XN000022-1986-03-12 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1986

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WITH THE RADIATION BOARD LICENCE, THE IMPORTER HAD THEN TO APPLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE FOR AN IMPORT LICENCE UNDER THE IMPORT (RADIATION) (PROHIBITION) REGULATIONS.

BUT BEFORE ISSUING THE LICENCE, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE HAD TO BE SATISFIED THAT THE IMPORTER WAS A LICENSED COMPANY APPROVED BY THE RADIATION BOARD TO DEAL WITH RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES.

IN ADDITION, AN IMPORTER HAD ALSO TO OBTAIN A SPECIAL REMOVAL PERMIT FROM THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

BOTH THE IMPORT LICENCE AND THE REMOVAL PERMIT HAD TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT BEFORE SHIPMENT WAS RELEASED.

THE SAME CONTROLS APPLIED FOR TRANSHIPMENT, HE SAID.

WITH REGARD TO ANOTHER QUESTION, HE SAID THAT THE NUMBERS OF SHIPMENTS INVOLVING IMPORTATION OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS INTO HONG KONG DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS WERE: 565 IN 1985, 519 IN 1984 AND 582 IN 1983.

ASBESTOS RISK FROM COMPLETED BUILDINGS LOW *****

THE HEALTH RISK FROM COMPLETED BUILDINGS CONTAINING ASBESTOS- RELATED PRODUCTS IS VERY LOW, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON HO SAI-CHU, MR CHAN SAID THAT DESPITE THE LOW RISK ASBESTOS-RELATED MATERIALS WOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE LIST OF PERMITTED MATERIALS UNDER THE BUILDING REGULATIONS.

+UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, IN COMPLETED BUILDINGS WHICH CONTAIN ASBESTOS-RELATED PRODUCTS, THE HEALTH RISK IS VERY LOW,+ HE SAID.

+FOR EXAMPLE, IN HONG KONG, THE HIGHEST RECORDED LEVELS SO FAR ARE THREE NANOGRAMS PER CUBIC METRE OF AIR WHICH IS WELL WITHIN THE SAFE LEVELS OF 7 000 NANOGRAMS PER CUBIC METRE AS LAID DOWN IN THE

(A NANOGRAM IS CODE OF PRACTICE ISSUED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT. A BILLIONTH OF A GRAM.)

THIS IS NOT TO SAY THE GOVERNMENT IS IN ANY WAY COMPLACENT ABOUT THE SITUATION. THE USE OF LOOSE, FRIABLE ASBESTOS BUILDING PRODUCTS SUCH AS SPRAYED ACOUSTIC PLASTER OR THERMAL LAGGING IS NOT NOW ALLOWED IN GOVERNMENT BUILDING CONTRACTS, HE ADDED.

/LAST YEAR,

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