XN000022-1986-04-09 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1986

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HE SAID A FEW REPLIES WERE RECEIVED FROM PERSONS WHO MIGHT BE SUITABLE FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE MAGISTRATES OR HONG KONG DISTRICT COURTS.

+ SOME OF THEM WILL BE GIVEN APPOINTMENTS IN THE MAGISTRATES

A FEW COURTS FOR A TRIAL PERIOD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR WISHES. OTHERS WHO EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE DISTRICT COURTS ARE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED FOR APPOINTMENT, HE SAID.

GAS ALERT SYSTEM LEGISLATION NOT NECESSARY

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AS HONG KONG ALREADY FOLLOWED THE INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE OF ALERTING THE PUBLIC OR GAS CONSUMERS TO THE EXISTENCE OF A GAS LEAK, IT IS NOT THE INTENTION OF GOVERNMENT TO LEGISLATE FOR THE USE OF GAS DETECTOR WARNING SYSTEMS, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ANDREW WONG, MR CHAN SAID TO BE EFFECTIVE SUCH SYSTEMS HAD TO BE RELIABLE AND BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEGREE OF SENSITIVITY REQUIRED THEY NEEDED MORE EXPERT REGULAR MAINTENANCE THAN THE AVERAGE GAS CONSUMER COULD BE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE.

+THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED METHOD OF ALERTING THE PUBLIC OR GAS CONSUMERS TO THE EXISTENCE OF A GAS LEAK IS TO ADD A DISTINCTIVE ODOUR TO THE GAS, BE IT TOWNGAS, LPG OR SUBSTITUTE NATURAL GAS, SO THAT IT CAN BE EASILY DETECTED BY A PERSON WITH A NORMAL SENSE OF SMELL AT A CONCENTRATION WELL BELOW THAT AT WHICH IT CAN IGNITE AND BURN OR EXPLODE,+ HE SAID.

MR CHAN ADDED THAT THIS INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE WAS FOLLOWED IN HONG KONG.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENT SYSTEM WORKING WELL

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THE PAYMENT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE COULD BE DELIVERED TO A RECIPIENT'S HOME OR IT COULD BE COLLECTED BY AN AUTHORISED AGENT ON BEHALF OF THE RECIPIENT. THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PAULINE NG, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF PAYING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCES THROUGH CASH ORDER BOOKS AT POST OFFICES WORKED WELL.

/+PAYMENT

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