XN000022-1986-04-30 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1986

SIR JOHN SAID CONCERN HAD BEEN EXPRESSED THAT FULL RECOVERY COULD IMPOSE A HEAVY BURDEN ON SOME USERS OF THE PORT, SUCH AS THE SCOUTS OR OUTWARD BOUND, WHO OPERATE VESSELS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR COMMUNITY PROJECTS.

+ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS ALREADY EXIST FOR FEES TO BE REBATED (OR SUBVENTIONS INCREASED) TO ENSURE THAT ANY GENUINE ADVERSE EFFECTS MAY BE AMEL FORATED. THESE ORGANISATIONS NEED HAVE NO WORRY ON ACCOUNT OF THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,+ HE NOTED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

CONTROL ON MINERAL WATER PROPOSED ******

A BILL SEEKING TO IMPOSE CONTROL ON THE MANUFACTURE AND QUALITY OF BOTTLED WATER SOLD AS MINERAL WATER+ WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID THE DEFINITIONS OF +FOOD+ AND +DRINK+ IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE DID NOT INCLUDE BOTTLED WATER SOLD AS MINERAL WATER+ OTHER THAN NATURAL SPRING WATER.

+CONSEQUENTLY, SUCH BOTTLED WATER IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION,+ HE SAID.

MR CHAMBERS NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE QUALITY OF IMPORTED AND LOCALLY PRODUCED MINERAL WATER+ ON SALE IN HONG KONG HAD NOT BEEN FOUND TO BE UNSAFE OR UNHYGIENIC, THERE WERE AT PRESENT 14 BRANDS OF MINERAL WATER+ PRODUCED LOCALLY AND 26 BRANDS IMPORTED FOR SALE.

+ IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED NECESSARY ON PUBLIC HEALTH GROUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR CONTROL OF THE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF SUCH PRODUCTS, HE SAID.

THE BILL THEREFORE AMENDED THE DEFINITIONS OF +FOOD+ AND +DRINK+ TO BRING WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE ORDINANCE BOTTLED WATER SOLD AS +MINERAL WATER+ FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

/MR CHAMBERS