BE ABLE TO COVER THE ENTIRE NEWBORN POPULATION, HE SAID.

50KM/H GENERAL SPEED LIMIT FROM AUGUST

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FROM AUGUST THIS YEAR THERE WILL BE A GENERAL SPEED LIMIT OF FDKM AN HOUR ON ALL ROADS EXCEPT WHERE SPECIFICALLY VAR IED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT AND SIGN-POSTED, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TOLD TODAY.

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON JUSTIN YUE, REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER WONG, SAID THAT ROADS WITH EXISTING SPEED LIMITS OF 30MPH WILL CONVERT TO THE EQUIVALENT OF 50KM AN HOUR AND THOSE WITH 40 MPH WILL CONVERT TO 70KM AN HOUR.

+THE MAIN POINT IS THAT THE NEW SYSTEM WILL BE CLEARER AND MORE CONVENIENT FOR MOTORISTS THAN THE PRESENT ONE WHICH IN SOME INSTANCES RELIES ON THE DISTANCE BETWEEN LIGHTING COLUMNS ON THE ROADS TO INDICATE SPEED LIMITS, + MR YUE SAID.

MR YUE SAID ALSO THAT, GENERALLY, THE SPEED LIMIT ON A ROAD WAS RELATED TO THE DESIGN SPEED OF THE ROAD, THE ALIGNMENT AND THE ACCIDENT RECORD.

+FOR MOST ROADS IN THE URBAN AREA THE SPEED LIMIT IS 30MPH, OR 50KM/H IN FUTURE.

+THE HIGHER STANDARD MULTI-LANE ROADS PROHIBITED TO PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS WILL INITIALLY HAVE SPEED LIMITS OF 70KM/H.

+THE LATTER IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE EXISTING 40MPH LIMIT, BUT ANY FURTHER CHANGE WILL HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE, HE SAID.

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